It is perhaps a bug of mine as a critic that I always try to look at a film from a holistic approach, rather than be buoyed by the central moments that serve to either encapsulate the entire emotionality of a film or serve as a cornerstone of that film’s existence. It definitely invites my prying eyes to dissect a film far more ruthlessly than perhaps required.

But perhaps ruthlessness itself stems from expectations. Conversational films within a set time frame, allowing one to delve deeply into the complicated dynamics of Indian parents and their children, always provide catnip for viewers. It could lack novelty, but there is always a certain kernel of relatability. And the tonality of the film could either play on that relatability in broad strokes or in subtlety.

A still from “Mehta Boys” (2024)

The expectation from this Boma Irani directorial, if such a thing needs to be addressed,...