Binny And Family Review

Set in a cross-cultural household, Binny And Family attempts to bridge the gap between old-world traditions and modern lifestyles. The story centres around a family from Patna whose son moves to London, gets married and raises a daughter. The narrative explores the generational clash when the grandparents visit, leading to discomfort for the granddaughter who struggles to share space with her elders. The film presents an age-old tale of family values versus the independence of the younger generation.

The plot revolves around a simple family dynamic: the grandparents, steeped in Bihari culture, clash with the London-raised, party-loving granddaughter. As the film progresses, it showcases the growing discomfort between the two generations, with particular focus on how modern youth can often overlook their elders.

The first half tries to keep you engaged with emotional highs and lows, but midway through it starts to drag. The second half, however, redeems itself with touching moments, especially between the granddaughter and her grandfather. The bond they share becomes the heart of the film, though the pacing remains uneven.

While the movie attempts to tug at the heartstrings, it succeeds only sporadically. The film hits its stride in showing the family's generational differences, but falters with a stretched-out narrative that feels padded in parts. The emotional moments are there, but they don't linger. The first half sets up a lot but loses steam, and the second half recovers some momentum with its heartfelt family dynamics but lacks the deep emotional impact expected of a "family" movie.

The standout of the film, Pankaj Kapur, brings his A-game as the doting grandfather and the strict grandfather, delivering a stellar performance that holds the film together. His portrayal is rich with nuance and heart, and he is the saving grace.

As the father, Rajesh Kumar is solid, embodying the Bihari family man with charm, though his role lacks depth. Born and raised in Bihar, Kumar is bang-on with his Bihari accent. He is also familiar with the Bihari pop-culture and brings the same to the screen.

Anjini Dhawan, Varun Dhawan's niece, impresses in her youthful role playing the granddaughter, bringing freshness to the screen, though at times her performance feels a little undercooked, and her character, overblown.

Charu Shankar as the mother and daughter-in-law gets very little screen time. Her role doesn't offer much in terms of character growth or complexity. She's supposed to be the glue, but ends up being more of a background presence.

Naman Tripathy, who plays a friend of the granddaughter, adds a bit of flavour but doesn't leave lasting impressions. He stands there always to support Binny, but seems more of a pillar than a real person. His performance reeks of all that's artificial. His interactions with other characters in the movie looks made up, not organic.

Technically, the film leaves much to be desired. The sound design, especially in the opening sequence, feels off, creating confusion rather than intrigue. Some of the emotional beats are interrupted by technical flaws, and the cinematography doesn't add much to elevate the storytelling. The music, though present, is mostly forgettable, with a couple of songs that don't quite fit the mood of the film.

Binny And Family took 7 years to hit the screens, but is just about a one-time watch. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but if you're looking for a light family drama, this could work for you. The film offers moments of warmth and connection, especially between the grandfather and granddaughter, but don't expect to be blown away. It's average at best - watchable if you have the time, but not a must-see.