Introduction
- Mili is the story of a young woman’s survival after getting trapped in a freezer
- Adaptation of the Malayalam film HELEN
- Written by Ritesh Shah and directed by Mathukutty Xavier
Plot Summary
- Mili Naudiyal is a nurse living in Dehradun and preparing to fly to Canada for better job prospects
- She is in a relationship with Sameer, who is unemployed and resists getting a job
- Sameer gets a job opportunity in Delhi and picks up Mili from work, but gets arrested for drunk driving
- Mili’s father is angry with her and stops speaking to her
- Mili decides to stay late at work and is locked in the freezer by her manager
- She has no way to call for help and must survive until she is rescued
Analysis
- Ritesh Shah’s screenplay is uncomplicated but takes too long to introduce the characters
- Mathukutty Xavier’s direction is mainstream and effective, with a strong second half
- The first half is slow and the film drags at some points in the second half
- The finale is enjoyable
Performances
- Janhvi Kapoor delivers a strong performance with limited dialogue in the second half
- Sunny Kaushal is likable and shines in the second half
- Manoj Pahwa, Anuraag Arora, and Vikram Kochhar also give good performances
Conclusion
Overall, Mili is a survival story with a strong second half and good performances, but with a slow and dragging first half.