Directed by Mainak Bhaumik, the film focuses more on frivolous entertainment than on sincerely addressing the issue of good parenting.
Mini review: Poor writing fails this tale of friendship between a girl and her aunt
Cinestaan Rating
Release Date: 06 May 2022 / Rated: U / 01hr 54min
Roushni Sarkar | Kolkata, 08 May 2022 21:26 IST
Mainak Bhaumik’s film Mini (2022), starring Mimi Chakraborty and Ayanna Chatterjee, narrates the story of a career-orientated woman who is suddenly given the responsibility of taking care of her niece. Their equation turns complicated when the idea of responsible parenting makes its way into their friendship.
Struggling fashion designer Titli (Chakraborty) runs away from the idea of marriage because she has been witness to the failed conjugal life of her elder sister (Kamalika Bhattacharya). Also, she does not have a peaceful relationship with her partner Deep (Saptarshi Moulik), who is more focused on building a certain public image for his acting career.
Titli’s sister suddenly falls sick and when the doctor advises her to get admitted in hospital, Titli brings her niece Mini to stay with her. They have fun-filled moments together, but when Mini gets into constant fights with fellow students, Titli’s responsibility towards her as a caregiver is judged.
On the other hand, Titli vents the frustrations of her messed-up relationship on Mini. The rest of the film narrates how both refuse to give up on each other, with Titli redefining the idea of parenting and Mini rewarding her with the gift of friendship.
The concept sounds sweet, but the character sketch of Mini is perhaps the most annoying part of the film. There are precocious children, but Mini simply speaks like someone who has all the experience of an adult. From the beginning to end, her character lacks innocence and her maturity comes across as forced.
The other characters, too, suffer from a lack of depth in writing. Titli seems unnecessarily flustered most of the time. Mini’s grandmother straightaway refusing to take care of her granddaughter only makes her aloof and detached, not funny.
While Mini’s dialogues are in no way relatable, the rest of the characters have also been given lines that are poorly conceived. And none of the artistes is able to deliver a performance that can cover up these flaws.
Pratip Mukherjee’s camerawork and Savvy’s background score have lent the film a sleek and fresh look and an urban feel. Sumit Chowdhury has kept the film compact.
The tropes often associated with educated working women and their parenting skills could also have been addressed with a little more sincerity had the script not been so focused on delivering entertainment by taking away from Mini the simplicity that comes with childhood. In their attempt to make the friendship look cool, writers Bhaumik and Aritra Sengupta have drained the essence of natural affection in the individuals from two different age groups.
Mini was released in theatres across West Bengal on 6 May.