‘The Mehta Boys’ is a Hindi family drama, Boman Irani’s directorial debut. The film, which depicts a father-son relationship in a heartwarming and realistic way, was released on Amazon Prime Video on February 7, 2025. Starring Boman Irani and Avinash Tiwari in the lead roles, the film is a slice-of-life genre that impresses with its simple story and emotional depth. Set in Navsari, Gujarat, and Mumbai, this story meticulously depicts the complex bond between a father and son. How well did the film impress the audience? Was Boman Irani successful as a director? Let’s see in the review!
What is the story?
Amay Mehta (Avinash Tiwari) is a young man who works as an architect in Mumbai. He dreams of showing his designs to his boss Soumik Sen (Siddharth Basu), but he always holds back due to lack of confidence. His co-worker and girlfriend Zara (Shreya Choudhary) constantly encourages him. One day, Amay receives the news of his mother's death, so he goes to his hometown Navsari. There, he meets his father Shiv Mehta (Boman Irani) and sister Anu (Pooja Saroop). Shiv, a widower devastated by the death of his wife, plans to go to America with Anu. But, due to ticket issues, he has to spend two days with Amay in Mumbai. In these 48 hours, how does the distant father-son bond, through misunderstandings, ego clashes, and small incidents, come together? How does Amay gain confidence in his professional and personal life? This is the core of the film.
How did it feel?
‘The Mehta Boys’ is a simple, heartwarming slice-of-life drama that portrays a father-son relationship in a realistic and nuanced way. The film avoids high-drama and over-the-top emotions, creating emotional depth through small moments, conversations and silent expressions. The first half builds a formal, tense relationship between Shiv and Amay, and their bond becomes a little closer by the interval. Although some scenes in the second half feel drawn out, the climax is emotionally satisfying. The film is full of symbolism—the leaking roof, the red cloth flying in the air (representing the mother’s apology), and the Mumbai skyline—all of which elevate the story. Elements like Amay's architecture profession, Shiv's past typewriting school, and cricket umpiring add depth to the story. However, the film would have been more impactful if the reasons for the rift between father and son had been explored in more depth. Overall, the film offers a relatable, emotional, and heartwarming experience.
How did the actors do?
Boman Irani plays Shiv Mehta brilliantly. His performance as a father who is devastated by the death of his wife, who simultaneously shows stubbornness and love, is the soul of the film. His expressions, especially in the scenes of grief, guilt, and stubbornness, are impressive. Avinash Tiwari is equally impressive as Amay. He portrays his internal struggle as a son who lacks self-confidence and is distant from his father. His outburst in the car scene and his climax speech showcased his talent. Shreya Chaudhary looked natural and attractive as Zara, her screen presence was a plus for the film. Pooja gave a memorable performance as Saroop even in her short screen time. Siddharth Basu played the boss role decently. All the supporting characters did justice to their roles, but the story revolves entirely around Shiv and Amay.
How is the technical teamwork?
Krish Makhija's cinematography is the biggest strength of the film. He captures the Mumbai skyline, the small-town vibe of Navsari, and the Shiv-Amay interactions realistically and emotionally. The leaking roof and the red cloth scenes are visually impactful. Sumeet Bellary's background score elevates the scenes, but the songs are not very memorable. Suman Jain's editing is smooth, but could have been a little tighter in the middle act. The production values are classy, Amay's flat, Shiv's house sets give a realistic touch to the story. The dialogues in the screenplay are natural and impactful, and Alexander Dinelaris' (Birdman writer) touch is clearly visible.
How is the direction?
Boman Irani has done a brilliant job as a debutant director. He succeeds in showing the father-son relationship through subtle emotions, silent moments, and symbolism, without making it over-dramatic. Small details like Shiv holding the handbrake, Amay's untying of shoes, and the red cloth scene add depth to the story. Adding social commentary (about Mumbai buildings) linking Amay's architecture career and Shiv's past life is a smart move. However, the lack of a deep exploration of the origin of the rift, as seen in some scenes in the second half, is a minus. However, Boman succeeds in transforming a simple story into a heartwarming experience.
Hits:
Boman Irani, Avinash Tiwari Excellent Performances
Krish Makhija Cinematography, Symbolic Visuals
Realistic, Subtle Screenplay, Dialogues
Emotional Depth, Heartwarming Climax
Boman Irani Directorial Skills, Social Commentary
Missed:
Failure to explore the origins of the father-son rift in depth
Stretchy Scenes in the Second Half
Lack of Impact in Songs
Some Subplots Underdeveloped
Final Word:
‘The Mehta Boys’ is a relatable, heartwarming family drama that shows the father-son bond in a simple, realistic way. Boman Irani's directorial debut, his performance, Avinash Tiwari's acting, symbolic visuals make the film special. Except for a slight stretch in the second half, and lack of depth on the origin of Rift, this film offers an emotional and heartwarming experience. This film is a good treat for slice-of-life, family drama lovers. Stream it on Amazon Prime, enjoy it with your family!
Recommendation: Those who like family dramas, realistic stories will definitely like this film. It will suit both youth and family audiences. Those who expect high-drama, action should lower their expectations.
Rating: 3.5/5