Mithya

Gaurav Malani / INDIATIMES MOVIES / Updated: Jul 8, 2019, 12:50 IST

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Cast: Ranvir Shorey, Neha Dhupia, Naseeruddin Shah, Vinay Pathak
Director: Rajat Kapoor
Rating:

downshowrating=1Mithya means lie. And the truth is that it’s an absolute entertainer. The treatment is as unusual as the title and outcome is as unexpected as its meaning.

Let its non-commercial appearance not deceive you into assuming it as one of those art-house cinemas with an abrupt end or a preachy parable on social issues.Agreed Mithya has no star-value or item numbers but that essentially act as its USP. The film has a splendid script with believable characters, absorbing storyline and spectacular performances.
VK (Ranvir Shorey) is a junior artist who aspires to make it big in the film world. Not again, you complain! Relax,

Mithya is not about VK realizing and living his Bollywood dream. Before the title credits roll, the film diverts to an underworld plot where VK is embroiled in a conspiracy. Again if you are thinking the movie highlights the modus-operandi of the functioning of the underworld, you are mistaken. Expect the unexpected from Mithya. The story is not ‘on’ underworld but woven ‘around’ it using VK as the lead protagonist.
VK is the look-alike of an underworld kingpin Raje Bhaiya. The conspiracy by a rival gang is to replace Raje with VK and gain access to his mafia empire. While the basic plot is clearly reminiscent to Salim-Javed’s Don, the screenplay is refreshingly different, creative, realistic and believable. One can comfortably relate to the character of VK. In a scenario where masala cinema is abundant with clichés galore, the sequence of events unveiling in Mithya is least anticipated and pleasantly surprising. The only predictable aspect about Mithya is its unpredictability.
VK successfully takes Raje’s position in the gang. When everything seemed to have gone right, VK meets with an accident and loses memory. He starts believing that he’s Raje and forgets his real individuality of VK. And that’s when he is strangled between both the underworld gangs.
The writing by Rajat Kapoor and Saurabh Shukla is erratic, volatile and multi-layered. Each scene is crisply written, deftly directed and has its relevance to the script. There’s nothing inorganic. The pace is fast and the proceedings gripping.
On the flipside, the film goes a little off-track in the second half. The genre deviates from a conspiracy theory to an emotional identity crisis with VK’s paternal instincts and romantic persona coming forth. The transition comes in kinda abrupt. Unfortunately the chemistry between Ranvir Shorey and the leading ladies (Neha Dhupia and Iravati Harshe) too, isn’t established eloquently. Thankfully the director abstains from going abstract, a usual tendency with offbeat cinema.
But with Ranvir Shorey’s charismatic performance, you tend to overlook every minor loophole in the plot. In an author-backed role, he breathes life into his character. Having not used a star for his character only brings in more freshness to the film as the actor doesn’t come with a pre-conceived image. And in Rajat Kapoor’s direction, you see every actor only as a character. Naseeruddin Shah, Vinay Pathak, Harsh Chhaya and Saurabh Shukla work as those credible characters. Also it’s a pleasant change to see Neha Dhupia in a glamourous but non-formulaic role.
Mithya write-offs the myth that offbeat cinema can’t be entertaining. This one clears the illusion.
The reviewer can be contacted at gaurav.malani@timesgroup.com

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