Now Reading: Parivarik ManuRanjan gets mixed reviews, called wasted opportunity
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Parivarik ManuRanjan gets mixed reviews, called wasted opportunity
The Story in Brief
Reviews for Pankaj Tripathi and Aditi Rao Hydari’s 'Parivarik ManuRanjan', which released on 13 November, are uniformly middling. Indian Express gave it two stars, calling the Lucknow-set rom-com ‘too safe, too dull’ and criticising its refusal to showcase the city’s non-vegetarian character. India Today described the film as underwhelming, slow and lacking emotional depth, noting the weak chemistry between the leads.
Director by Varun V Sharma, the film follows bachelor Ranjan Dubey (Tripathi) and housekeeper Helen/Manu (Rao Hydari). Scroll.in said the charming leads are let down by a ‘contrived’ script with predictable turns and manufactured conflicts. India TV gave 2.5 stars, calling it a sweet romance hampered by a predictable story and unnecessary songs. All four reviews said the film fails to live up to its promising setup and wastes its talented cast.
Update, 13 November 2026: Scroll.in and India TV also reviewed the film on 13 November. Scroll.in said the charming leads are let down by a contrived script with predictable turns. India TV gave 2.5 stars and said a weak screenplay affects the film’s pace. Both agree with Indian Express and India Today that the film fails to match its premise.
Indian Opinion Analysis
All four outlets agree that 'Parivarik ManuRanjan' wastes its promising cast and setup. Indian Express leads with the film's refusal to show Lucknow's non-vegetarian character, calling the rom-com 'too safe, too dull'. India Today calls it 'underwhelming' and criticises the weak lead chemistry. Scroll.in notes the charming leads are let down by a 'contrived' script, while India TV gives 2.5 stars, pointing to a predictable story and weak screenplay. No source gives a strongly critical or laudatory review, the coverage is uniform in its middle-of-the-road, disappointed verdict. The outlets diverge only on minor rating differences and the specific metaphors used to convey the same core complaint: the premise is good, the execution fails.
Coverage: 4 sources, 4 neutral
Sources (4): indianexpress.com (neutral report), indiatoday.in (neutral report), scroll.in (neutral report), indiatvnews.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Update, 13 November 2026: further reports on this story from thehindu.com, hindustantimes.com.
