‘The Mehta Boys’ is a Tender Drama About Father-Son Relationship That Resonates Long After the Credits Roll
- As a first-time director, Boman Irani excels in crafting a film that feels deeply personal yet universally relatable.
Boman Irani’s “The Mehta Boys” is a powerful and emotional exploration of a father-son relationship weighed down by years of unspoken resentment and repressed emotions. The film, which marks Irani’s directorial debut, was released on Amazon Prime Video in February and captures a deeply personal story about the often-overlooked emotional complexities that govern familial bonds.
Written by Irani and Alexander Dinelaris, the film delivers a candid look at how many people go through life without learning to deal with their emotions or communicate effectively. Through the Mehta family, the film shows how such failure can ripple across generations.
The Plot: Amay Mehta (Avinash Tiwary), a driven and workaholic architect in Mumbai, leads a lopsided life dedicated to his career, struggling with self-doubt despite his education and skill. His world is turned upside down when he receives the news of his mother’s passing, forcing him to confront the fractured relationship with his father, Shiv Mehta (Boman Irani).
Shiv, reeling from the loss of his wife, is set to leave for the U.S. with his daughter. However, due to a flight delay, he stays with Amay for an additional 48 hours. This short time together becomes a catalyst for emotional confrontations and revelations. Their strained relationship is highlighted by a series of awkward and well-demonstrated clashes, from arguments over living arrangements to misunderstandings about what each needs from the other.
Shiv, with his stubbornness and emotional baggage, and Amay, with his inability to express himself, both exacerbate the situation. Amidst these tensions, we see the underlying dynamics in many households, where communication between a father and son often takes place indirectly through a third party—a woman who serves as a mediator and tries to cater to or pamper both men without addressing the real issue at hand.
In this story, the mother is no longer present. What unfolds is a series of raw confrontations that expose the vulnerabilities both men try so hard to suppress. But amidst the chaos, there are glimmers of hope—moments of self-reflection, levity, and connection, such as when the two share a laugh over a Laurel and Hardy slapstick comedy, a home-cooked meal (prepared by Shiv), and a drink on the balcony overlooking the glimmering metropolis of Mumbai. These moments set the stage for the possibility of reconciliation.
What makes “The Mehta Boys” so compelling is its unflinching portrayal of relationships that many will find painfully familiar. Zara (Shreya Chaudhry), Amay’s colleague, becomes a kind of emotional intermediary. However, like many such figures, she finds herself caught between two worlds—neither truly understanding the deep complexities of the father-son relationship, yet desperately trying to ease the tension.
Irani avoids the trap of melodrama, opting instead for nuance and almost parodic, outlandish turns of events to showcase the complexity of his characters’ emotions.
What Irani captures so well is the frustration, awkwardness, and vulnerability that arise from a lifetime of avoiding difficult emotions. Both Shiv and Amay are trapped in their ways, unable to break through their emotional walls. Shiv’s attempt to “protect” his son by avoiding confrontation only causes more pain, while Amay’s dedication to work becomes a shield against the messy, uncomfortable truths of life and family.
The moments of conflict—whether it’s Amay’s explosion of anger after a near-accident or the quiet but searing words exchanged between father and son—are electric with unspoken grief. Finally, the father leaves while the son remains in his apartment, still emotionally distant.
A particularly tender moment comes during a scene in a restaurant where Shiv recalls a trip to a saree store to buy a saree for his late wife, Shivani. The way he recounts this memory—his voice soft, nostalgic, and tinged with love and loss—reminded me of my father, who took me for saree shopping for my marriage.
It’s these small, yet deeply emotional moments that elevate the film and make it feel so personal. The simplicity of this memory, as Shiv reflects on a moment of tenderness in a relationship now lost, is achingly real.
As a first-time director, Boman Irani excels in crafting a film that feels deeply personal yet universally relatable. His direction brings out the raw, unvarnished truth of family dynamics. There is a delicate balance in the pacing, allowing emotional arcs to develop organically without feeling rushed or overly sentimental.
Irani avoids the trap of melodrama, opting instead for nuance and almost parodic, outlandish turns of events to showcase the complexity of his characters’ emotions. The troubled duo come together when the ceiling falls on their heads!
The writing, in collaboration with Alexander Dinelaris, stands out for its authenticity. The dialogue is natural, filled with the awkwardness and hesitations that come from trying to communicate what’s been left unsaid for far too long. There is a genuine tenderness in the film’s exploration of grief, missed opportunities, and the hope that, even in our most fractured relationships, there is still a chance for healing. The unpredictability woven into the script provides moments of surprise, making the film feel fresh and emotionally engaging.
Irani’s portrayal of Shiv is masterful. His carefully crafted performance as a father who, despite his gruff exterior, only wants to restore his fractured family, brings a deep, tender quality to the film. Irani is both irritating and vulnerable, capturing the essence of a man whose pain and regret have been buried for years.
Avinash Tiwary, as Amay, delivers a performance filled with smoldering rage and diffidence. Tiwary beautifully conveys the internal conflict of a son struggling to find his voice and reconnect with a father he doesn’t know how to approach. Shreya Chaudhry, as Zara, provides a balance to the film. Her role as a supportive colleague and friend is crucial in showing how the outside world interacts with the Mehta family, offering an empathetic perspective on their struggles.
Though the film’s resolution may feel conventional to some, the journey to get there is anything but predictable. “The Mehta Boys” is a refreshing departure from typical family dramas. It’s a poignant reminder of how so many of us navigate life without ever learning to express our feelings—until it’s almost too late. This tender drama resonates long after the credits roll, offering a chance for reflection on the relationships that matter most.
With one foot in Huntsville, Alabama, the other in her birth home, India, and a heart steeped in humanity, Monita Soni writes as a contemplative practice. She has published hundreds of poems, movie reviews, book critiques, and essays, and contributed to combined literary works. Her two books are My Light Reflections and Flow Through My Heart. You can hear her commentaries on Sundial Writers Corner, WLRH 89.3 FM.