Mitr: My Friend

Mitr plays like a Seventh Heaven episode, a sweet domestic drama about an Indian mom and dad living in the US whose marriage is in trouble and who have a rebellious teenaged daughter. The film is set in the US and must've been made to appeal to the NRI (Non-Resident Indian) population. It was pitched to me as an exploration of the differences between Indian and US culture, but Lakshmi isn't so much an Indian woman as she is a repressed and overprotective mother (this sort of woman also exists in America as no doubt everywhere in the world), and it's a disservice to blame her attitudes on her cultural background.

Mitr is a very accessible Indian film, being 95% in English, relatively short (~100 minutes) and lacking the elaborate music-video numbers typical for a Bollywood product.

I found it ultimately unsatisfying, primarily because I watch Indian films in order to experience the color of exotic cultures and locales.

Lakshmi, a traditional Indian woman, marries an American-Indian and lives in America with him and their daughter. Both husband and daughter are "American" (i.e., very independent, living for own self) while Lakshmi lives only to please them. Their lack of concern for her leads her to pursue her own life and the other two feel left out and abandoned, instead. I really enjoyed the story, music, and acting. We had the privilege of having the director herself come to present this movie to our university and were permitted to ask questions. She told us that at first, the all-women technical crew was a fluke, until the final member was chosen, when she decided to stick with all females (though would have compromised had an adequate female not been found). To me, the acting was a bit rough at times, and characters and actions seemed misplaced, silly, or over-Americanized. Otherwise, I really enjoyed it and would recommend it as a good cultural pick.

This movie comprises of a beautiful love story , and i will not tell between whom , anyway, i really the early 2000zs backdrop with furnitures and everything else takes back in early 2000s era. It is a relaxing, calming and a feel good movie, where it tells about how life changes , sometimes up and sometimes down. The protagonist , is the main centre odf attraction, the film beautifully captures her pain, her sufferings, her anger, her frustration at the same time reflects on her strong personality and her emotional stability. The movie may seem a bit complicated in middle but actually it is a story of a heart connection.

Mitr, which is all about alienation an average woman starts feeling when her daughter and lifemate starts blaming her to be orthodox and a nag; and hardly find time to understand her. It also depicts how one forgets to live her own life for relations and a very positive ending marks states that still we can believe in relations.

It's a film which is so much refreshing for all those who got a heart to empathise and understand problems of others.

The same hands that point out the mistakes being commited doesn't go without touching the deeper core of our soul.

cinematography of the film by fowzia is unbelievably merged with the narration and fellings dealt.

Also the music score by bhavatharini needs special mention which simply complements the visualisation and moods.

If films like this are never being appreciated when can india come out of melooodramas and "got all the crap in this" type of films.

Director Revathy and her crew which consists only woman deserves cheers...(but why this gender division? for ads?)

never miss this movie.

Mitr, my friend, gives voice to women, who are lonely and go through what Lakshmi has gone through in this movie. Though it is very unlikely, that woman in U.S. faces such vacuum in her life. It is more appropriate in the countries like India, where it is still expected from woman to stay back at home and look after her family only, where she still considered to be a second citizen.

Only sensitive people can appreciate this movie. Shobhana was superb. Music deserve an applause, Ms. Illayaraja has done a great job, even after so many years, i still enjoys the music of Mitr.

time... care.... love.... the most enchanting words for any happy family, it can actually perform miracle in anybody's life. Hats off to Revathi and her crew.