Rahul Bose is Debashis, an advertising executive working on a condom campaign with his colleague and buddy Raakesh (Kaabir). No, you are not reading a rehashed review for Jhankaar Beats, though you would be forgiven for thinking so.
Though Mumbai Matinee is a film about Mumbai and its hectic heartbreaks, it doesn’t really focus as much on the city and its aura as Balani’s Joggers Park. The sights and sounds are more sparingly used. In that sense Mumbai Matinee is more of play–on-film. More character-centric and certainly more satirical in its intentions than Joggers Park, Mumbai Matinee is like a delectable bag of potato chips. Crunchy and fun and yet filling in a between-meals sort of way.
It would be no exaggeration to say that Mumbai Matinee would have lacked its intangible sexual energy if it wasn’t for the performances. Not just Rahul Bose, but the supporting cast, particularly Saurabh Shukla and Kaabir get into the film’s mood without losing their shirt.
Sanjay Nair’s cinematography and Sanjay Shrivastava’s editing are the twin allies that cover up for the lies, for instance the utterly obtrusive item-number by newcomer Anusha Dhadekar which comes on like a bout of lightning during a pleasant summer evening. Also, Debu’s ongoing dialogues with the gay cruiser (Bakul Thakkar), though endearing, smacks of minority tokenism.
Mumbai Matinee breaks most music rules of Bollywood and to good effect. Those interested in hatke stuff must surely give this a try. The squeamish should stay away.
Mumbai Matinee is a delight to hear though the album has English tracks it also has song for the masses like 'Loot gaye'and 'Bumbai se ayaa'. Farhad Wadia's music is promising and refreshing not like other filmy msuic directors. Milap Zaveri's lyrics are also well written and profound. Go for it, at least it offers a break from the usual surplus of similar sounding songs.
In a way the ill-fitting gay character represents Debu Chatterjee place in Mumbai’s cultural chaos, as well the place of a film like Mumbai Matinee in the Great Mainstream Bazaar of Bolywood.
