Binny And Family (Hindi Movie) - "Unpaid" Movie Review

TL;DR - This is a beautiful family drama showing generational gaps at their best. It is a sensible movie and everyone will find at least some parts of it relatable, if not all. The 'Family' in the movie name is apt and I recommend that grandparents must watch it with their grandchildren, and, of course, their children (i.e. the parents). If you liked the Yeh Meri Family web-series on Amazon Mini TV or Shiv Shastri Balboa (this one is a lot more enjoyable than the Anupam Kher-Neena Gupta starrer). I would even put it in the same bucket as Laapataa Ladies where the story and performance just shine. There is no big-ticket actors, masala, action or songs - and that's a good thing sometimes.

Long Version -

First off, that girl, Anjini Dhawan who plays Binny is something. I went into the movie theatre not knowing her name but looked her up right after the movie finished. I realized she is Varun Dhawan's niece. Don't let all of that nepotism talk bother you though. This girls delivers the goods and brilliantly on her debut. She plays an 18 yr old to the T and she repeatedly reminded me of my 16 yr old niece growing up in metro city.

Her dialogues with her best friend, a Gujju named Bhavesh Patel, are exactly how people that age speak nowadays, especially in metros. That Gujju character also provides most of the humour in the movie and you will be reminded of a famous Hindi movie celebrity when you see him on the screen. He will also take that celebrity's name once in the movie. So watch out for that.

The movie shows the struggles of a teenager growing up, blending in, struggling with loneliness despite having people in her life. It also shows how parents struggle to manage teenagers and the impossible situations that life puts people in where no choice is a perfect one. There's obviously a lot of cultural clash when three generations born in India come to live under the same roof in London. Rajesh Kumar, coincidentally plays the father just like he does in Yeh Meri Family and he plays it perfectly. His difficult conversation with his father (Pankaj Kapoor) over a phone was something that stayed with me. You feel for him time and again. His exchanges with his wife (Charu Shankar) are also humourous as well as sensible. She does her role well too.

Pankaj Kapoor and Himani Shivpuri as the grandparents are veteran actors who can do no wrong whatever role you give them. Pankaj Kapoor especially has more screen time and his interactions with Binny are really the meat of the movie. They are very nicely done. Without giving out any spoilers, I can't say more about Pankaj Kapoor's role but you'll be definitely satisfied with it.

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