Director: Sanjay Rajprakash Gupta
Cast: Harshvardhan Rane, Meezaan, Manasi Joshi Roy, Rahul Dev, Surya Sharma, Jeniffer Piccinato, Sahher Bambba
Where to Watch: Streaming on JioCinema
 
The Miranda Brothers attempts to revive Bollywood's brotherhood trope with a story steeped in sacrifice and sports, particularly football. Adapted from the 2010 Venezuelan film Hermano, it arrives with high expectations but ultimately falls short, delivering a diluted masala film rather than the poignant tale it aspires to be.
 
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Goa, the film presents football as a beacon of hope for two brothers, Julio (Harshvardhan Rane) and Regalo (Meezaan), whose bond is tested through adversity. However, the narrative quickly becomes bogged down by frequent musical interludes, every 12 minutes, that disrupt the flow of the story. These songs add little to character development or plot progression, ultimately diluting the film's emotional weight.
 
The plot centers on the widow Sussie (Manasi Joshi Roy), who raises Julio and Regalo together, intertwining their lives through a shared passion for football. Regalo's chance to join the Goa Football League hinges on his promise to his mother to include Julio, a classic Bollywood trope that could have led to a compelling story. Yet, when tragedy strikes, the film veers into melodrama, shifting from a promising sports narrative to a formulaic tale of sacrifice and conflict.
 
While the original film expertly blended themes of crime and sports, this adaptation falters under the weight of typical Bollywood excess. The romantic subplots featuring Regalo and Sol (Sahher Bambba), and Julio with Issabella (Jeniffer Piccinato), feel forced and detract from the brothers’ relationship, which should have been the narrative’s emotional core.
 
On the acting front, Harshvardhan Rane delivers a brooding performance, making the most of his role despite the script's limitations. Meezaan, though earnest, struggles in key emotional moments, often coming off as more scripted than authentic. The supporting cast remains underdeveloped, relying on familiar stereotypes without offering any depth or nuance.
 
Technically, the film excels with solid production values and well-shot football sequences, but the soundtrack is forgettable, failing to leave a lasting impression.
 
In conclusion, The Miranda Brothers aims to intertwine sports, drama, and familial loyalty but ultimately falls into the realm of predictability. Rather than achieving a cinematic goal, it settles for a throw-in, leaving audiences wanting more from a film that had the potential to score big.