Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- eccentric
- bollywood movie night
- political satire double feature
What critics said
Critics found the film inventive and intermittently entertaining, praising its performances, songs, and social ambition while broadly faulting its excessive length and uneven execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Harry's industrial interests and Chaudhari Devi's political maneuvering threaten village farmland and place rich and poor interests in direct conflict.
The film juxtaposes tractors, farmland, malls, stretch limousines, Trilby hats, and Harry's delirious encounters with a pink buffalo.
Bijlee's proposed marriage links her family to a politician's son while land development and political influence drive the surrounding conflict.
Matru serves as Harry's man friday, yet his bond with Harry and Bijlee becomes central as elite plans endanger the village.
Films like Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, and why
Peepli Live
Indian political satire combining rural class conflict, eccentric comedy, romance, and musical energy
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
Hindi social comedy using heightened characters to explore corruption, class inequality, and rural power structures
Kaminey
Vishal Bhardwaj-directed Hindi drama with stylized humor, political intrigue, and morally compromised characters
Well Done Abba
Indian rural political drama balancing family relationships, comic absurdity, and social critique
Movie Details
- Director
- Vishal Bhardwaj
- Release Date
- 2013-01-10
- Runtime
- 151 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (45)
Cast
- Imran Khan
- Anushka Sharma
- Pankaj Kapur
- Shabana Azmi
- Arya Babbar
- Navneet Nishan
- Ranvir Shorey
- Lekha Washington
- Lin Laishram
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Eros Now Select Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola about?
- A flamboyant Hindi rural satire where a loyal fixer, a spirited heiress, and an alcoholic industrialist collide with political ambition and a threatened village.
- What is Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola as mild.
- What did critics think of Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola?
- Critics found the film inventive and intermittently entertaining, praising its performances, songs, and social ambition while broadly faulting its excessive length and uneven execution.
- Which films are like Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola?
- Films with a similar feel include Peepli Live, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Kaminey, and Well Done Abba.
- How long is Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola?
- Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola runs 151 minutes.
- Where can I watch Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola?
- In United States, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola streams on Eros Now Select Apple TV channel.
