3.0/5
Based on celebrated Gujarati play Beta Kaagdo by Anand Gandhi, Helicopter Eela is an ode to both motherhood and womanhood. Worrying is a prerequisite for every mother. They never stop worrying even for a moment. Sometimes it becomes obsessive but there is always a reason for such obsession. It's hard for mothers to let go, to start living life for their own selves. That’s the film's message. That for their own growth, parents need loosen the strings tied to their children and just let life be.Eela (Kajol) is talented singer married to copywriter husband Arun (Tota Roy Chowdhury). She's a mother of young son, and looks poised for great things. But at around that time, a cousin's death pushes Arun into a mid-life crisis. He decides to leave his wife and child to find himself. That means Eela has to fend for her son alone. She lets go of her singing career and opens a dabba business, and becomes increasingly possessive as her son grows up. When Vivaan (Riddhi Sen) is in college, she decides to join it herself to finish her education. Vivaan has enough of the suffocation and tells her so. He wants her to make something of her own life and pushed to the wall, she decides to take stock of herself and starts on a journey of self-discovery.
Since it's a comedy the treatment is kind of over the top but the issues Helicopter Eela raises are serious indeed. That parents too need to re-examine their lives and push for betterment is a new concept in Bollywood and one that should be welcomed. We're all helicopter moms and dads and seriously have to stop roving around our children all the time.
The film serves ‘90s nostalgia with a shovel.
A must watch scene is recreating the launch of MTV India in 1996. Watch out for Shaan, Ila Arun, Baba Sehgal, and Anu Malik living it up at the party. Mahesh Bhatt makes a cameo as himself and Alisha Chinoy is cast as singer Anita, whose Ruk ruk ruk gets remixed by Eela and makes her famous. It's original songs, in particular the comic Mummy ki parchai and the emotional Yaadon ki almari work as well. Kudos to lyricist Swanand Kirkire and composer Amit Trivedi for that.
The film rests on Kajol's reliable shoulders. As Eela, she does everything that's required for the film. She makes the years roll away as a frothy teenager in the first half and gets her expressions right as a Tiger Mom later on. Riddhi Sen matches her histrionics in every frame they are together and it's their mother-son chemistry which makes the film believable. Toto Roy Chowdhury makes the most of his underwritten role and Neha Dhupia offers support as the sassy drama teacher.
Watch the film for some fierce acting by Kajol, who given her enormous talent should be getting more author-backed roles. Take your parents along as well - both parties might learn a thing or two...
Trailer : Helicopter Eela
Ronak Kotecha, October 11, 2018, 11:24 PM IST
3.5/5
Mamma knows best!
Helicopter Eela Story: Based on a Gujarati play ‘Beta, Kaagdo’, Helicopter Eela is the story of a single mother, who makes her son’s well-being, the only purpose of her life. But will she end up losing herself and her son in this relentless pursuit.
Helicopter Eela Review: Sunita Rao’s lilting ‘Pari Hoon Main’ playing on radio welcomes you to the world of Eela Raiturkar (Kajol). A budding singer of the 90s, she doesn’t live in the past, but her world now revolves around her 20-year-old son Vivaan (Riddhi Sen). She follows him around in the real and virtual world; all the way to his college, where she turns up as a fellow student, too.
It’s an exciting premise and director Pradeep Sarkar sets the stage for a generational confrontation right at the beginning. However, he chooses to spend the first half taking us back into the good ol’ nineties, where Indie Pop ruled music charts and Baba Sehgal’s raps were a rage.
In the first half, writers Anand Gandhi and Mitesh Shah convey the ups and downs in the life of a young couple (Kajol and Tota Roy Chowdhury) with conviction. The film stays on course with light banter between the characters and the story progresses consistently without much melodrama. A fun soundtrack by Amit Trivedi, with quirky lyrics, also adds to the momentum.
Kajol hits all the right notes, be it as a singer on the cusp of hitting super stardom, or as a doting mother. She lights up the screen with an effortless charm. Tota Roy Chowdhury adequately pitches in as her supportive partner. However, there is a visible lack of chemistry between the two. National Award-winner Riddhi Sen, who is acclaimed for his performances in Bengali cinema, pulls off the emotional scenes with finesse, but his comic timing could have been better. Neha Dhupia performs well in her limited role, too. But the film belongs to Kajol, who dominates every frame. Her portrayal of a single mom’s love for her only child is convincing, enduring and deserves applause.
In the second half, director Pradeep Sarkar often comes close to giving wings to his protagonist, but that doesn’t happen till the very end. During this half, the mother joins the son in college and there’s ample opportunity for comedy, but that doesn’t ever play out. While the mother-son conflict is the core of the story, their confrontational scenes become a tad too repetitive.
Overall, Helicopter Eela is a fun ride that manages to land safely despite some turbulence. Watch this simple and endearing tale of motherly love with your mom in tow.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p7XLpp2aqpVjsLC5jqucr6GVrMBwrs6lo7Kvn6SxbrnOr6Ceq1%2BivLe1xGapnq6ZmsRutMSloJynoKmys3nEnqOaZWNlg3qAjaGrpqQ%3D