Think of a world where there would be no walls or fences to divide human beings, where we shall not shed blood for trifles where color, caste, creed or religion shall no longer decide whom we trust and to what extent. It’s difficult yet this dream world exists. It exists within us but we don’t see it and look elsewhere, make speeches and write articles about it without ever thinking how we could make it real. Mr. & Mrs. Iyer brings this world to life in front of us on the silver screen. It’s the story of Mrs Meenakshi Iyer and Mr Jahangir Choudhary, very unlikely travel companions brought together by a mild confusion over a name. (Mr Shakespeare are you listening)
Meenakshi (Konkana Sen) is a Tamil Iyer Brahmin of conservative upbringing and rather tight disciplines on what to eat etc. Jahangir (Bose) is an urbane wildlife photographer not too bothered about religion till his own life is threatened. The duos are trapped in a difficult situation when their journey is uncomfortably lengthened due to a communal riot situation. This is what brings out the inherent goodness in each one when they take the responsibility of the other and protect the one secret that could probably cost them three lives.
The emotional tug of war is most visible in the lady who, in-spite of her conservative upbringing comes to accept, then trust and love a complete stranger and a Muslim at that, something she’s programmed (for the want of better words) to avoid. Its a brilliant performance by Sen one that carries the move almost completely. Bose does a good job as a modern and straightforward person and a man of character. Its never possible to make out if he is merely sticking to his duty as a responsible man or if he was actually getting emotionally involved with his co traveler or he’s doing it out of gratitude.
Their relationship is a bit of enigma for the viewers till the near kissing scene, which takes everything away from our imagination and judgment. Oh why could it not have been left just as it is...An enigmatic friendship a bond of trust or whatever else? I guess nobody is perfect....
The movie is shot in some of the most picturesque locales and the camera effects are simply great. You cannot help but appreciate the extent to which the cast and the crew have gone to make it natural. Stereotypes have been used in some situations but then they couldn’t have done without.
Don’t miss this movie... Indian cinema rarely gets this good.