‘Helicopter Eela’ Critics’ Review: Kajol’s Film Just About Flies

Check out how critics are reacting to Kajol’s new film.

Kajol and Riddhi Sen in Helicopter Eela. 

Film: Helicopter Eela
Director: Pradeep Sarkar
Cast: Kajol, Riddhi Sen, Neha Dhupia

Read excerpts from reviews of Helicopter Eela here:

“The writers and director Pradeep Sarkar want to create a portrait of a middle-aged, middle-class woman who must rediscover herself and find a life outside of her son. It’s a worthy idea but the narration is almost entirely lacking in insight or authenticity. Little of it rings true – especially not the bewildering plot twist that makes Eela a single parent and puts an end to her career as a singer... Kajol is far too eager to be likeable, charming and funny. In a few emotional scenes, you glimpse the actress who once spoke straight to your heart. But mostly, her acting is so broad, that you feel like she’s overcompensating for the lack of script.”

Anupama Chopra (filmcompanion.in)

“The idea of Kajol being too boisterous for a library is easy to accept, and the actor takes the role seriously enough to make Eela believable. The film doesn’t work as hard, with college students using volumes of the World Book for research, and a young man with a thickly Bengali accent playing Eela’s half-Maharashtrian, half-Punjabi son. In a throwback to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’s infamously unplugged electric guitars, Kajol even conquers a stadium with a song without needing a microphone. This Mommy may not know best, but she sure knows loudest.”

Raja Sen (hindustantimes.com)

“Sure the imposing St Xavier’s College building has immense visual appeal. And sure the theme is feminist. But when a feminist venture stumbles in the writing of its central female character, you know you have a problem. I could not help but wonder what this film might have been if Gauri Shinde had written and/or directed it. <em>Helicopter Eela</em> means well, but it ends up as an often fun but almost entirely superficial film, a sort of <i>English Vinglish</i> without depth.”

Anna Vetticad (firstpost.com)