Ronit J

The Mehta Boys (2025) Synopsis:

A father and son embark on an involuntary 48-hour odyssey, navigating clashing perspectives as they confront the intricate nuances of their strained relationship.

The Mehta Boys (2025) Review:

When I first watched the trailer for The Mehta Boys a few weeks ago, I was intrigued. Having seen Boman Irani in many different roles, I wanted to see how he would fare in the director’s chair. Besides, the many stellar reviews that this film has received added to my want to watch this one.

Did it live up to the hype?

A visceral family drama…

The film opens with Amay (Avinash Tiwary). He lives in a dilapidated apartment that he probably pays an unreasonably high rent for, and works in a prestigious architectural firm. Of course, his firm is working on getting a major contract, and he has ideas but not the confidence to pitch them to his boss and colleagues. However, everything hits a standstill when Amay is informed of his mother’s passing.

Back in his native place, we are introduced to Shiv (Boman Irani) and Anu (Puja Sarup). While the character dynamics aren’t anything new or unique, the actors do justice in realising their depths. Irani’s Shiv does weep in mourning, but remains largely stoic. Sarup’s Anu is the real rock of the family, an almost tomboyish presence that keeps them all together. And Amay? He’s the child, not just in terms of age, but also the way he is treated despite his very much adult life in Mumbai.

The magic really starts happening when Shiv’s flight is delayed by two days, and he has to spend that time in Amay’s apartment. Their ego struggles and wordless conflicts escalate almost instantly, building tensions and pushing the narrative forward. While Amay struggles to become his own man, Shiv grapples with existence without his wife. These bubbling conflicts add layers of tensions between father and son, beautifully realised by the constantly tight framing, and slow burn scenes.

The Mehta Boys takes a very generic conflict and presents it in an authentic manner. I could see my own relationship with my father in Amay and Shiv. It felt the perfect balance between unspoken things, clashing sensibilities, and generational differences. Honestly, if it had stuck to this nuanced treatment, the film could have become one of my favourite watches of the year. Alas, it…

Has its share of toxic desi ideals and melodrama

It’s somewhere in the last 45 minutes or so that I began to lose interest in the film. All the beautifully entwined emotional threads get resolved rather simplistically. Instead of confronting his father, Amay learns that his father’s ‘tough love’ act was to prepare him for the cruel world. Yes, it might be valid to an extent, but feels like a cheap excuse to wash off Shiv’s sins. And Shiv? Although we see growth in terms of him accepting his son’s life for what it is, he doesn’t apologise for his bad behaviour the way Amay does. Almost like a perpetration of the worst of desi family values, particularly that the elders are always right.

Even if I pardon that bit, the climax sequences were a little too melodramatic for a film like this. Almost as if the makers had to scramble to make a more melodramatic end on the demands of producers, and not creativity. The whole film felt real and visceral, but these parts just killed the authenticity in exchange for flashy resolutions.

The Mehta Boys (2025) Ending Explained (SPOILERS)

Amay finally manages to deliver his presentation, even going so far as to stand up for what he believes in despite his low confidence. All this comes as a result of his constant conflicts with his father in the past two days. Once he receives praises from his bosses and colleagues, he returns to his father to thank him for all the lessons.

As the film concludes, we see that, although not everything is perfect between father and son, there is a minuscule bridging of the gap. Meaning, maybe the two might work on their relationship, now that Shiv is flying to America to live with Anu. Two days of turmoil, and they all have grown just a little bit. A realistic growth, leaving us on a hopeful note that they will both continue to thrive.

The Mehta Boys (2025) worth the watch?

Depends. The film has a lot of great moments, with stellar performances from its leading duo. The way Irani sets the stage for the relatively low stakes familial conflict that unearths the complex nature of desi father-son relationships is worthy of praise. However, the film also contains many melodramatic scenes, perpetuating problematic desi values of parents always being right, and elements that don’t seem to fit organically within this narrative.

In Conclusion:

The Mehta Boys is a visceral family drama that is elevated by its powerful performances, but ultimately pulled down by melodrama and dated values. Your enjoyment of the film depends on where you stand regarding desi values. But, if you just want to sit back and enjoy a lighthearted drama, The Mehta Boys might just be up your alley.

Boman Irani has proven his mettle as a filmmaker, and I would genuinely like for him to helm more projects.

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Have you seen The Mehta Boys? What did you think about this movie? Let me know in the comments below, along with any film recommendations you’d like me to watch/review.

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