Mannphodganj Ki Binny Review: A Highly Entertaining Story Dipped In Rusticity !

Director:- Vikas Chandra

Cast:- Pranati Rai Prakash, Anurag Sinha, Alka Kaushal, Atul Srivastava, Abhinav Anand, Aru Krishansh, Samar Vermani, and Fahman Khan

Binny Bajpai is a modern, quirky girl with her own desi swag, hailing from the Mannphodganj suburb of Prayagraj. Binny dreams of living her 3/4th life as she says with respect to a man who will take her out of Mannphodganj (which she considers being middle-class). She falls for local politician’s son, Rahul Pandey and starts daydreaming about marrying him but fails to see through the latter’s commitment woes. Rahul eventually breaks Binny’s heart and Binny is left alone with her wish to get married with respect. Meanwhile, a family friend’s son Tarun, as well as a good-hearted idler Raja, has fallen head over heels for her. Eventually, sparks start flying between Binny and Harsh, a marriage material chosen between her parents. Who will be Binny’s dulha?

 Right from the smell of freshly made jalebis to pronouncing lingerie as ‘lingiri’ Mannphodganj Ki Binny makes you fall in love with people of small towns. Highlighting the rusticity of Prayagraj, the series is simple, plain and immensely entertaining. The comic events depicted in the story do not look like they are ‘fitted in’ to make you laugh. The show may not make you laugh hard enough hurting your cheeks but before you realize you will be smiling at the innocence of the characters.

Speaking of the characters, Binny(played by Pranati Rai Prakash) nails her character of a free-spirited youngster who is too innocent to see the harsh reality world holds for her. Binny is like a ‘chatpata golgappa’ that will taste spicy and sweet at the same time. Her onscreen parents, Alka Kaushal and Atul Srivastava steal the show with their punchlines and comic timing. Binny Ke Daddy (Atul Srivastava) is a true businessman who knows what he is doing very well but what he does not know is that parties are not the right place to talk about bra sizes of women! Binny Ki Mummy (Alka Kaushal) desperately wants her daughter to get married to a good guy and feels her daughter should not end up like her. She balances her act of playing a sanskari maa who is burdened by the society to marry her daughter off and a modern maa who knows her daughter’s every little secret.

Anurag Sinha is promising as Raja and gives a hint of Pankaj Tripathi in his performance. Fahman Khan as Rahul Pandey does not have shades to his role but portrays his character of a rich-spoilt son of MLA really well. The other actors in the series are successful in adding the rural flavor to the dramedy.

Mannphodganj Ki Binny is mostly entertaining with a terrific ending. The simplicity and charm of the story and characters, the smartly edited episodes and well-written script make it worthwhile.

Rating:- 4/5