Mixed Doubles (2006)

After 10 years of marriage and a son later, Sunil and Malti have a ordinary life. They have their respective jobs which they seem to be doing well about but what is lacking is the excitement in marriage and to be blunter is the sexual drive in the marriage. Sunil does not find sex interesting, Malti wants it but the sex does not affects their marriage. They still love each other.

One day, Sunil’s friend suggest him swinging or wife swapping. The very thought of wife-swapping rejuvenates him. Malti likes it only to find later the real reason for his change. He begs, he pleads, he argues and he manipulates her to accept his offer of wife swapping. Sunil tries to meet people who are opened to wife-swapping. A number of attempts later he finds Vinod and Kalpana. A little hesitant at first, Malti agrees to atleast meet them. What follows is Sunil trying to get Kalpana “want him” and Vinod respecting Malti discussion not to do anything.

Rajat Kapoor directed “Mixed doubles” leaves you with a mixed feeling. It’s a good movie with an unusual story but what happens at the end leaves you confused. The story is about sexual tension and wife-swapping but it is not erotic. Atleast not like the wife-swapping movies in popular Hindi movies (e.g. Fun – can be dangerous sometimes, Ajnabi etc.)

This is nothing like it. Sunil is a middle class guy, living with his wife in an apartment which is nothing out of ordinary. You see this type of apartments all over Mumbai. Notice the small details in the movie or they got the apartment like it is. Notice the scribbling of pens and drawing made by Sunil and Malti’s son on the wall. It reminds me of the drawing I use to make on the wall as a child.

In all, Sunila and Malti are ordinary people living an ordinary life. Their friends and colleagues are normal people whom you meet and see everyday. Ofcourse Sunil’s boss is extraordinary having a girl friend and a wife but cries like a child when his wife leaves him for another guy.

The movie is just about 90 minutes which is good and is not stretched beyond limits. The first half is good with witty lines and good humor. Sunil arguing how Malti copies Americans by eating at the Mcdonalds and seeing “Shark tales”, an absolutely pathetic argument. Then there is a scene where Sunil tries to call people from the office desk about their ‘ads’ then explaining to Saurabh Shukla about Swings. Reminded me about the Sardar joke about logic.

The last 30 minutes, the film loses control. There is role playing games between Sunil and Kalpana at the end of which she falls asleep. Vinod and Malti talk which was kind of natural choice based on Malti’s decision. The end when Malti and Sunil fight and then get on with their normal life was not to my expectation. I mean how could they carry on with their life like nothing happened. I assume that they both did not do anything but then the problem of their sexual drive remains the same or they find alternative. I guess it is one of those movies where the audience has to be intelligent and interpret the end. The ending can be interpreted the way the viewer wants, the way he/she imagines what actually happens.

The cast is the attraction of the movie. Ranvir Shenoy as the depressed husband is good. Konkana Sen Sharma is good as Malti. The chemistry between Ranvir and Konkana is good and really good. They could be husband and wife in real life and thats a compliment to the director and the actors. Rajat Kapoor as Vinod looks like a half-baked character who is shown to be so much in love with his wife that he can go any extent to make her happy but then the movie is not about Vinod. It is about Malti and Sunil and thier life adn thier marriage.. Koel Purrie as Kalpana is what the character supposed to be, sexy and interesting. Naseeruddin Shah as Malti’s father in a very very short role, could not recognize him before he talked. Vinay Pathak as Sunil’s colleague, Doshi is hillarious even when he cries.

Anurag Kashyap and Rajat Kapoor write the dialog for the movie which are very close to real life. They make Sunil and Malti sound like our next door neighbors.

There is one song in the movie which is strictly ok. So MD is a good offbeat film about relations and relationship and gives a humorous view but then does it have repeat value? Will I see the movie again? Maybe but this time to understand what the ending is. A good choice for people who like hatke cinema

Rating: 7/10