Everclear Films’ Mercy (UA) is about euthanasia.
Shekhar (Raj Vasudeva) and Vihaan (Kunal Bhan) are in a dilemma because their mother (Aparna Ghoshal) is lying in an almost vegetative state in the hospital with hardly any hope of survival. The question is: should they continue with treatment or should they allow her to die by discontinuing medication? While Shekhar is keen to keep trying because there’s a ray of hope for a miracle to happen, Vihaan is more practical and is in favour of letting her die rather than suffering in that state. Shekhar finds himself alienated because his wife, Jiya (Niharica Raizada), is also in favour of pulling the plug off. Shekhar seeks the advice of local priest Father Joel (Adil Hussain), but that doesn’t make things any easier for him.
Mitul Patel’s story lacks any novelty whatsoever because although it’s a topic which is not routinely discussed in too many films, it has been the subject matter of films like Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish and Revathy’s Salaam Venky. In Guzaarish, the issue was slightly different because in that film, the patient himself was keen to end his life. In Salaam Venky, the patient’s mother knocks the doors of the court to seek an end to the life of her suffering son. Anyway, the point is that the story has been seen on the silver screen before, and hence there’s no novelty factor left. Mitul Patel’s screenplay is dull, dry and drab. The behaviour of Shekhar appears weird because there can be only two opinions — let the mother die or let the treatment continue. The shock which Shekhar exhibits, when Vihaan opts for death, is uncalled for because the issue in a case like this is as terrible as choosing between the devil and the deep sea. Since the drama moves on a single track, it becomes boring and depressing after a point of time. The angle of Jiya’s pregnancy is a separate track but it is so half-baked that it hardly reduces the depressing atmosphere. Rather, it only adds to the depression. The characters are all half-baked and, therefore, the writing seems to be the job of a novice. Mitul Patel’s dialogues hardly deserve mention.
Raj Vasudeva is wooden in the role of Shekhar. He goes through the entire drama with just one expression. Niharica Raizada is okay as Jiya. Kunal Bhan does a fair job as Vihaan. Adil Hussain lends reasonable support as Father Joel. Aparna Ghoshal is ordinary as the mother. Azinkya Mishra (as young Shekhar), Sarthak Joshi (as Krishna), Sham Gandhi (as Kevin), Gauri Verma (as Jenny), Ajay Dutta (as the doctor), Ram Chiru (as the pharmacist) and the others provide routine support.
Mitul Patel’s direction is dull. He has made a slow film which would appeal only to the festival circuit audience. Kingshuk Chakravarty and Aryan Shabin’s music hardly elevates the proceedings. Mahika Bheda’s lyrics are okay. Background music is so-so. Karthik Mallur’s cinematography is alright. Susheel Mishra’s production designing, and Vikas Patel’s art direction are functional. Sanjay Shrirang Ingle’s editing leaves a lot to be desired.
On the whole, Mercy is a non-starter and will hardly find any takers because it is too depressing to be true.
Released on 24-4-’26 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Augmentus Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.