Indeed, this film is a strong commentary on the controversial practice of surrogacy. On the one hand, some may say this practice is a blessed option for those who want to have their own children. On the other, it is an exploitation of a woman's body, and most of those who become surrogates are women from the lower strata of society. Paid surrogacy in general, in the eyes of many intellectuals, borders on trafficking and enslavement of women, where under the guise of fulfilling people's (fictional) right to parenthood (parenthood is not a right), women become objects of utility without the ability to change their minds, and the possible mental repercussions of separation from a little creature which happens to be their biological (though not genetic) child is often ignored.
This is exactly where our title heroine, Mimi, falls. She is a sassy young lady who dreams of becoming a star in the Hindi film industry, and in order to earn some cash, agrees to the offer of an American couple to carry their child and fulfill their wish to become parents. It seems like a perfect deal both ways because each side gets exactly what they want, but when prebirth tests reveal the child is likely to have Downs, they simply run away without a warning, unwilling to accept a child they consider to be damaged and leaving the poor girl they hired, who is in the latter stages of her pregnancy, deal herself with the situation and specifically the conservative society she comes from where no one is even aware of what she's been up to. From then on, Mimi is forced to take responsibility for her life and make decisions, and she does.
Indeed, this terrible, horrendous couple would make any watching audience simply infuriated. Their portrayal clearly shows the writers' critical perspective on the practice of surrogacy - on how selfish they consider its customers to be in the first place, in their readiness to put any young girl through this process and then abandon her or the child midway. Worse is the power structure, namely the insufferably unequal balance between the contracted surrogate and the commissioning couple, both financially and in terms of their status in society, all through the process. Only people with their relative power, who outrank the young surrogate on so many levels, could abandon her, leave without a trace, and then have the audacity to come back when they realise the baby doesn't have Downs. Yes, that's how terrible, despicable and morally twisted they are.
But thankfully, the director is smart enough to not make the film into a heavy melodrama, because the story itself is dramatic enough to get its viewers angry and sad and absolutely distraught over the social injustice presented to them on the screen. Mimi is a film of comedy and humour, and even the most difficult situations, which would be intensely tough viewing in other films, are infused with charm and comedy which makes for a nice watch. The music, courtesy maestro A. R. Rahman, is, as one can imagine, gives life to the film, but to me, the sets, the costumes, and the authentic portrayal of the neighbourhood, is the winner. The film is one of many films off late which present the lives of India's lower-middle-class families, and it does so with amazing grace, charm and realism. It should easily be a cultural delight to foreigners who watch it.
Kriti is the perfect Hindi film heroine, both as a star who dances and looks absolutely sensational, but not less as an actress who does a fantastic job. Aside from her impressive physical transformation for the part, her performance is convincing and natural all the way through, even in the most difficult of scenes - the pregnancy, the birth, the disappointment, the personal growth, the moments of dilemma and choice - a wonderful portrait of strength and coming-of-age, indeed. She is supported by many brilliant actors, headed by the excellent Pankaj Tripathi, who is as decent, kind and wholesome as you can get. Sai Tamhankar is brilliant as Mimi's kind and loyal friend, and so are Manoj Pahwa and the wonderful Supriya Pathak as her parents. As it happens most of the time in Indian films, the American actors are quite weak, although Evelyn Edwards as the wife is slightly better.
Mimi is a very nice film because it allows itself to be a Hindi film in the traditional sense, with songs and colour and many emotions, and it embraces its Indian culture, all while addressing important themes. The fact that so many of the difficult situations in the film are relieved by its wonderful blend of comedy and drama, is a great asset and should make it a great watch for the entire family. In many ways, despite its serious subject matter, it is reminiscent of many old Hindi melodramas, like Aulad (1987), and so it's interesting to see how old melodramatic stories are adapted to the modern screen. Kudos to director Laxman Utekar and to the entire cast of talented actors who make this film that fun. Hopefully, Mimi will help open some eyes to the rights and welfare of the less privileged.
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