Meri Pyaari Bindu
| Meri Pyaari Bindu | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Akshay Roy |
| Written by | Soumik Sen Suportim Sengupta |
| Produced by | Maneesh Sharma |
| Starring | Parineeti Chopra Ayushmann Khurrana |
| Cinematography | Tushar Kanti Ray |
| Edited by | Shweta Venkat Matthew |
| Music by | Sachin–Jigar |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Yash Raj Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 119 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹22 crores[1] |
| Box office | ₹17.79 crores[1] |
Meri Pyaari Bindu (transl. My Dear Bindu) is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film written by Suprotim Sengupta and directed by Akshay Roy. Produced by Maneesh Sharma under the Yash Raj Films banner, it stars Parineeti Chopra and Ayushmann Khurrana in lead roles. The narrative follows Abhimanyu, a pulp fiction writer, as he reflects on his evolving, bittersweet relationship with his childhood friend and aspiring singer, Bindu.
The film marked Roy's directorial debut and featured music composed by Sachin–Jigar, with lyrics by Kausar Munir. Principal photography took place in Kolkata and Mumbai, with cinematography by Tushar Kanti Ray and editing by Shweta Venkat Mathew.
Released theatrically on 12 May 2017, Meri Pyaari Bindu received mixed-to-positive reviews. Critics praised its concept, soundtrack, and lead performances, particularly the chemistry between Chopra and Khurrana, while the narrative structure and pacing received criticism.[2][3] The film emerged as a commercial disappointment, grossing ₹17.7 crore (US$2.2 million) worldwide against a reported budget of ₹22 crore.
At the 63rd Filmfare Awards, the film received two nominations: Best Lyricist (Kausar Munir for "Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin") and Best Female Playback Singer (Monali Thakur for "Khol De Baahein").
Plot
[edit]Abhimanyu "Abhi" Roy, a successful pulp fiction writer in Mumbai, struggles with writer’s block while attempting to complete his latest novel. On his manager’s advice, he returns to his family home in Kolkata for a break. There, prompted by familiar surroundings, Abhi begins to revisit his past—particularly his lifelong relationship with his childhood friend and love, Bindu Shankaranarayan.
In a flashback, Abhi recalls meeting Bindu when they were neighbors as children. Bindu, an aspiring singer with a spirited personality, became Abhi’s closest friend. Although Abhi fell in love with her, he never confessed his feelings, content with being by her side. Their bond is shaken when Bindu’s mother dies in a car accident caused by her father's drunk driving. Distraught, Bindu blames her father and relocates to Melbourne, cutting short her education.
As time passes, Abhi moves to Bangalore for an MBA and stays in touch with Bindu through postcards and letters. Bindu informs him of her engagements, none of which lead to marriage. Eventually, they lose contact. Years later, Abhi, now working at a bank in Mumbai, meets Bindu again in Goa. She is engaged once more and seems content, leaving Abhi heartbroken.
Later, when Bindu's engagement ends, she reconnects with Abhi in Mumbai. The two grow closer, and Abhi, despite being in a relationship, remains emotionally attached to Bindu. Bindu begins working as a dubbing artist, and after a period of shared companionship and professional struggle, they fall in love. However, when her debut music album fails commercially, Bindu becomes disillusioned. Feeling unfulfilled, she declines Abhi’s marriage proposal, citing the need to rediscover herself, and relocates to Bangalore, severing contact.
Two years later, Abhi publishes his first novel and is gaining recognition as a writer. On the day of his book launch, he receives a call from Bindu, who informs him of her impending marriage. Abhi congratulates her, concealing his lingering feelings.
Back in the present, Abhi takes refuge from the rain in a familiar spot from their childhood and encounters a young girl—Bindu’s daughter. He later meets Bindu, now married to Mr. Nair, and shares with her a private manuscript narrating their love story, one with a happier ending. Abhi tells her that this story is just for the two of them.
The film ends at a birthday party where Abhi and Bindu dance together. In voiceover, Abhi reflects that while Bindu may have assumed many roles in life—wife, mother, daughter-in-law—for him, she will always remain his "pyaari Bindu."
Cast
[edit]- Parineeti Chopra as Bindu Shankarnarayanan
- Ayushmann Khurrana as Abhimanyu "Abhi" Roy a.k.a. Bubla
- Rajatava Dutta as Bubla's father
- Aparajita Adhya as Bubla's mother
- Prakash Belawadi as Bindu's father
- June Malia as Bindu's mother
- Kharaj Mukherjee[4] as over-excited relative
- Biswajit Chakraborty as a neighbor
- Kamalika Banerjee as Boobi Mashi
- Abish Mathew as Bubla's friend in Mumbai
- Lama Halder as shopkeeper
- Prabal Punjabi
- Amrita Bagchi as Abhimanyu's girlfriend
- Nishant Dahiya
- Priya Mondal
- Ishita Ganguly as Das Cabin Girl – Prospective Bride for Abhimanyu
Production
[edit]Principal photography commenced in Kolkata in May 2016 and concluded in October 2016.
Soundtrack
[edit]| Meri Pyaari Bindu | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 20 April 2017 |
| Recorded | 2016–2017 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length | 30:26 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Label | YRF Music |
The soundtrack of Meri Pyaari Bindu was composed by Sachin–Jigar, with lyrics written by Kausar Munir and Priya Saraiya. It features a total of seven songs, performed by a diverse group of vocalists including Arijit Singh, Ayushmann Khurrana, Sonu Nigam, Parineeti Chopra, Clinton Cerejo, Dominique Cerejo, Monali Thakur, Nakash Aziz, Sanah Moidutty, Jigar Saraiya, and Jonita Gandhi. Notably, Parineeti Chopra made her playback singing debut with the track "Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin." The full album was released on 20 April 2017 under the YRF Music label.
All music is composed by Sachin–Jigar.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin" | Kausar Munir | Parineeti Chopra | 4:25 |
| 2. | "Hareyaa" | Priya Saraiya | Arijit Singh | 3:35 |
| 3. | "Ye Jawaani Teri" | Kausar Munir | Nakash Aziz, Jonita Gandhi | 3:15 |
| 4. | "Iss Tarah" | Kausar Munir | Clinton Cerejo, Dominique Cerejo | 3:03 |
| 5. | "Khol De Baahein" | Kausar Munir, Rana Mazumder | Monali Thakur | 3:09 |
| 6. | "Afeemi" | Kausar Munir | Jigar Saraiya, Sanah Moidutty | 4:09 |
| 7. | "Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin" (Duet) | Kausar Munir | Sonu Nigam, Parineeti Chopra | 5:27 |
| 8. | "Hareyaa (Reprise)" | Priya Saraiya | Ayushmann Khurrana | 3:23 |
| 9. | "Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin (Arijit Singh Version)" | Kausar Munir | Arijit Singh | 5:26 |
| 10. | "Titli Trippin" | Vayu | Arijit Singh, Neeti Mohan | 2:15 |
| Total length: | 37:15 | |||
Reception
[edit]Box office
[edit]Meri Pyaari Bindu was released theatrically on 12 May 2017 and grossed a total of ₹17.34 crore (US$2.1 million) worldwide. The film collected ₹9.59 crore nett (₹13.32 crore gross) in India and ₹4.02 crore (US$600,000) from overseas markets.[5][6] Made on a budget of ₹22 crore, it was considered a commercial failure.[7]
Critical reception
[edit]Meri Pyaari Bindu received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, with praise for its performances, soundtrack, and nostalgic tone, but criticism directed at its pacing, narrative structure, and overall cohesion. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 44% based on 9 reviews and an average rating of 5.38/10.[8]
Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV called it “a light-hearted, freewheeling, and charming love story with a twist ending,” awarding it three stars and appreciating its departure from typical Bollywood melodrama.[9] The Times of India echoed similar sentiments, noting the film would appeal to the romantic at heart but describing the viewing experience as “a battle between the brain and the heart.”[10] Filmfare praised Parineeti Chopra and Ayushmann Khurrana’s chemistry, calling their performances the film’s strongest asset, while also highlighting the retro-inspired soundtrack.[11]
On the other hand, some reviewers offered more mixed reactions. Rahul Desai of Film Companion commended the ambition behind the non-linear storytelling and use of nostalgia but felt the film suffered from emotional detachment, describing it as “more affectation than affection.”[12] The Daily Eye noted that while the film was visually endearing and musically rich, it struggled with uneven pacing and underwritten supporting characters.[13] The Indian Express described the film as one with potential that falters due to an unfocused screenplay and lack of narrative drive.[14]
More critical voices came from outlets like Koimoi, which found the story “plain boring” despite the charisma of its leads.[15] Scroll.in called it “a rambling ode to childhood love that is nearly always out of sync,” critiquing its inconsistent tone.[16] Livemint described the story and characters as dull and uninspired, while The Hindu questioned the chemistry between the leads, asking, “Where’s the chemistry?”[17][18] Hindustan Times echoed this lack of conviction, calling the film “a dull story” with “lifeless characters.”[19] Reviewers from Deccan Chronicle and iDiva similarly remarked that the film lacked energy and was bogged down by its own attempt at quirkiness.[20][21]
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Date of the ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zee Cine Awards | 19 December 2017 | Best Lyricist | Kausar Munir (for "Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin")| style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated | [22] | |
| Filmfare Awards | 20 January 2018 | Best Lyricist| rowspan="2" style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated | [23] | ||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Monali Thakur (for "Khol De Baahein") | ||||
| Mirchi Music Awards | 28 January 2018 | Song of The Year | rowspan=5 style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated | [24] | |
| Music Composer of The Year | Sachin–Jigar (for "Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin") | ||||
| Lyricist of The Year | Kausar Munir (for "Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin") | ||||
| Upcoming Female Vocalist of The Year | Parineeti Chopra (for "Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin") | ||||
| Best Song Producer (Programming & Arranging) | Sachin–Jigar (for "Haareya") |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Meri Pyaari Bindu". Box Office India. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "Meri Pyaari Bindu Review {3/5}: It will appeal to the romantic in you, but watching the movie will be a battle between the brain and the heart". The Times of India.
- ^ "Meri Pyaari Bindu: When all a woman's good for, is helping a man 'find himself'". Firstpost. 13 May 2017.
- ^ "Meri Pyaari Bindu". Bollywood Hungama. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ Hungama, Bollywood (12 May 2017). "Meri Pyaari Bindu Box Office Collection | India | Day Wise | Box Office - Bollywood Hungama". Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Mirza Juuliet - Movie - Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ Jha, Anupama (18 July 2018). "Meri Pyaari Bindu Budget & 7th Day Box Office Collection: Flop". Bollymoviereviewz. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Meri Pyaari Bindu (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ "Meri Pyaari Bindu Movie Review: Parineeti Chopra Grows On You As Lovely But Elusive Padosan". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Meri Pyaari Bindu Movie Review". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Movie Review: Meri Pyaari Bindu | Filmfare.com". www.filmfare.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ Chopra, Anupama (12 May 2017). "Meri Pyaari Bindu Movie Review: A Lovely Film That Will Make You Fall In Love With Music All Over Again". www.filmcompanion.in. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "True Review Movie - Meri Pyaari Bindu". thedailyeye.info. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Meri Pyaari Bindu movie review: Ayushmann Khurrana, Parineeti Chopra try but can't make us feel". The Indian Express. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ Redkar, Surabhi (12 May 2017). "Meri Pyaari Bindu Review: This Parineeti-Ayushmann Romance Is Plain Boring". Koimoi. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ Ramnath, Nandini (12 May 2017). "'Meri Pyaari Bindu' film review: This rambling ode to childhood love is nearly always out of sync". Scroll.in. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Film Review: Meri Pyaari Bindu". Mintlounge. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ Joshi, Namrata (12 May 2017). "Meri Pyaari Bindu review". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Meri Pyaari Bindu - Review".
- ^ Banerjee, Arnab (13 May 2017). "Meri Pyaari Bindu movie review: Khurana, Chopra go through the motions! | Meri Pyaari Bindu movie review: Khurana, Chopra go through the motions!". www.deccanchronicle.com. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Review: Meri Pyaari Bindu Is A Messy Study Of Thwarted Love And Manic Pixie Dream Girls". iDiva. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Zee Cine Awards 2018 Winners". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Nominations for the 63rd Jio Filmfare Awards 2018". filmfare.com. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Nominations – Mirchi Music Awards 2017". MMAMirchiMusicAwards. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
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