Emily Dickinson wrote the words “what the heart desires” which touched many of us deeply. As Dickinson said, human desires and obsessions often go beyond the scope of reason and reasoning. JioCinema’s latest original film, Utsav, is based on the same concept. The film tells the story of a man named Mitesh (Amit Siyar), who has been obsessed with a gorgeous bungalow in Mumbai, Utsav, for years. Like a teenager in love, he keeps scrolling through photos of the bungalow on his phone, daydreaming about it and not minding being stuck in traffic just to have a few moments to admire the bungalow in its entirety.
The only obstacle standing in his way of realizing his childhood dream home is Utsav’s owner, Govinda (Paresh Rawal), who has a bad temper and always chases away uninvited guests while living in the villa with his servants. He knows the appeal of the place and can’t stand the agents hanging around him, waiting for his consent to sell the property. A sign outside the villa reads “Trespassers will be put to death.” Always wearing a khadi kurta and with unkempt hair, Govinda is a difficult guy.
However, when Mitesh’s obsession takes over, he decides to enter Govinda’s tense life. His idea is to follow the old man, strategically build a relationship with him, win his trust, and eventually convince or cajole (whichever is more appropriate at the time) him to give up the villa.
What follows is a series of hilarious efforts to accomplish this difficult task. Mitesh is willing to give everything for the villa, even if it means dealing with dangerous criminals and even missing his child’s birthday party. As a villain full of lies, gambling and cheating, this is not a temporary change of morality for him.
Siyyar’s performance as Mitesh is very memorable and makes the whole film lighthearted and fun. From his facial expressions, body language to the comic timing, Siyyar plays it to perfection. He even brings a touch of innocence to Mitesh, who is a typical flawed character.
However, the standout for me is Paresh Rawal. The veteran actor once again delivers a brilliant performance that adds to his diverse portfolio of roles. His character’s tantrums, insecurities and quirks reverberate across the screen. In one scene, he becomes suspicious of Mitesh’s intentions but chooses to ignore it because he’s already had his undivided attention for so long.
Sadly, however, the script gives Rawal and Siyyar very limited scope to shine. While the actors make the most of what they have, the film doesn’t quite live up to their potential. I would have liked the film to explore Govinda’s loneliness and touch on his memories with his late son, who is mentioned frequently in the film.
I Love You, I Love You essentially tries to show that greed is everywhere, regardless of age, class or gender. Despite its comedic approach, the film succeeds in showing how greed often leads to one digging one’s own grave. Almost all the characters in the film are greedy for something. For some, greed is money and assets, for others, greed is desire and company.
While I Love My Family sincerely attempts to show the depth of greed, its tone is too simplistic, obscuring harsher realities in the world. If it hadn’t sugarcoated its portrayal and instead attempted satire, the film wouldn’t feel like a didactic bedtime story about the immorality of greed.
If you are looking for a lighthearted and simple film, then Raj Trivedi’s film could be a good choice. Its moral lesson might be suitable for younger audiences, but if you are looking for some film with stronger emotional depth or even just for a good laugh, we recommend you to skip this film.
Rating: 6/10
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