Pankaj Tripathi in a romantic comedy is something different, and that’s one of the reasons to give Parivarik ManuRanjan a look. The film brings together romance, comedy and family emotions, with Aditi Rao Hydari playing the female lead. Directed by Varun V. Sharma, it also stars Karan Chanana and Aklavya Chaudhary. The film is now available on SonyLIV.
The story has a simple setup, but does it manage to keep us interested until the end? Here’s what works and where the film falls short.
Story
Ranjan Dubey (Pankaj Tripathi) is a middle-aged bachelor who has spent most of his life taking care of his family. He has got his sisters married and fulfilled his responsibilities, but somewhere along the way, his own personal life has taken a back seat. He now lives alone in his ancestral house in Lucknow.
Things begin to change when Helen (Aditi Rao Hydari) enters his life as a property manager and housekeeper. What starts as a regular association slowly turns into friendship, and before long, the two develop feelings for each other.
But their relationship doesn’t move forward without complications. Family members and neighbours have their own opinions, and Helen is also hiding something about herself. As the story moves ahead, Ranjan finds himself dealing with situations he never expected.
Performances and Other Aspects
Pankaj Tripathi is quite comfortable in this kind of role. He doesn’t try too hard to make the character funny, and that’s what works in his favour. His expressions and the way he handles everyday conversations bring some life to the film. There are moments when his performance makes an otherwise ordinary scene watchable.
Aditi Rao Hydari looks good as Helen and brings a certain charm to the character. Her scenes with Pankaj Tripathi are among the better portions of the film. Karan Chanana and Aklavya Chaudhary also play their parts, though the writing doesn’t give every character enough scope.
The film has a few enjoyable family moments, and its basic idea is easy to connect with. However, the screenplay doesn’t always move at the pace it should. Some scenes go on longer than necessary, while a few developments are quite easy to predict.
The first half has its share of interesting moments, but things become less engaging as the story progresses. The comedy is also a mixed bag. A stronger second half and better-written emotional scenes could have made a difference.
Plus Points
Pankaj Tripathi’s effortless acting
Aditi Rao Hydari’s screen presence
A few nice romantic and family moments
A simple storyline with a relatable idea
Minus Points
Screenplay feels slow in places
Some predictable scenes
Comedy could have been better
Second half lacks consistency
Final Verdict:
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Parivarik ManuRanjan is one of those films that starts with a decent idea but doesn’t quite turn it into an engaging entertainer. Pankaj Tripathi does his job well, and Aditi Rao Hydari adds some charm, but the writing lets the film down in several places.
There are a few moments worth watching, especially if you enjoy family dramas with a bit of romance. Still, the film could have been much better with tighter narration and more effective comedy.
If you are a Pankaj Tripathi fan, you can give it a try when you have some free time. Just keep your expectations modest.
Rating: 2.5/5
Parivarik ManuRanjan is now streaming on SonyLIV.
