‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’: A Breath of Fresh Air
Amidst films crowded with heavy plots and glorified violence, ‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’ emerges as a refreshing breath of fresh air. This light-hearted film offers a much-needed break from the norm, inviting audiences into a world of genuine human connection. ‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’ is a heartwarming tale that sneaks up on you with its charm and sincerity. Director Vijay Maurya delicately weaves together the lives of two seemingly disconnected individuals, Kamath (Jackie Shroff) and Nanhe (Abhishek Chauhan), in the bustling city of Mumbai, where loneliness and longing often go hand in hand.
Amidst the struggles of everyday life, Nanhe finds himself at a crossroads after losing his job as an assistant at a tailoring shop. With dreams of owning his own shop tantalizingly out of reach due to financial constraints, Nanhe is faced with a daunting dilemma. Desperate to turn his aspirations into reality, he embarks on a risky path, resorting to robbery as a means to gather the funds he so desperately needs. This decision sets the stage for a series of unexpected events that will challenge Nanhe's moral compass and reshape his destiny in ways he never imagined. He chooses Kamath, an old widower who lives alone, for his first robbery. This pivotal moment sets the stage for the captivating journey that unfolds in ‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka.’ With Nanhe's choice to break into Kamath's home, the film launches into a compelling exploration of fate, redemption, and the unexpected connections that bind us all together.
Mrs. Handa (Neena Gupta) is a jolly, full-of-life Punjabi woman, who often swears in Punjabi and has just returned from Canada to live alone, just like Kamath. Besides their loneliness, they have one more thing in common, that is being robbed by the same thief, Nanhe. When their paths intertwine an unusual friendship blooms. Kamath and Mrs. Handa embark on a whirlwind of mischievous escapades. Kamath’s routine is to quietly observe the schedule of lonely and vulnerable individuals, in an attempt to keep them safe from robberies. Together, they stealthily jog through Mumbai’s labyrinthine streets, slipping into homes to enjoy stolen moments and safe to say, stolen beer. Beneath the surface of their lighthearted antics lies a strong bond, a mutual understanding that provides them solace and support amidst life's uncertainties.
Nanhe sees a ray of hope when he develops a relationship with Rani (Monika Panwar), an alms-seeker. The journey of their relationship reminds the audience that besides being a film about companionship, ‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’ also shows the struggle to catch-up with the speed of fast-paced Mumbai and the cost of dreaming in the city of dreams.
Jackie Shroff as an old and lonely man, is convincing. His performance evokes all the right emotions for his character. Neena Gupta, who has played similar roles before, doesn’t disappoint. Abhishek Chauhan who has been seen in ‘Asur’ and ‘Main Monica’ proves his mettle as an actor as innocent, desperate Nanhe. Although, there are two performances that outshine the rest, Monika Panwar as Rani and Rakhi Sawant as Bimla, aka Bilkis didi. Rani is an unabashed, unapologetic mother of one, who takes life for what it is. We see her cruising through all odds like a boss-lady, who knows what she wants and goes right after it. She never gives in to her grim circumstances. At the same time, Bilkis is a choreographer, in an abusive marriage, yet she navigates through life against all odds. It is important to note that ‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’ doesn’t portray women as mere preys to their fate, thanks to Payal Arora’s writing. With her performance as Bilkis, Rakhi Sawant proves her potential as an actor, despite her loud persona we often see on social media.
The film’s opening shots themselves convince you that we’re all set to see good cinematography. The orange and brown tints during the light-hearted scenes and the green-yellow tints during the difficult scenes do a great job at setting the scene. The warm and fuzzy background score compliments the film very well.
If you’re looking to watch something which is not very emotionally demanding, yet captivating, you should definitely watch ‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’ on Amazon Prime.
