Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures, PEN Studios, Aham Brahmasmi and PVR Cinemas’ Mere Pyare Prime Minister (UA) is the story of sanitation facilities or rather the lack of them among the lower strata of society.
Sargam is a single mother who lives in a chawl of Bombay with her little son, Kannu (Om Kanojiya). Since the chawl has no toilet facilities, the womenfolk defecate early in the morning in the open before people wake up. To feel safe, the ladies often go in groups. One day, Sargam is somehow alone for the job. As bad luck would have it, she is raped by a policeman.
Kannu is devastated and decides to do something. He makes a temporary toilet on a hill for his mother, using some bamboo sticks and his mother’s saree. The chawl dwellers are happy and they soon start using the toilet as their own. The temporary toilet breaks down on a stormy day. That’s when Kannu realises that he’d have to think of a permanent solution to his problem.
He visits the municipality office only to be told that since the chawl itself is illegal, the municipality would not build a toilet in it. Kannu is told that the only person who can help him is the Prime Minister. So, Kannu sets off for Delhi with two of his little friends, to meet PM Narendra Modi. Of course, they are unable to personally meet the PM but an official (Atul Kulkarni) in the Prime Minister’s office is very helpful. He ensures that Kannu’s application reaches the right place. Finally, one day, the authorities in Delhi inform Kannu that toilets would be built in his chawl. The chawl gets not one but several community toilets.
Manoj Mairta, Hussain Dalal and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra have penned a very basic story about the sanitation problem. Although it has noble intentions, the story fails to exploit the emotional aspect of the problem. In other words, their screenplay does not succeed in tugging at the heart-strings. Had the screenplay been able to make the audience cry or even feel terribly bad for Kannu and his mother, the drama would have made a far greater impact. In the form in which it unfolds, it appears more like a docu-drama and it leaves the audience almost unconcerned about what the outcome of Kannu’s efforts would be. Some scenes make the audience cringe! Dialogues, penned by the trio, are average.
Om Kanojiya acts ably and is endearing as Kannu. Anjali Patil is alright as Sargam. Niteesh Wadhwa does an average job in the role of Pappu, who loves Sargam. Rasika Agashe performs well as neighbour Rabiya. As Kannu’s friends, Syna Anand (Mangla), Adarsh Bharti (Ringtone) and Prasad Sawant (Nirala) lend good support. Makarand Deshpande is fair in the role of Sainath. Atul Kulkarni leaves a fine mark in a brief role. Neela Mulhekar (as Ajibai) and Nachiket Purnapatre (as Sajju) are okay.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s direction is fairly nice but he has not been able to make a heart-touching humane drama. Although Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music is quite nice, the songs lack the popularity quotient. Gulzar’s lyrics are weighty. Tubby Parik’s background music has impact. Pawel Dyllus’ cinematography is effective. Rajat Poddar’s production designing is appropriate. Meghna Sen’s editing is sharp.
On the whole, Mere Pyare Prime Minister has no commercial value as it will appeal neither to the classes nor the masses, neither to the kids nor the older generation.
Released on 15-3-’19 at Inox (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PEN Marudhar Cine Entertainment. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.