This whimsical slice of life dramedy follows Kamath, a soft spoken suicidal loner and Parkash/Mrs. Handa, his unlikely partner in crime who’s also a politically incorrect Punjaban, as well as an ambitious tailor named Nanhe who all reach their respective breaking points at the same time, after tolerating all that life and the overbearing city of Mumbai has to ‘offer’ to them, thus developing a mutual obsession with breaking and entering homes.
While this setup indeed sounds strange on paper, writer-director Vijay Maurya excels at selling this concept to viewers, with little to no masala/melodrama yet plenty of maturity and heart: Intricately weaving together a story of shattered dreams, and old habits that die out as new ones replace them, all of which is set in an urban jungle that never sleeps nor lets its inhabitants sleep. The characters especially grow on you and grow themselves as the movie progresses- An instance being Nanhe’s arc as we are introduced to him initially attempting to rise in rank or status, while also seeking reform from unhealthy habits resulting from equally unhealthy circumstances, and thus in the process finding love in the very city that he’s grown to loathe.
The movie also explores loneliness and how almost every individual, regardless of class or social standing is susceptible or vulnerable to it, and scenes such as a conversation between Kamath and a police officer advising the elderly man on being more social as a precautionary measure in a lonely world, and especially in a vast city where break-ins and preying on the vulnerable are commonplace, further convey this theme effectively. Maurya’s use of parallels is also commendable, with scenes such as Nanhe crossing paths with Kamath (who is also a victim of the former’s many theft attempts) in multiple scenarios/venues, eventually building up to a satisfying resolution that I won’t spoil for you here.
‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’ also connects its distinct characters through common motivations- Be it Nanhe, Kamath and Mrs Handa all inadvertently discovering emotional attachments in a vast crowded, starless yet star-studded city, and comparisons drawn between Nanhe’s employer, Bilkis and her dance troupe flying to their star studded Dubai shows, all while Nanhe’s love interest Rawas, a free-spirited beggar who has never flown to Dubai herself chuckles over the rumours of Sheikhs who roam about with gold biscuits hidden up their Afghans (ahem, I mean Kaftans!). And much like Rawas finds contentment in the simpler aspects of life, similarly Kamath’s introverted dreams too extend to simply finding someone to converse with, particularly someone who won’t shut him down or misconstrue him.
The advent of streaming platforms in India has certainly allowed for a breather from the overexposure of the audience to mainstream stars who rely on regressive narratives, and this movie too subverts expectations by casting lesser known actors or once established veterans who were either sidelined due to age, utilised as comic relief or featured only in item numbers in the early 2000s, and who were waiting in the wings for a comeback. While Jackie Shroff may have cemented himself as a contemporary pop culture icon with his ‘environmental endeavours’ and with a comedic viral video featuring him swearing in true blue Tapori/Mumbaikar fashion (this movie cleverly references the same in a scene wherein the innocent-minded Kamath is taken aback by Mrs. Handa’s liberal use of expletives in public!), here his acting chops are the star of the show. The actor’s puppy eyes definitely had me in a chokehold and Shroff is nothing short of impressive in conveying not only the character’s endearing nature but also the bleak heartbreak he carries within, cursed to nurse it yet from which he desperately seeks respite or an escape. The youthful Neena Gupta yet again defies the tag of a Bollywood actress confined to a ‘fixed shelf life’ and is a treat as the kindred spirit Mrs Handa who bubbles over with an imperfectly perfect, often infectious candour. It was also refreshing to watch both veteran actors paired opposite each other in age appropriate roles and who play off each other in an organic fashion. Abhishek Chauhan and Monika Panwar (as Nanhe and Rawas respectively) also impress with their individual performances, confident screen presence and a charming chemistry. Rakhi Sawant features in the juicy role of Bilkis, a choreographer with a heart of gold and she particularly rocks it in her meta subplot/character which is an obvious nuanced take on her off-screen persona. Sawant oozes glam even in the kitschiest of costumes, and her comic timing is also bound to tickle viewers silly. I, for one wouldn’t mind a spin-off on this charismatic, colourful character and her troupe!
Lastly, the cinematography captures the soul of the city with the riveting visuals of ‘Aamchi Mumbai’- After all, the city itself is the central character of ‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’, and without its parks, footbridges, crowded shorelines, etc, neither its ensemble nor their captivating stories would ever feel complete and interconnected.
If what you seek is a movie peppered with chaos and clever jokes, that infuses life into a world which often feels lifeless to live in with its comforting repartes between characters, as well as multiple heart to hearts and full on feel-good vibes, then don’t miss out on ‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’!
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