User reviews

I love this film. It might further enhance the Western clichee of the uprising-ridden India as another reviewer states, but actually, that's beside the point: This film is a fairy tale. The voice over at the beginning tells of "a little red and white bus" ... and you're already in the fairy tale world. There is always danger in a fairy tale and I'll focus on that later, but criticising the film for not portraying real situations is like accusing "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" for inaccurate portrayal of lilliputians ...

The film is actually quite close to films by Mani Rathnam who also takes a politically hot topic and connects it with a personal drama (good example: "Kannathil Muthamittal"). With Rathnam, the focus always seems to shift more to the political side of this dual idea, whereas in "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer", the focus is more on the personal aspect. In this punctual uprising of extremist Hindus, the two leading characters discover how they themselves fall victim to distrust and prejudice. It seems an easy target to criticise the conservative Brahman woman's ideals, but the film doesn't do it harmful. In the end, the woman still is who she was before, but she opened up - especially opened up her heart.

And this is what the film is all about: Heart. It oozes love in so many scenes. The violence takes over for a couple of scenes, but then the film returns to the topic of love. There are incredible scenes that you won't easily forget: The "couple" in a diner telling their fictional story of their honeymoon, the fooling around in the woods in the morning, the killing of a man right in front of their window, the last night they spend together when she takes his hand to comfort herself. These are all very subtle but convincing scenes that don't primarily assault the woman's Brahman principles but tries to expand them. Again: It's a fairy tale and in this fairy tale world which is ridden by real-life violence, a woman and a man come closer - emotionally. Not with sex or a common way of love. It's a very heartfelt sort of love you don't usually see in movies. It felt extremely sincere to me - and the just cracked my heart.

"Mr. and Mrs. Iyer" is not your typical Bollywood movie because it's rather short, has no songs, no stars and is rather subtle. But it works on so many level. It is a cry for peace and unity - something Indians do so well since they live in the biggest democracy in the world. There are so many people in this country who still believe in living together and this is visible in many of their films. This is one, Mani Rathnams "Bombay" is another. Also, the film is a tribute to deeply felt and sincere love, a love that is more touching than many love stories I've seen before. I know the film is not fully realistic and of course there are a couple of problems that I have with the film. But if a film is this charmingly acted and poetically directed, I'd cannot but defend it and recommend it to you. Such a beautiful film.

Rating 8/10

I am at a complete loss of words after seeing this sensational love story. Directed by Aparna Sen, a true master of her craft, it is set against the backdrop of tribal war and communal violence. The story starts in a bus, in which a young westernised Muslim photographer named Raja (Rahul Bose) and a traditional married Tamil Brahmin woman with a young child named Meenakshi Iyer (Konkoka Sen Sharma), meet by chance on a cross-country bus ride to Calcutta. The bus includes varied passengers from noisy teenagers to an old Muslim couple to a mentally ill boy with his mother to card-playing men. Raja and Meena had been introduced to each other just before the trip started and they eventually sat together. When she finds out that Raja is actually a Muslim, her first reaction is "Don't touch me!". However, later the bus is suddenly stopped by Hindu extremists looking for payback for a Muslim act of violence. This is one of the film's most heartbreaking sequences. When asked, Meena introduces both Raja and herself as Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, thus saving Raja's life. Upon a curfew, the two leave the bus and find shelter in a remote forest guest-house. That's where the love story begins. They initially do not get along due to differences in their views, but finally develop a liking for each other. From their first real interaction and reconciliation in the beautiful forest to the scenes in which they are forced to cook up stories of their "honeymoon" to different girls who seek for some romantic fairy tales, they get increasingly closer and ultimately fall in love. But one question really starts worrying us: what about the real Mr. Iyer?

Fascinating and engaging, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer is definitely one of the best films made in the early 2000s. It is not a film about Muslims or Hindus, it is about Raja and Meena, or better known as Mr. and Mrs. Iyer. It is a love story at heart, a subtle one, an inhibited one, a poetic one, an authentic one, a heartwarming one. Never does it get sidelined by the film's basic background which is communal strife. It's amazing to see how Meenakshi gradually overcomes her prejudice and learns new things about herself and about life in general thanks to her acquaintance with the intelligent and worldly Raja. The film is beautifully shot, some locations are breathtaking, and everything--from story and direction to cinematography and editing to music and background score--is nothing short of excellent. As for the casting, I cannot see anyone else but Konkona Sen Sharma and Rahul Bose as Mr. and Mrs. Iyer. Bose is fantastic in a greatly restrained act, and as the carefree and kind Raja, sets a great example to all of us of how to live life with passion. Sen Sharma's preparation for the role is more than evident. She is absolutely outstanding as Meena. Everything, from her perfect Tamil accent and dialect to her mannerisms to her worried facial expressions, is so aptly displayed that there seems to be nothing more precise than to say that this incredibly talented lady is one of the finest actresses of recent times. The film's ending is deeply moving. In a few words, this film is about humanity, kindness and love. It shows us how love conquers hatred, and it shows us that humanity and love know no religion, caste or colour. This is an outstanding picture.

I disagree with the reviewer who says that this is a film made just to win awards in the West. On the contrary, one would have to be an Indian to understand the nuances throughout the film and I don't think the average Western viewer can appreciate the cultural connotations within the story. I was brought up as a South Indian Brahmin for the first 30 years of my life in an area of intense religious tension that frequently boiled over in violence. Therefore, I do not need a Yale researcher to tell me the meaning of religious intolerance or the background of Meenakshi Iyer's character. I don't think the film gives a biased view of the religious or cultural divide in India. Apart from the scene in the bus, the faith of the fanatics is kept deliberately vague so that we are not quite sure of the identities potential killers or their victims. This is sadly true in today's India where a slight misunderstanding can easily flash out of control. Until all concerned learn to tolerate and respect one another's beliefs while keeping to the appropriate boundaries, the situation is unlikely to change. And Aparna Sen makes a superb job of getting this rather ambiguous message across.

Aparna Sen has done a wonderful job writing and directing this film. The characters are delightfully underplayed (a nice change from the common melodrama of Hindi films), and Konkona Sen-Sharma and Rahul Bose were wonderfully believable.

But best of all was the photography... a tragedy depicted by a nuance... I was touched, and cried my eyes out.

The religion and caste issues are depicted beautiful. Even the educated are often senselessly prejudiced, and likewise grace often appears in unexpected forms. A beautiful movie which I would recommend to all.

Mr. and Mrs. Iyer deals with many prevalent issues existing with in India today. It is a social commentary on the class system, religious warfare and gender inequalities. The film is shot beautifully, juxtapopposing the beauty of nature against the 'uncivilised' capacity that us humans have to bestow on one another. The script is written thoughtfully setting up charged dynamics between the main characters Raja and Meenakshi.

Konkona Sen Sharma's performance is delightful with her authentic accent and mannerism of a South Indian. Rahul Bhose performance is sensual and heartfelt, portraying depth and breadth.

The wonderful thing about this film is that although it focuses on a particular situation, it illustrates issues that exist worldwide, in all walks of life, simply manifesting themselves in different situations. Meenakshi faces constrictions throughout life due to her gender, she is constricted and faces the 'glass ceiling'. She longs to be free and to live life freely as Raj does. Raj is free is every sense of the word, physically he is free to roam the world. He is also free from the psychological limitations from which Meenakshi suffers, that of class and caste bound prejudice. The religious warfare shown is a very current issue, with fundamentalism at its most notorious in years.

Definitely worth seeing. 8/10.

Hindu - Muslim riots in the movie is merely the backdrop. People who have commented here just see it as a yet another attempt to take advantage of western perception of India. Sorry, it seems you have completely missed the point. The point tries to make a case between love and honor. And this is India, married women do not indulge (more often that not) in to extra marital affairs. So there is dilemma in the Minds of Raj and Meenaxi. Meenaxi who reluctantly fall in for Raj and Raj who understands it but is bound by his honor. Their relation is platonic and full marks to Aparna for keeping it so because by making it controversial she could have reaped more benefits at the box office.

Well certain someone said that the act by the leads had not been put up properly. Konkana Sen Sharma got national award for her debut. People need to realize that she is a bong. Unlike west we don't not only have different dialects but entirely different languages. And the dialect is also extremely different. Which is why the performance is really really mind blowing, especially from the leads. Rahul Bose give a completely restrained performance. Aparna keeps is subtle. She is the greatest women director or may be probably the only who can carry of the subject like this. Kudos!

Indian movie seems to continue to come of age. Mr. & Mrs. Iyer is a refreshing departure from the plethora of Indian movies based on the identity crisis facing the Indian diaspora (please God, no more movies on ABCDs).

The background of the movie sees India at conflict with itself; this Hindu-Muslim divide providing a tense background to in effect a beautiful "love" story between two strangers. This is the movie's strenght - the politics remain in the backseat while the focus is solely on the interaction of the lead characters. Modern India of the conservative Hindu and the liberal Muslim is played out in subtle nuance filled scenes (ex, drinking from the water bottle) etc. Over the course of the movie, the characters learn to trust from each other and understand that they do need each other. The evolution of their relationship makes this movie a must-see. Aparna Sen's gentleness is very evident throughout the movie.

As an Indian, this movie can be hard to watch. I agree with some of the other posters, it celebrates violence and plays into a western cliche of religious relations in India. It fails to address the tremendous harmony thats present in a country of 1 billion people. Yet, its also a call for Indians to understand that the euphoria in a country can mask concerns of religious intolerance which Indians must face together. Perhaps a wakeup call that our democracy wich has worked so well is in danger due to vested political interests.

For audiences new to Indian cinema this is a good place to start, though it proves something of a curate's egg in the end. Aparna Sen creates a recognisably real India, something rather rare in Indian cinema. The romance at the heart of the film is ultimately touching and convincing. On the downside, the film's politics are a little simplistic; there's an unintentionally hilarious 'vaseline on the lens' sequence when things turn lovey-dovey; and Rahul Bose gives a staggeringly inept performance (as do the gaggle of 'groovy' teens). Ok, it's swings and roundabouts, but a film still worth your attention.

This is among the best of movies Indian cinema has produced. The plot/ storyline is powerful which is augmented by splendid performance by lead actors. It also exhibits the communal undercurrents going on in Indian society. It was a bold step to address these issues. Another aspect is the soft feelings produced among the lead actor and actress. As a contrast from the prevalent trend in Indian cinema wherein there is the notion of "love at first sight" in almost all movies, in this movie the feelings of love evolves from simple caring to a very strong one. It also exhibits the true picture of oriental society where common people just don't go on singing love songs or fighting antagonists of their love life. My best wishes to the whole crew of the movie.

Mrs. Iyer and her baby son Santanam are traveling to Calcutta by bus and train. A family acquaintance named Raja is making the same trip, and he is asked to keep an eye on Mrs. Iyer. He is a nature photographer, which seems somehow appropriate since in the course of the film we see a natural beauty in India (e.g., forests and mountains) that seems rare in films.

The beginning of the film moves fairly slowly, so to say much more would reveal events that occur perhaps a third of the way through the film. If you would like an unspoiled film experience, you should probably stop reading now, although I obviously haven't said much yet.

The key fact is that Mrs. Iyer is Hindu while Raja is Muslim. We first learn this when she drinks out of a water bottle without touching it to her lips, while Raja drinks in what we in the United States would consider the "normal" manner (the subtitles helpfully clue us into this difference). When the bus is stopped by Hindus out for revenge on Muslims, Mrs. Iyer saves Raja's life by lying and saying that they are a Hindu couple.

This film has a pretty clear message about violence between Hindus and Muslims, which is not too different from violence between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, the Bosnians and Serbians, and so on throughout human history. I was glad to learn about this in what seemed like a balanced manner, and essentially without the usual Bollywood musical numbers, but the film seemed to be a bit one dimensional, without much else to recommend it.

Seen on 11/2/2002 at the 2002 Hawaii International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Maile award for best feature.

An exceptional movie. Aparna Sen's choice of majority Hindu population as perpetrators of communal violence was daring, and probably killed the film's prospects at the box office,but significant. There have been innumerable instances of communal violence in India against Muslims, lower class Hindus and Sikhs, for which not a single person has spent a day behind bars. True to life, Aparna Sen's film isn't focused on the violence or the people behind those crimes. That happens. The terror is in the background, only it's effect on the protagonists is visible on screen. The main story is about the change of heart of an orthodox, highly educated, prejudiced and ignorant woman. Some of the subtle nuances would probably escape non-Indian viewers, but there are plenty of things to appreciate for all. The ending ("Goodbye Mr Iyer") would easily be among the best 10 endings I have ever seen in any movies among them Mouchette and Dead Poet's Society. In the acting department,all the cast have acted well, but special mention must be made of Konkana Sensharma for her outstanding performance. Aparna Sen's direction is outstanding, and outclasses any of Mani Ratnam's films who makes similar kind of political-personal dramas. A must see movie for all.

Today morning, I watched the movie- Mr. and Mrs. Iyer. Actually someone provoked me to watch it. As usual, I just googled it to its wiki page and IMDb. IMDb gave it 7.9 (a pretty good for Hindi movie, which is always underestimated when compared with Hollywood, in rating), which was the only enough reason to watch it. Moreover, user reviews were also telling it "a must watch movie". Also, the story line didn't seem like the typical good going Hindi movie. Therefore, I downloaded it and watched it at 04:00 AM...ya its in the morning.

Movie was all about a bus journey, where bus was carrying the people of different religions and ethnics of India. Director Aparna Sen plotted the whole story around the Jahangir (a Muslim guy) and Mrs. Minakshi Iyer (a pure Tamil Brahmin). By putting the passengers from different age group, Sen also tried to focus on generation's thought process. In fact, in movie, one very old guy was complaining on the today's dress culture by comparing it from their times that he barely saw his wife's hand on his marriage. As movie proceeds, bus got stuck in a curfew. Later passengers came to know about happening of all this curfew because of the riot going on between Hindu and Muslim. A mob of their respective religion were killing the people and burning the villages of anti- religion. In-between, Minakshi came to know Jahangir is a Muslim. Being a hypo typical Brahmin girl, she hated him first, but later saved his life saying him as her husband and tagged him with the name "Mani". If she hated him, then why she saved his life?........Answer to this question may be because Jahangir helped him before this incident or she wants someone to protect her and her child or might be because of humanity. Whatever it was, afterward this, the whole bus was knowing them as Mr. and Mrs. Iyer. Jahangir was shown as an open-minded person opposing to the Minakshi who was always highly concerned about the caste-ism. But, as the story proceeds, she started feeling all this caste-ism a crap and transformed herself into Jahangir's personality. Later both fall in love but don't disclose their feelings except Minakshi saying Jahangir as Mr. Iyer.

And ya one more thing- mind the pronunciation here: Its Meenakshi and not Minakshi as told by Meenakshi in the movie :)

Well, how much I liked it? ..... Answer is in the rating which I'll give it 7 out of 10. Why I gave 7 because movie was a good going and I never felt bored. Apart from this, there was something in the movie which was not ordinary. I can't exactly name it but it may be the kinda different script, unusual and undefined relationship which is itself not sure about its name. Why I deducted 3 because it didn't touch my emotion which I generally expect from movie or may be I overestimated it before watching it.

This movie is a typical westernized portrayal of India without any deep concern for the reality on the ground.

To really understand the Hindu-Muslim conflict in India, one must read the book "Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life", published by Yale University, written by Prof Ashutosh Varshneya. The fact of the matter is that 98% of India's population has always been a riot-free society throughout the history of India. It is only a handful of cities where there was a prior colonial roots of Hindu Muslim conflicts, that keep giving rise to fresh riots.

This movie does little to portray the truth and exoticizes riots to win accolades in the west. And it succeeds in that. Several instances in the movie show that: close-up on casteist headline from the news-paper, Hindu rioters being highlighted as goons, ridiculing the vegetarianism and conservative attitude of Tamil Brahmins etc.

Meenakshi Iyer is traveling on a bus with her son Santanam and befriends a fellow passenger Raja, a wild-life photographer. When fundamentalists attack the bus, she claims the photographer as her husband thus saving his life. Reason: Raja is Muslim. What follows later is a compelling journey into human relationship under critical circumstances.

Rahul Bose yet again delivers fantastic performance. Bhisham Sahni and Surekha Sikri played the old Muslim couple in the bus. It was great to see Bhisham Sahni after a long sabbatical.

Finally about Konkona Sen Sharma - to be frank, I was a bit skeptical about the gifted director Aparna Sen's daughter. To me the star-kids are pampered lot and fail to rise above the talent of parents. Noteworthy performance of Konkona Sen Sharma as a orthodox Tamil Brahmin house-wife leaves you mesmerized. The finer nuances right from her accent, language, mannerism, dress, bindi has been portrayed with utmost perfection. The parallel cinema can now rest as we have an apt successor to Shabana Azmi.

A very different story devoid of the usual Bollywood masala but made with sheer conviction that makes the audience captivated into the storyline. Worth commending is the directors ability to extract the best out of the principal cast.

Undoubtedly a launch vehicle from Aparna Sen showcasing her daughters talent - and it hits the bull's eye.

The movie starts in picturesque Darjeeling (Bengal, India) where Meenakshi Iyer( Mrs. Iyer) is setting out with her one year old son Santanam on a bus ride to the nearest railway station and from then on a train ride to Calcutta.This is also where she meets Raja who promises her parents to see her through to Calcutta. The bus represents a unique picture of India both in terms of regions but also age groups and mindsets.On their way to the station they run into a communal riot(Hindus and Muslims) and 3 days of curfew and Raja who is a Muslim is saved by Mrs.Iyer who declared him as Mr. Iyer.

The movie addresses a whole spectrum of issues from communal violence, to caste issues and to a certain extent public apathy. Mrs Iyer is an Iyengar Brahmin , 100% vegetarian and will eat food cooked from "known sources" only. Inspite of her education, a Masters in Physics, she is first shocked by the fact that Raja is a Muslim and runs away from him until better sense prevails later!. An old Muslim couple is found in the bus and taken away by the mob and no one bothers to inquire about them and all the police say is that they are inquiring. Fellow bus passengers address Muslims as terrorists and perpetrators of violence

Rahul Bose(Raja) is at his best, I would say playing himself..the easy going wildlife photographer who prefers to deal with issues with his camera. But the find of the year is Konkona Sen(Mrs Meenakshi Iyer) who pulls through her role with such finesse that its hard to believe that its her first Hindi/English movie. She has perfected the Tamil Brahmin accent write down to the last T. She moved effortlessly between this naive, innocent sheltered wife in the first half to being more vocal and open about her affections for Raja in the latter part of the movie.

Full marks to the director of the movie for her very sensitive potrayal of the violence and this lovely caring between Raja and Meenakshi in the middle of it all.

Oh! did i say somewhere that the movie is a MUST WATCH ?

I am a Hindu, but I completely believe this movie, people trying to say that this is untrue, should open their eyes. These extremists are all around, and what are you people doing besides saying that these are isolated incidents. Muslims in India have to live with this constant fear of isolated incidents. Do or say something besides ridiculing a movie which shows the truth. I terms of the caste system, it is worth ridicule and more. If I had made the movie I would have made much more fun and mockery of believers in TamBraham and the caste system. The movie is a brillian, moving and emotional masterpiece that should act as an educating mechanism to bring the country together.

Meenakshi Iyer (Konkona Sen Sharma) sets out on a bus journey to Calcutta with her one year old boy, Santhanam. Her parents ask a fellow bus passenger, a slight acquaintance by the name of Raja (Rahul Bose), to help her along the way. The bus is like a minute microcosm of India with all the various types you can imagine, there are the singing youngsters, the slow boy and his mother, the disapproving old maid, the card playing men, the Muslims, Sikhs, Jews. The journey of the bus is rudely interrupted when the occupants are stopped and told of a communal riot in the neighborhood where a Hindu was killed and now the Hindus are out for Muslim blood. Meenakshi finds out that Raja is actually Jehangir Choudhary and a Muslim. A series of traumatic events follow and when asked she introduces the couple as Mr. and Mrs. Iyer. The "Iyers" have to sojourn in a small town while there is a curfew on and find shelter in an almost abandoned rest house. There is a palpable attraction that grows between them and a level of comfort too, but eventually in a very Wong Kar Wai fashion, Mrs. Iyer is handed over to the real Mr. Iyer at Calcutta station.

The film is no doubt a statement on all the communal violence that has become part of our country's history, but is also an ode to humanity and to man helping man. There is an uplifting message and the sense that out of darkness light can emerge. Aparna Sen is a master at her craft and the film is excellent in story, direction, cinematography, acting. But what I commend most is the way she has captured the lead pair. Rahul Bose never looked so endearing and heart-stoppingly good, and Ms. Sen Sharma is imbued with a lush and sultry beauty throughout. Add this to the fact that they do the finest job with their roles and you have a beautiful film. Rahul plays the secular, unfailingly polite, intelligent Muslim man very well, and Konkona never misses a beat with her Southie English accent! There is a conflict at a whole another level that makes this an intriguing film - the lead pair are obviously made for each other and very attracted to each other (maybe in a sort of Stockholm syndrome way, as they are fellow sufferers), and you feel their pain at the parting, and weep inside just a tiny bit for them, but then life gets back on track again and what cannot be is forgotten.

The music is divine and this film is a certain keeper.

I thought this movie explored very important themes, but it came up very short in terms of acting. Furthermore, the choice of music was quite poor. Aside from these points, the film was pleasant. Overall, it is only slightly above average.

When Mr. and Mrs. iyer released in 2002 it somehow just failed to generate any interest in me. Thought of it as just one of those other Indian English films, made by some foolish director. Saw bits and pieces of it, and completely forgot about it.Until two years ago, when they showed it on some vague channel(which ceased to exist). I just had to watch it. I remember being glued to the television watching the movie late into the night, in spite of the annoying ads which appeared every five minutes.I would have seen the film at least another 3-4 times, and till date it remains one my favorite Indian films.

Watching the movie times and over, I've always discovered something new in it. Like the second time I saw it, I was completely bowled over by Konkona Sensharma's stellar performance.Or certain little nuances in the film...Everything is so intricately woven into one another. Or even the saying by the poet, which appears in the beginning of the film, which I was quite ignorant about, till recent, thinking it was just pretentious,and wanted to sound profound.

At heart, the film is just a love story.Two people on a bus journey, falling in love during times of violence.Every scene in the film is underlined with some form of religious-political element, which sometime seems a little over-done.Maybe, it was meant to be an undertone, but somehow just sticks out.For that matter, even some of the English dialogues, they just don't sound natural.Very theatrical.But otherwise, the film is brilliant.Rahul Bose gives a very restrained and understated performance as the liberal Muslim wildlife photographer.Some really good acting by the supporting cast as well, especially Bhisham Sahani and Surekha Sikri, as the old Muslim couple. Has so many layers to it, only seen or noticed after multiple viewings.Goutham Ghose captures the Himalayan foothills,with his beautiful photography. Zakhir Hussain's music just flows with the film.For the kind of issue it addresses, Mr. and Mrs. iyer will be relevant any given day.

During a long bus ride, Meenakshi Iyer, a Hindu Tamil woman, was accompanied by her toddler son when she was unexpectedly joined by a stranger, Raja Chowdhury, a Muslim wildlife photographer. As they traveled through the midst of Hindu-Muslim riots, Meenakshi and Raja found themselves growing closer to each other. Despite the tense atmosphere, the bus continued on its journey, and Meenakshi's concerns shifted from her own safety to protecting Raja from potential Hindu extremists. Can she successfully reach her destination and ensure Raja's safety amidst the escalating violence ?

This is the first time I've been watching a film featuring both Rahul Bose and Konkona Sen Sharma. They are both arguably the key performers in the film, and it's as if they are having a competition for the best performance. I'm new to Rahul Bose's films, and his charming appearance and brilliant acting kept me mesmerized. He should do more films. On the other hand, Konkona nailed her character as Meenakshi Iyer, a Tamil Brahmin woman, with both her appearance and slang. Konkona absolutely deserves her national award for this film for giving such a spectacular performance at such a young age. The chemistry between Rahul and Konkona was at peak. It's great to see Surekha Sikri in the film, even though she had a brief appearance. Special mention should be made to the cute Santhanam, who was no less than the leading duo. Unfortunately, I don't know the real name of the toddler. Apart from them, each and every member of the cast contributed significantly to the film.

The storyline of Mr. And Mrs. Iyer (2002) is unique and engaging, setting it apart from other films made in the same year. In reality, it's an aesthetic film that captivates the viewer from start to finish. I didn't feel bored for a single moment while watching the film. The characters, Jehangir Chowdhury and Meenakshi Iyer, were built brilliantly throughout the story. The first third of the film is particularly engaging and thrilling, as the audience is left wondering what will happen next. However, in my personal opinion, the second third of the film, where Jehangir and Meenakshi are stuck in a guest house and unable to return home, felt a bit stagnant and one-dimensional. However, when the final part of the film arrives, the story takes a turn towards emotional depth and becomes more compelling. The dialogue is well-written, particularly in the scene where Meenakshi and Jehangir bid each other farewell, with Jehangir finally pronouncing 'Meenakshi' correctly and Meenakshi addressing him as 'Mr. Iyer'. This scene was wholesome and a prime example of how effective a simple yet emotional moment can be in conveying the story to the audience.

The cinematography by Goutam Ghose was enchanting, particularly in the close-up shots of Konkona Sen Sharma. The music by Ustad Zakir Hussain was priceless, showcasing a unique and masterful composition. Although the film does not feature any traditional songs, the background score is a remarkable blend of classical, western, and devotional music. It was a significant achievement, demonstrating the composer's skill and creativity.

In conclusion, 'Mr. And Mrs. Iyer' is a film that you must watch at least once in your lifetime. Although it may not have a superstar cast, you will find a sense of peace at the end of the film. I highly recommend it to classic cinema lovers.

This movie should have been nominated from India as a Oscar nominee. The deals with couple of sensitive subjects in India in a very insightful manner. From the slow beginning to the eventual ending, the dialog was excellent and the direction of Ms. Sen was superb!!

Various passengers from various backgrounds are on a bus to Calcutta. Raja Chowdhury is asked to look after Meenakshi Iyer and her baby son. Other passengers include a bunch of loud young people, two Sikh men, an elderly Muslim couple, a couple making out, a woman and her mentally-handicap son, and some men playing cards. There is religious strife in the country. The bus encounters a closed road. The driver takes a detour and ends up at a roadblock with other vehicles. There has been attacks and a Hindu mob descends on the religiously mix group.

It's a post-9/11 melodrama about race relations in India. It's a little heavy-handed and a bit too long. That does subtract from the intensity. The group on the bus is deliberately random and carefully selected. I do give everyone involved full marks for the sincere effort. The newly formed couple is pretty effective.