We all have grown up listening to the catchphrase ‘customer is king’ but is it really true? Rajkummar Rao and Mouni Roy’s Made in China is the 1-hour-28-minute answer to that question.
The film is brilliantly written and even brilliantly executed. This is a perfect treat any cinemagoer can ask for this festive season. Let’s take a closer look at the positives and negatives of the film in our Made In China Movie Review.
Made In China Movie Review- The Plot
The film revolves around the life of Rajkummar Rao’s character Raghuvir Mehta/Raghu, an Ahmedabad-based shop owner who despises being called a businessman as, according to him, “entrepreneurs ideas banate hai aur businessman bas bechte hai.” Wanting to succeed on his own terms, this self-proclaimed entrepreneur, despite having a family business, keeps trying new business ideas and failing at them till the time he is forcefully asked to quit and move to China.
Though reluctantly, Raghu heads to the country of a billion and a half only to stumble upon a new idea: a key to customers’ demand – an aphrodisiac. Like a missile, he gets back to India, armed with this new product, to kickstart his business. But it is not so easy. He has to deal with quite a few roadblocks first. The narrative of the film focuses on the struggles and triumph of Raghu and his idea of entrepreneurship.
Made In China Movie Review- On The Upside
Talking about performances, Rajkummar Rao is magnificently simple in the film. The actor hasn’t let the shimmer of his success, especially in the past year, taint his acting. This is proven by the fact that Raghu reminds you a lot of Deepak Singh, Rajkummar’s character from his 2014 film Citylights. Though Raghu’s circumstances are a little less harsh than Deepak’s, Raghu mirrors an innocence that is reminiscent of Deepak. The supporting cast also adds just the right amount of seasoning to a well-cooked storyline. Mouni Roy as Raghu’s wife is a surprise package. Though given a small role, Mouni comes with much power, owning every bit of the screen time she gets in the film.
This is Mouni’s second Bollywood film after last year’s Gold. Amyra Dastur, Paresh Rawal, Gajraj Rao, and Sumeet Vyas also keep you interested in them with their limited screen time. Boman Irani as Dr. Vardhi, however, is the one who gets to take the cake in Made In China. Dr. Vardhi is a quick mix of Boman’s two iconic roles: Viru Sahastrabuddhe from 3 Idiots and Dr. Asthana from Munna Bhai MBBS. His performance is the kind that dwarfs everything and everyone else on the screen. Mikhail Musale has handled the subject with much sensitivity and maturity. The writing of the film is also an example of how to impart sex education, sans metaphors and any awkwardness. An example that Shilpi Dasgupta, director of the Sonakshi Sinha-starrer Khandaani Shafakhana, a must-see.
Made In China Movie Review- On The Downside
The logic seems to be on a break in some parts of Made In China. A large part of this is due to the tonal and logical inconsistency in the narrative. There is, for instance, no explanation for Raghu’s cheery attitude during his interrogation by the investigating authorities, an off-kilter element that particularly impacts Made In China because it is a running thread throughout the film.
There is no explanation either for why Raghu hides his latest business from his wife with whom we are led to believe he has a close and non-traditional relationship. As evidence of this, they have been shown swilling alcohol together, sharing a cigarette (both points are very high on Bollywood’s list of Things Liberal Women Do) and discussing her orgasms. She also supports him unflinchingly in the face of his family’s contempt for his many failures. Yet somehow he is too ashamed to tell her that he is producing and peddling an aphrodisiac, and her reaction when she learns the truth ends up justifying his fears. If this is meant to be a comment on the superficiality of contemporary liberalism, it is not convincing.
Made In China Movie Review- All In All
Made In China is a perfect treat for the audience this Diwali. Though the film suffers from a slow pace in the second half, the overall product isn’t too shabby. Unlike its other competitors at the box office this Diwali, Saand Ki Aankh and Housefull 4, promotions of Made In China didn’t involve much pomp and show. But the film manages to make up for it.
