Binny and Family Movie Review: If you take a cue from Karan Johar's K3G, Binny and Family is all about loving your grandparents. Just hope yours aren't too traditionalist or racist, or it might be quite a challenge. Luckily for Binny (Anjini Dhawan), her grandparents (Pankaj Kapur and Himani Shivpuri) are a bit traditionalist but not too racist. Ssanjay Tripaathy's Binny and Family explores the cultural and generational clash between Binny and her strict grandfather, with the long-winded journey towards their eventual acceptance of each other's ways. Who Is ‘Binny And Family’ Actress Anjini Dhawan? All You Need To Know About Varun Dhawan’s Niece.

Binny is an 18-year-old living in London with her parents, Vinay (Rajesh Kumar) and Radhika (Charu Shankar). I wonder if the parents' names are a tribute to Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao, the director duo behind films like Lucky: No Time for Love, Sanam Teri Kasam, and Yaariyaan 2. Binny loves breaking curfews, has a flair for drama, and harbours a crush on the popular boy at school, Dhruv (Tai Khan). Her best friend, BP (Naman Tripaathy), is irritatingly obsessed with social media and is quite a classist.

Watch the Trailer of 'Binny and Family':

Binny's world is upended when her grandparents come from Bihar for their annual visit, where she is forced to compromise her private space or her English way of living. Perhaps it's due to his strict upbringing, or maybe it's from watching too much Baghban, but Vinay and Radhika act overly 'sanskaari' around Vinay's parents, much to Binny's annoyance. However, something happens that fills Binny with guilt, prompting her to grow closer to her grandfather.

'Binny and Family' Movie Review - An Overstretched First Half

Binny and Family is a saccharine, feel-good film with sentimental moments crafted to tug at your heartstrings, though not enough to make you call your grandparents. At times, I wondered who the film was trying to target. Is it teens, guilting them into loving their grandparents more, kya pata Kal Ho Naa Ho? Or is it aimed at grandparents, encouraging them to accept their grandchildren’s space and perhaps dive into social media because nothing says happiness like being hooked on X and Instagram, right?

A Still From Binny and Family

If the film’s goal was to champion teens living their lives freely, perhaps they should have made Binny less annoying and whiny, focusing more on her perspective rather than dwelling on her rebellious nature. While this approach ties into her guilt in the second half, the audience might have found it easier to relate to her struggles had they been portrayed with more nuance. There's a scene where her mother reminds her father of the 'sacrifices' Binny has made since their grandparents arrived. It feels very 'new gen' and even privileged, especially in a country where many are used to cramped living spaces. Still, I'm glad a film has chosen to address the importance of personal space for young people. Could this have been achieved with a less irritating protagonist? Definitely. Also, the first half is too long for a movie that doesn't actually need a long runtime of two hours and 20 minutes.

'Binny and Family' Movie Review - A Decent Second Half With a Weak Ending

The second half fares better, as it's hard not to be moved by the bonding scenes between Binny and her grandfather. One of the film's strengths is casting an actor of Pankaj Kapur’s calibre. His role might be a cakewalk for him, but he brings enough credibility and warmth to make these bonding moments compelling, even if you're indifferent to the rest of the film. ‘Binny and Family’: Karan Johar Calls Ektaa R Kapoor’s Film a ‘Gem’ After Screening and Welcomes Anjini Dhawan to Movies.

A Still From Binny and Family

However, it doesn’t take long for Binny and Family to veer into more dramatic territory, choosing to do so in a predictable and clichéd way. This is where I wish a more experienced director had handled the tricky emotional scenes. What we get instead are a few overly melodramatic moments, exacerbated by a somewhat jarring performance from the young lead. Even the conclusion, while staying true to the film’s feel-good tone, felt too flimsy and stretched, with a preachy monologue at the end that lacked impact.

The subplot involving Binny’s crush could have been vital in portraying her teen angst, but it feels tacked on. On the other hand, her annoying friend grew on me, and Naman Tripaathy (also one of the writers) delivered a surprisingly good performance almost making me forget his nepotistic casting.

A Still From Binny and Family

As for the more focal star-kid here, Anjini Dhawan looks the part and acts decently. While she struggles a bit in the more emotional scenes, she shows promise. Pankaj Kapur is, as expected, fantastic, bringing authority to his scenes. Himani Shivpuri is charming as the sweet grandmother, and Rajesh Kumar does a fine job as the man caught between two generations, with Charu Shankar providing solid support.

'Binny and Family' Movie Review - Final Thoughts

Binny and Family is a well-meaning but ultimately middling attempt at exploring the dynamics between generations. While it offers a few heartwarming moments, particularly in the second half, the film suffers from predictability and lacks the emotional depth it strives for.

Rating:2.5

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2024 11:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).