Helicopter Eela (2018) User Reviews

RARELY MAKES SENSE

[SAMTHEBESTEST · 4/10 · 12 October 2018]

HELICOPTER EELA REVIEW :

Eela is emerging singer and while hoping to have a great career suddenly she decides to marry her boyfriend. After marriage expectedly she delivers a baby and becomes a regular mother from an emerging Singer. Then Eela's husband decides to leave his family for some logicless Reasons and Eela becomes a Single mother from a regular mother. Rest story needs to be watched by yourself to decide where did it make sense?

Helicopter Eela rarely makes sense and even at those rare occasions, the Execution is below par. Plenty of moments leave you with confused reactions like, 'Wait... What? How could be...? How can this happen? What the hell was that? And so on... In short this is a story of bond between an overprotective mother and her highly practicle son, which should have been told in better way. In between we see some moral lecture kind of sentences and self discovery of Eela in latest fashion.

While creating 90's era director fails to capture the theme but somehow manages to create that atmosphere through effective use of small properties. Kajol looks elegance beauty at several occassions but here also her make up speaks louder than her acting which wasn't expected from an actress. Riddhi as her practical son and nowdays buddy, dude kind of guy is noticeable. Rest of the cast is decent. Music of the Film is Very Good, you might feel this is an exegarration but you will agree with me when you see those songs on screen. Screenplay is messy, has so many dull parts which should have been removed by editor. Overall its the Director who is at Fault. First of all Pradeep Sarkar should have worked more on the script, then he should have had a better vision to tell this story through film. There are so many over-dramatic and senseless loopholes throughout the narration that as a whole Helicopter Eela end up on a low note. Even if you are a Fan of Kajol still, you have to skip this one and better be waiting for a good film from her which will have a strong characterisation. Coming up to the Box Office Prediction, Helicopter Eela will definitely find it tough at ticket windows as the competition is too much and Content isn't completable. RATING- 4/10*

Watch if you are a Kajol fan

[belaraja-229-415249 · 6/10 · 13 October 2018]

Helicoper Eela is a picture where Kajol looks smashing - fit and trim, as if she hasn't aged at all after 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham'....and behaves as if she is the same age, through this movie!

Kajol was trying too hard in the early part of the movie. She seems to have lost a degree of her spontaneity and tries to make up for it with funny expressions. I was a little disappointed there - the role she played probably needed a more mature performance and less exuberance...but she looked wonderful and there are moments when her brilliant acting prowess does shine through.

The movie dealt with a very sensitive subject - 'Helicopter Parenting' but it did not come through as thoroughly as one would expect.

There is a degree of a lack of realism in the relationship between mother and son. To depict Helicopter Parenting, one needs to understand what it is. In the movie, the relationship feeds the mother's insecurities and the son is amazingly tolerant...till he feels he can't take it any more.

The music and performance towards the end of the movie seemed like something of a throwback to the famous Kuch Kuch Hota Hai guitar sequence.

The person who plays Kajol's husband ( Tota Roy Chowdhury) is rather insipid. Riddhi Sen as the son Vivaan is quite good but there is nothing scintillating about the performance.

It may appeal to Kajol fans ( I am one) but if you go for substance, you ain't getting any.

how exactly a mother shouldnt be

[beevenkat · 5/10 · 18 October 2018]

The heroine is a talented singer, but she ditches her career. Now her entire life revolves around her son. She packs his tiffin, she joins his college to keep an eye on him, she listens to his personal conversations, she gets involved in his friends lives. In short, she becomes intolerable. What happens next? Watch #HelicopterEela to understand how exactly a mother shouldnt be. Ur son needs his space, so give it to him. Dont make him the center of ur existence. Dont pamper him silly. Performances r good, but the script is very convenient n predictable. Rating 2.5/5.

SURVIVED!!!

[coolwaleed9 · 1/10 · 16 October 2018]

I suggest you rather but a helicopter and fly away to a country which doesn't show this film!!

Bollywood masala family film ..!!

[Tejas_Vinda_AITS · 6/10 · 12 October 2018]

In case you have been wondering, just like me, about why the film is titled Helicopter Eela, here's a quick trivia. Apparently, helicopter parents are the ones who pay extra close attention to their children's lives and experiences. And that is exactly how Eela is.

She is constantly reminding Vivan about his dabba (tiffin), asking him to keep his cellphone aside and give her more time, walks into his room without any consideration for his privacy and also overhears his phone conversations.

Helicopter Eela is based on the Gujarati play Beta Kaagdo by Anand Gandhi. He joins Mitesh Shah in scripting the film, which is as predictable as expected.

Despite the insipid writing, the film wins your heart in a few scenes. And all credit goes to Kajol, who is back on the screen after 2015's Dilwale. She occupies most of the screen space and demands your attention.

In the end, Helicopter Eela is a well-intentional, popcorn Bollywood masala family film that will leave you with a smile.

Overacting and irritating

[reemarasheed · 1/10 · 23 December 2018]

I wonder why Kajol has to overdo it. She does not have to prove she is a gpod actress. She is definitely one. But in this movie she has overacted. Also her voice is so irritating. Looks like hubby Ajay Devgan wanted to launch kajol as an actress again desperately hence made this movie which has no logic. This movie is about mother son relationship. My heart goes out for the son. An over bearing and over controlling mother?? Duh!! Also so many things in the movie makes no swnse. Wjy did Kajol insist on marrying when hwr career was about to take off? The reason her husband left her and the child makes no sense at all. Completely avoidable.

Vivan says I love you after 2 hours.

[k-gangwani · 6/10 · 12 October 2018]

What is Vivan's problem? He is such a self centered kid! Can't he just love his mom back??

One-Line Review: Helicopter Eela (2 Stars)

[nairtejas · 2/10 · 12 August 2019]

The artificial nature of Helicopter Eela which further translates into oversmart takes on college/teen life, single-mother-son relationship, and one's quest a assuming a creative career makes you want to hate it. TN.

Pretty good

[cindydsilva · 6/10 · 7 February 2019]

After a long time I got to see Kajol as the main character. It was a heart warming story that all of us moms can relate to in some way or the other. The love, obsession, pampering and fears of a parent have been aptly portrayed. Mothers are not made to just live their whole lives for their families. The acting was awesome. I liked the movie as well as the positive end.

Why 'Helicopter'???

[www-aktomer · 1/10 · 22 June 2019]

Filled with over dramatization of events, Kajol's overacting, numerous obvious plot holes and every Bollywood cliche. Its amazing to see that they can even make you hate such a movie. I'm feeling disgusted to my bones after watching it. Not recommended at all (0/10)

SMothering Single Mother-Son Story

[santoshdogra · 8/10 · 14 October 2018]

#HelicopterEela Abundance of Love and All good intentions of parents can sometimes be sMothering. A Story of Single mother who has dumped her dreams, aspirations & fear on only child, with her desires on back-burner, only to keep upbringing right. The movie revolves around Mother @KajolAtUN from her 90s Singing career days to Current day, where teenage son needs some breathing space. The movie begins with story of struggling artist who has to do petty things before getting break in glamour world. Underworld threat to Producer, ends her album launch dream project. Her marriage ends when superstitious husband leaves alone and without any choices she keeps her dream and career aside to become helicopter parent and keep hovering around 24x7 till her sons teenage days and lands up in College to create nightmares & differences in Mother-Son relationship.

The movie avoids bigger complexities of relationships and keep it conventional superficial emotional nostalgic dramatainment.

@KajolAtUn had probably burden of carrying movie solo in mind, while hyperacting as SuperMoM. She ages, but remain glamorous. @RiddhiSen896 as a son is very natural, calm and mature and easily correlateable. @PradeepSrkar & @AjayDevgn has chosen universal appealing Mother-Son Coming out of Age Story but commercial aspect has got more weightage

Good but not great

[anchalverma-23512 · 6/10 · 18 October 2018]

This movie has different story line...movie was good but not great...overall 1 time watchable movie....

Career Suicide

[sachinruparelia · 2/10 · 28 October 2018]

Kajol why? Someone has got to give her better advice on movies to do. This was awful.

Emotionally High but Poor Writing

[OnjiMooteDaMarle · 3/10 · 31 January 2019]

Capable of being a short film is turned to be made a feature length. At just 2 hours, this film still feels lengthy. The main conflict moment isn't strong enough for the reactions that come afterward. If the conflict being the backbone, itself is weak, then the entire screenplay falls apart. Thus the film. Kajol is herself. Supporting cast is average. Very sad that Anand Gandhi was involved in the writing department. What a shame.

People can watch pain of parents but not their fault that's why it was a flop i guess

[meghagargmg-02284 · 7/10 · 25 January 2020]

I am actually surprised by all negative reviews for the movie . Yeah it is not a really well made movie but its a must watch for sure even if for once but must seriously . It has both negative and positive aspects . Many things seem force as a story , acting is bit over sometimes BUT even after all this makers tell a good story infact a fresh one , a story which is actually needed in present times because kids want their space and parents think it will going to create problems when in real not giving the space will definitely create problems which is ignore by our elder ones . I GUESS MAIN REASON THIS MOVIE DIDN'T WORK IS MORE THAN ITS MAKING , THE REASON IS PEOPLE ARE EMOTIONAL ENOUGH TO SEE PARENTS CRYING BECAUSE OF THEIR KIDS BUT NOT SENSIBLE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THAT PARENTS UNKNOWINGLY CAN CREATE PROBLEMS FOR KIDS TOO OR JUST WANT TO IGNORE THIS FACT . This movie is worth watching , give it a chance .

HELICOPTER EELA is a poorly made film and has too many loose ends and silly moments....

[fillerruth · 2/10 · 12 October 2018]

HELICOPTER EELA is the story of a mother and a son. Eela Raitodkar (Kajol) is an aspiring singer and is in love with lyricist Arun (Tota Roy Choudhury). She gets a major break as a singer and actor in a pop song. However, in the middle of the song shoot, the project gets shelved after the underworld gives threats to the director, Mahesh Bhatt. Eela meanwhile gets married to Arun. Their son Vivaan is born soon. All is going well until one day when Arun gets the news that his relative, in his 30s, has passed away. This is when Eela casually remarks how all the men in his family have died before they reached the age of 40. This scares Arun who realises that his end might be near. He decides to abandon Eela, Vivaan and his mother (Kamini Khanna). Eela has to give up her singing aspirations as she gets busy in raising Vivaan. Some twenty years later, Vivaan (Riddhi Sen) is now a college student. Eela is still as paranoid about Vivaan as she was before. Vivaan feels suffocated and he advises Eela to pursue her music or complete her education so that she gets busy and doesn't bug him. Eela decides to do the latter and she joins Vivaan's college. If that isn't enough, she manages to get admission in Vivaan's class. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Mitesh Shah and Anand Gandhi's story is adapted from the Gujarati play BETA KAAGDO, written by the latter. It is very unconvincing. Still it could have been a bit decent if the script had covered some loose ends nicely. But Mitesh Shah and Anand Gandhi's screenplay is terribly flawed and all over the place. Also certain developments would leave the viewers stunned as it's so senseless. Mitesh Shah's dialogues are okay.

Pradeep Sarkar's direction is very weak. He has given some decent films in the past but HELICOPTER EELA is his worst film yet for sure. Also the film is titled so since Eela hovers around her son like a helicopter. But this is not explained properly in the film. Hence the viewers would be confused with regards to the title.

HELICOPTER EELA begins on a haphazard note. The film then suddenly goes into a flashback mode and the beginning of this portion is quite convenient, especially how Eela is praised by one and all in the music industry. But the worst part of the film is how Arun decides to leave Eela and his family for a silly reason. It is unbelievable how this bit of the script even got approved. Moreover, Eela's education is never stressed upon initially and there was no inclination that she is not a graduate. As a result, Eela suddenly deciding to join college seems random. Post interval, the silliness continues and things continue to happen at random. In a crucial scene, Arun arrives again and one expects things to heat up. But he leaves as suddenly as he comes back. Immediately after this scene, Eela is seen singing the song 'Oh Krishna you're the greatest musician'. Wonder what made the makers chose this song out of all songs. It is sure to induce unintentional laughter. The film gets a bit moving when Vivaan decides to stay away from Eela. The climax as expected is also far fetched and stretched. The end credit scenes makes one laugh wondering what exactly were the makers thinking.

Kajol delivers a fine performance and in some scenes, she does bring a smile and even leaves audiences teary eyed. In the flashback sequence however, she gets over the top. Riddhi Sen delivers a terrific performance. This National Award winning actor remains in his character and does very well. Neha Dhupia (Padma) is fine in a supporting role. Tota Roy Choudhury is laughable. Kamini Khanna is decent. Zakir Hussain (Principal Vivek Joshi) is good but in the end, it's funny to see him getting scolded by a student. Rashi Mal (Nikita) has a good screen presence. Chirag Malhotra (Yash) has an important part and is decent. The cameos by Amitabh Bachchan, Mahesh Bhatt, Ila Arun, Baba Sehgal, Shaan, Anu Malik, Ganesh Acharya etc add to the star value.

Amit Trivedi's music is nothing special. 'Ruk Ruk Ruk' is the best song of the lot and is thankfully not a remix created for the heck of it. It has a significance in the film. 'Mumma Ki Parchai' comes next and has quirky lyrics. 'Yaadow Ki Almari' is a bit underwhelming while 'Janam' doesn't work. Daniel B George's background score is in sync with the film's mood.

Sirsha Ray's cinematography is neat. Madhu Sarkar and Bhavani Patel's production design is rich. Radhika Mehra, Shubha Mitra and Punam Mullick's costumes is appealing. NY VFXwalla's VFX is terrible while Dharmendra Sharma's editing is haphazard.

Review Helicopter Eela

[Magow-Intermean · 6/10 · 14 November 2018]

Sunita Rao's lilting 'Pari Hoon Main' playing on radio welcomes you to the world of Eela Raiturkar (Kajol). A budding singer of the 90s, she doesn't live in the past, but her world now revolves around her 20-year-old son Vivaan (Riddhi Sen). She follows him around in the real and virtual world; all the way to his college, where she turns up as a fellow student, too.

It's an exciting premise and director Pradeep Sarkar sets the stage for a generational confrontation right at the beginning. However, he chooses to spend the first half taking us back into the good ol' nineties, where Indie Pop ruled music charts and Baba Sehgal's raps were a rage.

In the first half, writers Anand Gandhi and Mitesh Shah convey the ups and downs in the life of a young couple (Kajol and Tota Roy Chowdhury) with conviction. The film stays on course with light banter between the characters and the story progresses consistently without much melodrama. A fun soundtrack by Amit Trivedi, with quirky lyrics, also adds to the momentum.

Kajol hits all the right notes, be it as a singer on the cusp of hitting super stardom, or as a doting mother. She lights up the screen with an effortless charm. Tota Roy Chowdhury adequately pitches in as her supportive partner. However, there is a visible lack of chemistry between the two. National Award-winner Riddhi Sen, who is acclaimed for his performances in Bengali cinema, pulls off the emotional scenes with finesse, but his comic timing could have been better. Neha Dhupia performs well in her limited role, too. But the film belongs to Kajol, who dominates every frame. Her portrayal of a single mom's love for her only child is convincing, enduring and deserves applause.

In the second half, director Pradeep Sarkar often comes close to giving wings to his protagonist, but that doesn't happen till the very end. During this half, the mother joins the son in college and there's ample opportunity for comedy, but that doesn't ever play out. While the mother-son conflict is the core of the story, their confrontational scenes become a tad too repetitive.

Overall, Helicopter Eela is a fun ride that manages to land safely despite some turbulence. Watch this simple and endearing tale of motherly love with your mom in tow.

Pathetic in all ways

[dheerajvyas1234 · 1/10 · 6 August 2021]

Story- Absolutely Pathetic. Story gives no message for life, has no entertainment part, and no sense. Just a mother trying to be a shadow of her son, helping her in every thing of his life. This is very common thing when kids are dumb. It wasn't a topic for movie at all.

Acting- Kajol has always been an over actor. She kept the same thing here. Only screaming from beginning to end.

Drug addict Bollywood has no brain for a good story.

only the thinking of making it was right!!!!!

[chiragtyagi-43558 · 6/10 · 18 October 2018]

Man the movie could have been a lot better!!! with a great story thinking it neither was written properly nor directed....screenplay is average....songs are below average....1st half and last 5 minutes of movie are nice....acting by kajol and riddhi sen is good......others also have done well....neha dhupia is average......2.5/5 from my side......

Heart broken and disappointed!

[annanya-31261 · 4/10 · 20 December 2018]

I guess Kajol needs to change the definition of a good script, which she always speaks about. Being a Kajol fan,in an empty movie hall, it was so difficult to digest this film. I never thought I will have hard time watching her. Highly disappointing!!

Must watch with your family and friends

[sheikhmithuju · 10/10 · 25 January 2019]

This is the best movie I have ever seen in my life. Awesome story and great execution. Loved it!

Helicopter has crashed... Read this and save your 2 hour.

[arittrabanerjee · 3/10 · 1 February 2019]

//Helicopter Eela//

This overly dramatic movie tried to deliver an important message but suffers from poor script.

There are numerous plotholes in this movie Here are some examples- 1. Why a career centric girl, Kajol decided to leave her ambition and embrace motherhood? 2. What sense did Arun's decision make? If you are about to die, you gotta spend your last days with your loved ones instead of vanishing. 3. How did a 12 pass girl manage to live greatly in probably the costliest area in India, Bandra without doing a job for 20 years? 4. Kajal opened the door when Vivan is about to enter. He can miss a movie date with mother but his arriving time has been precise since 20 years. Is there no traffic jam, natural calamity, strike, train late in Mumbai? 5. How Arun's mom managed to look same for more than 20 years even though every other characters aged. 6. How can a principal of college get scolded by teachers, guardians and students for silly reasons every time? Even my primary school's h.t has more authority than him. And lastly, Kajol is funny and energetic and mskes you emotional but for a single moment she is unable to be a next door struggling single mom with all those make ups, dresses and i phones in a serial like set. There is very little or no answer to theses questions.

The director needs to understand the concept of helicopter parenting. In movie, the mother needed help as for her attention towards her son, her life was going nowhere and Vivan's life had all the good effects of parenting. He is astonishingly mature, practical and can do his own works in spite of helicopter parenting. STRANGE!!!

But, Music of the Film is great and catchy.

So, please avoid(Yes, blind kajil fans too!) another senseless bollywood crap and save your 2 hour.

Those who are interested to watch great movies about helicopter parenting, watch Bengali film, Iche directed by Shibprosad and Nandita or episode "Arkangle" of Black Mirror.

Bakwas

[pravin-kadam-34641 · 1/10 · 17 January 2019]

Pathetic no more words for overacters. Kajol should stay at home please don't act anymore

Loose plot

[sandiptheboss · 1/10 · 18 February 2020]

Very lossy plot. Even the climax was not as it should be, let alone a good finishing. There are some twist but no suspense. Though the story was good enough, development was too bad. Its like, eating raw meat without cooking.

A feel good drama on mother and son relationship....

[SumanShakya · 5/10 · 10 May 2023]

I was pretty surprised to see very poor reviews and ratings the film earned. Well, it's nothing sort of that. It's a likable modern day drama on the relationship between a single mother and her son, whom she's really possessive of and raises him against all odds. It somehow connects the 90s with the modern day portraying the aspirations of a single mother, which she has forgotten of.

Perfomance wise, all make a good effort, notably Kajol. The drama is witty and somehow creates an interest throughout. However, the result stills deems a bit polishing as the script itsn't very taut an it lacks the seriouness in the emotions at instances. A bit of work on script and dialogues could have saved it. Anyway, it still is a good film; and I recommend it to be watched to celebrate the next mother's day.

Rating: 2 stars out of 4.