It's
often
said
that
cricket
and
Bollywood
are
two
major
passions
of
Indians.
Director
Chandrakant
Kulkarni's
Meerabai
Not
Out
narrates
the
story
of
a
cricket
enthusiast
who
goes
to
the
extremes
even
on
the
day
of
her
engagement
to
watch
a
game
of
cricket.
But
interesting
ideas
don't
necessarily
translate
into
interesting
films.
Meerabai
Not
Out
suffers
because
there's
not
much
meat
in
its
script.
It's
only
during
the
penultimate
moments
that
things
begin
to
move,
but
that
isn't
enough
to
salvage
the
situation.
Also,
though
the
film
talks
of
cricket,
there's
not
much
excitement
for
a
cricket
fanatic
either.
A
sports-based
theme
works
only
if
the
viewer
becomes
involved
in
the
proceedings,
when
he/she
becomes
a
participant.
In
Meerabai
Not
Out,
you're
just
a
mere
spectator.
This
one's
more
of
a
love
story,
actually!
Meera
[Mandira
Bedi],
a
mathematics
teacher,
has
been
a
happy
single
for
quite
a
while
now.
The
great
love
of
her
life
has
been,
and
will
always
remain,
cricket
and
Anil
Kumble.
The
problem
that
worries
her
family
is
Meera's
still-single
status.
Enter
Arjun
[Eijaz
Khan].
Meera
realizes
that
there's
more
to
life
than
praying
for
Team
India
and
Anil
Kumble.
So,
while
her
heart
beats
for
Anil
Kumble
and
India's
fortunes,
the
more
important
question
is:
Will
Meera
be
able
to
commit
to
her
non-striker
beau?
Meerabai
Not
Out
may
give
an
impression
of
being
a
'cricket
film',
but
it's
misleading.
It's
primarily
a
love
story.
In
fact,
a
major
part
of
the
screen
time
is
devoted
to
the
love
story,
which,
frankly,
lacks
the
fizz.
It's
only
towards
the
pre-climax,
when
the
lady
doesn't
show
up
for
her
own
engagement
ceremony
on
time,
that
things
start
moving.
Come
to
think
of
it,
even
that
looks
far-fetched,
for
no
person
in
his/her
senses
would
give
priority
to
watch
a
match
on
the
day
of
her
engagement.
And
if
she
had
to
catch
a
match,
she
could've
done
so
on
her
TV
set.
Why
travel
all
the
way
to
the
stadium?
Despite
the
hiccups
[read
faulty
writing],
director
Chandrakant
Kulkarni
has
handled
the
penultimate
sequences
well.
The
cricket
match
in
the
end
between
Mahesh
Manjrekar
and
Eijaz
Khan
is
interesting.
Also,
the
finale
Anupam
Kher
participating
in
a
quiz
show
and
Mandira
answering
the
question
right
is
well-treated.
There's
not
much
scope
for
music
in
the
enterprise.
The
sole
track
that
merits
a
mention
is
the
one
at
the
very
start
[the
promotional
track].
Dialogues
are
well-worded
at
places.
Mandira
acts
her
part
well.
She
impresses
more
towards
the
finale.
Eijaz
is
confident
and
if
given
an
opportunity,
can
only
go
further.
Mahesh
Manjrekar
doesn't
really
get
scope,
except
towards
the
finale.
Anupam
Kher
is
efficient.
Pratiksha
Lonkar
is
wasted.
The
actress
enacting
the
role
of
Manjrekar
and
Mandira's
mother
is
perfect.
Anil
Kumble
is
passable.
On
the
whole,
Meerabai
Not
Out
is
a
below
average
fare.
At
the
box-office,
this
maiden
will
be
run-out
in
the
initial
days
itself!