Absolute Review: Janhvi Kapoor and Sunny Kaushal starrer Mili is a mediocre remake of a well-acclaimed thriller

By Shachi Chaturvedi

Cast: Janhvi Kapoor,  Sunny Kaushal and Manoj Pahwa

Director:  Mathukutty Xavier

Runtime: 2 hr 7 min

Rating: 2/5

Synopsis

Janhvi Kapoor plays a woman trapped in a freezer fighting for her life. ‘Mili’ is the official Hindi remake of the Malayalam thriller ‘Helen’.

Review

A remake of a well-acclaimed 2019 movie Helen, Mili, begins by giving a synopsis of the whole film. The beginning of the film serves as the film’s scoring part. It begins with an ant (metaphor) depicting the life journey of the girl Mili (Janhvi) as it passes through each and every photo and medal of hers until the ant falls and ends up in a freezer, which is exactly what the film’s story is about.

In terms of the script and the concept of the film, in a nutshell, it is a well-written story but offers nothing new.  The story is not something we haven’t seen before. Of course, there has never been a film entirely about a girl fighting for her life in a freezer, but to be honest, there is no need for one. There are n number of serials that have the same sequence where some or all of the characters end up in the freezer, fight for their life, and then come out alive.

Coming to the star performances, Sunny Kashaul’s role is substantial. He is basically a supporting actor which plays Mili’s love interest. Because the character lacks depth, his presence makes little difference.

When it comes to the movie’s central character, Janhvi, she is cute and a good fit for the role, but how many times do we have to see Janhvi in the same role? There is no difference between her character from Good Luck, Jerry, and this one. Although she does justice to the role, it is past time for Janhvi to step out of her comfort zone and show her other sides.

Manoj Pahwa knows how to nail a role, and while playing Mili’s father, he manages to draw attention to himself with his dialogue delivery and presentation style. What is surprising is Jackie Shroff’s Cameo in the film, which is a 5 min sequence yet a strong one. 

In terms of technical aspects, there is nothing to question. Despite the fact that the film has good cinematography and well-captured frames and shots throughout. What stands out is a close-up shot of Janhvi’s eyes, which depicts her pain through her eyes.

A film is never complete without a good background score and music, but in this case, the soundtrack falls short. Although the beats and background music are not bad, there is room for improvement.

It seems like the animals/insects used in the film have done a better performance. Special mention goes to the rat who has been with Janhvi in the freezer. The presence of that rat delivers a very strong message in a very unsaid manner. It shows how a person can understand someone’s pain only if they go through the same.

Apart from the basic plot, the film subtly attempts to address the issue of a corrupt system and the stereotype that if a girl is not home by midnight, she is probably hoeing with her boyfriend.

Conclusion

This is a straightforward story about a middle-class girl. Only a few scenes have a secondary meaning. It’s a decent film that can be watched once, but it’s nothing to write home about.