Malhar Thakar plays a fictionalised version of himself, a Gujarati superstar chasing an even bigger shot at fame. His rich best friend Hardik, his devoted fangirl Esha and his troublesome sister Riya are pulled into the scheme. The hunt for a shortcut to stardom drags all of them into consequences none of them saw coming.
Midnights With Menka is one of the more self-aware experiments Gujarati cinema attempted in 2018. Written and directed by Viral Shah, it stages a fake biopic in which Malhar Thakar, already a genuine Dhollywood star, plays a version of himself who finds a quick hack to fame and then has to live with what it costs him. That meta premise, a celebrity satirising celebrity, is the film's most interesting idea and the reason it stands apart from the year's straighter comedies.
The ensemble does the rest of the work. Malhar Thakar is comfortable sending up his own image, Esha Kansara plays the obsessive fangirl, and Hardik Sangani and Vinita Mahesh round out the circle of friends and family whose ambitions keep tripping over each other. Veteran Naresh Kanodia turns up in a special appearance, a nice nod to an older generation of Gujarati stardom inside a story about the new one. Ambresh Shroff's soundtrack, including the tongue-in-cheek track I Am the Superstar, leans into the same playful register.
The Times of India rated it three out of five and landed on the fairest one-line summary, that it is an average watch carried by a constant dose of humour. That captures both the appeal and the ceiling. The film is breezy and rarely dull, and the running commentary on fame gives it a spine most Dhollywood comedies lack. What it does not do is push its clever idea as far as it could, settling for gags where sharper satire was within reach. Watch it for the novelty of a Gujarati star cheerfully skewering the machinery that made him, and for an ensemble that keeps the energy up even when the writing plays it safe.
Verdict
A breezy, self-aware comedy where a real Gujarati star satirises stardom. Fun and novel, even if it stops short of the sharper film hiding inside it.
What works
- Sharp meta premise with Malhar Thakar as himself
- Consistent, easygoing humour
- Likeable ensemble energy
- Playful, self-referential soundtrack
What holds it back
- Never fully sharpens its satire
- Settles for gags over bite
- Uneven middle stretch
- Slight, low-stakes payoff
Cast & crew
Writers: Viral Shah
Music: Ambresh Shroff
Cast: Malhar Thakar (Malhar), Esha Kansara (Esha), Hardik Sangani (Hardik), Vinita Mahesh (Riya), Parth Oza (Rahul)
Producers: Rashmin Majithia
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Viral Shah
More Comedy Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Midnights With Menka worth watching?
A breezy, self-aware comedy where a real Gujarati star satirises stardom. Fun and novel, even if it stops short of the sharper film hiding inside it. Kevu Che rates it 3 out of 5.
What is Midnights With Menka about?
Malhar Thakar plays a fictionalised version of himself, a Gujarati superstar chasing an even bigger shot at fame. His rich best friend Hardik, his devoted fangirl Esha and his troublesome sister Riya are pulled into the scheme. The hunt for a shortcut to stardom drags all of them into consequences none of them saw coming.
What is the IMDb rating of Midnights With Menka?
Midnights With Menka (2018) holds an IMDb rating of 8.6 out of 10.