Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Nawazuddin Siddiqui | ... | Ayyan Mani | |
Nassar | ... | Dr. Arvind Acharya (as M. Nasser) | |
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Aakshath Das | ... | Adi Mani |
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Indira Tiwari | ... | Oja Mani |
Sanjay Narvekar | ... | Keshav Dhavre | |
Shweta Basu Prasad | ... | Anuja Dhavre | |
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Kasturi Jangam | ... | Sayali (as Kasturi Jagdish Jangam) |
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Bhakti Pathare | ... | Amrita |
Vidhi Chitalia | ... | Oparna | |
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Udhayabanu Maheshwaran | ... | Nambodari (as Udayabanu Maheshwaran) |
Pathy Aiyar | ... | Udayan - Ministry Official | |
Sameer Khakhar | ... | Ganesh Tawade (as Samir Khakhar) | |
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Sharad Jadhav | ... | Satish |
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Sushil Verma | ... | Ganesh PA |
Mayukh Ghosh | ... | Scientist |
Tormented with his 'under-privileged' societal status, a father capitalizes on his son's newfound fame as a boy-genius. Little does he realize that the secret he harbors will destroy the very thing he loves the most.
The kid (Aakshath Das) shines in Serious Men, a social drama that reminded me of Malayalam comedy Salt Mango Tree (2015), and which is more about the stress that children feel at the hands of their ambitious and competitive guardians and less about class divide despite the montages that show otherwise. Here, the kid's father (Nawazuddin SIddiqui), hailing from a backward caste and having an antagonistic view of the world, uses the caste card and his child to aim for the stars, garnering applause and hollow fame on the way. But for what? Serious Men goes on to throw social commentary at you on how the rich and the influential act as parasites on the downtrodden with ample amounts of quirky humour and useless fillers. But, notably, it also gives you a peek into the ill effects of over ambition, giving a spine-tingling climax to an otherwise humdrum proceedings. Siddiqui, Indira Tiwari, and Nasser are all well-directed by Sudhir Mishra, who has finally had a good comeback since Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011). If you are not ready to accept what Serious Men tells, and not preaches, you, this will be a fine afternoon affair. A better watch to parents with young kids. TN