‘Angrezi Medium’ review: Irrfan and Deepak Dobriyal elevate a predictable, incoherent script

Parents across the world run on similar kind of emotions. They worry unnecessarily, overact and overprotect and love unconditionally and sometimes even illogically. But can love and being protective stifle a child’s freedom? Most parents tread a thin line where at some point in time, they need to let go off their control over children- a decision that is perhaps the toughest to deal with. Director Homi Adajania’s film ‘Angrezi Medium’ deals with the same emotion, of a father grappling to the idea of an empty nest even as he goes out of the way to make his daughter’s dreams come true.

A sequel of sorts to ‘Hindi Medium’, the story has Irrfan playing Champak Bansal, a single-parent to Tarika(Radhika Bansal) who aspires to go abroad to do her graduation. Based in Udaipur, Champak’s world revolves around Tarika. The owner of a legacy sweet shop, his greater part of the day goes in squabbling with cousin Gasetamal Bansal (Deepak Dobriyal) and fussing over this daughter. When Tarika announces she wants to study in one of the most prestigious colleges in London, Champak- in a haste- promises to make her dream come true but things start spiralling down soon after as Champak and his brother set out on a very difficult journey to make Tarika’s dream come true.

The story is well-intended and shows how unconditionally parents love their children and go to greater lengths to fulfil their wishes. But the screenplay often loses grip over the plot making the narrative appear clumsy and long. The story is not very original- and certain situations seem illogical and irrelevant- forced into the story to make it funny.

While the story doesn’t always add up- it is the performances by the two leading men-Irrfan and Deepak Dobriyal- which lift the film up to a great extent. It's always a delight to watch Irrfan on screen. Its a well-known fact that the actor was undergoing treatment while shooting for this film- but on-screen Irrfan lights up every single frame with sheer talent. Give the man any kind of role and he always delivers. In ‘Angrezi Medium’, as the simpleton Champak Bansal, Irrfan takes on a weak screenplay and turns it endearing with his performance. The man is pitch-perfect.