Angrezi Medium Review: Suffers from a Handful of Negatives!

Angrezi Medium—a spin-off to the hit 2017 film—Hindi Medium stars the returning Irrfan Khan and Deepak Dobriyal in the lead roles with Radhika Madan (‘Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota’ fame) playing the supporting character and Kareena Kapoor Khan in a special guest appearance. Contrary to the 2017 film, this Homi Adajania directorial deals with an entirely different set of characters from top to bottom, and a brand-new storyline that focuses more on an endearing father-daughter relation, which is the main crux of the narrative. Angrezi Medium Review

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Set in the bustling streets of Udaipur, Angrezi Medium tells the story of Champak, a single parent, and his only daughter, Tarika, who aspires to study/visit abroad from a very young age. Eventually, after realizing that her school offers scholarships for a selected few to study in London, she works hard to attain the offer despite facing multiple obstacles along the way. However, due to some unforeseen events involving her father, things quickly go south as the remainder of the film details on her mission to get an admission in one of the top universities in London.

As far as the storyline is concerned, the overall plot of Angrezi Medium is simple, precise, and straightforward. The relationship between the father and daughter (Irrfan and Radhika) duo was well explored and is probably the best part of the entire movie. However, the in-between pieces, be it, a few scenes including Irrfan and Dobriyal’s characters, the whole subplot involving Kareena Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia derailed the pacing of the film through and through. Although the first half only suffered a couple of missteps, the complete second half of the movie didn’t pack a punch and endured through a multitude of problems from pointless scenes to cliché comedic scenes that vanished from my memory.

But, despite the avoidable errors, I never once in the entire duration of the movie checked my watch or phone, thanks to a satisfactory climax and a few comedic scenes which are delightful to watch. As I mentioned earlier, the chemistry between Irrfan Khan and Radhika Madan shined the brightest whenever they’re together on-screen. The genuine-yet-heartfelt dialogue, the funny and the serious interactions, and above all, their story arc had a through-line and a good ending which mattered the most.

The performances from the complete cast also played a significant role in elevating the quality of the movie. Irrfan Khan—the warrior, who is going through a lot in his personal life right now, did a phenomenal job as always with a vibrant portrayal of his character. He proceeds to be funny from the beginning till the end and switches between his emotions flawlessly. And Radhika Madan as his daughter fits the bill perfectly. Her attitude, mannerisms, and body language suited well for her character, and she certainly is entertaining to watch inside and out.

Accompanying the two main characters, Deepak Dobriyal, who also plays a significant role in the film impresses once again with his comedic timing, and the ability to diversify himself from the characters he played in the past. His portrayal of Gopi produced the majority of laughs and is once again a welcome addition to the film. Kareena Kapoor Khan had zero to minimal screen presence, and her character didn’t support the ongoing narrative whatsoever. Excluding a scene which she shared with Dimple Kapadia, her role created zero impact to the film.

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Overall, Angrezi Medium suffered from a handful of negatives when compared to the positives from the pacing to the unnecessary subplots, etc. But, the heart and the soul of the movie is the relationship showcased between the father and daughter duo of Irrfan and Radhika Madan, which is heartwarming to watch in all respects. The comedy partly worked, and the performances were praiseworthy all across the board, but this film is nowhere near as good as the first one in the franchise. I left the theater with an open smile by the very end, however, that didn’t compensate for the midway mediocrity of the movie.

‘Angrezi Medium’ Rating – 2.75/5 | Grade – C+

Images via Maddock Films