Mili is an Indian Hindi-language survival thriller. The film is directed by Mathukutty Xavier and produced by Bayview Pictures and Zee Studios. It was released on November 4, 2022, to mixed reviews. Despite its modest box office performance, the film stirred significant conversation. Fans and critics have primarily spoken about Janhvi Kapoor’s performance in the titular role. It even garnered her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 2022.
The Netflix film is a remake of Xavier’s 2019 Malayalam-language film Helen. The film intricately weaves the terrible experience of Mili Naudiyal, a young woman who gets trapped in a storage freezer and desperately struggles to stay alive.
Who was Sameer?
Mili Naudiyal is a B.Sc. nursing graduate preparing to move abroad to Canada. To better her English vocabulary, she attends IELTS coaching classes. She works part-time at Doon’s Kitchen, a restaurant within a mall, and lives with her father, Niranjan Naudiyal. Niranjan disapproves of her plans to relocate, creating a strain on their relationship. This conflict is also shared by Mili’s secret boyfriend, Sameer Kumar. Sameer is job-hunting so that he can ask Mili’s father for her hand in marriage.
One night, Sameer, while taking Mili home on his scooter, gets stopped by the police. He’s penalized for not wearing a helmet and for drunk driving, unknown to Mili. They are both taken to the police station. Niranjan arrives to see his daughter involved in such a mess and grows even more upset. This incident drives a wedge between father and daughter, leading to days of silence despite Mili’s repeated apologies. She decides to end her relationship with Sameer, who persistently tries to reconcile but to no avail.
How did Mili get locked inside a freezer?
The central conflict unfolds one night after work when Mili is asked by her coworkers to place boxes in the storage freezer. However, in a tragic turn of events, the manager, Sudheer Malkoti, accidentally locks her inside. Unaware that she is still in the restaurant, Malkoti locks up, pushing her into a life-threatening situation as the temperature inside the freezer reaches -18°C. Mili’s struggle for survival begins as she tries various methods to stay warm, including blocking the exhaust fan, which leads to her dislocating her leg. As time passes, she begins to suffer from frostbite, her condition growing worse.
Meanwhile, Niranjan becomes increasingly anxious as Mili fails to return home. He enlists the help of his neighbor and, later, Sameer, who returns from a half-hearted job search in Delhi upon learning of her disappearance. Their efforts to get help from the police are initially met with indifference by sub-inspector Satish Rawat, who dismisses their concerns, assuming Mili eloped with Sameer.
As tension mounts, Inspector Ravi Prasad steps in and takes over the case. He assures the search party of his dedication to finding Mili. Despite Rawat’s deliberate delays in relaying crucial information from Cyber Cell about her last known location, Prasad’s involvement rekindles hope.
Sameer recalls an incident where auto drivers near the mall harassed Mili, leading the search party to investigate this lead, only to find it unproductive. However, a significant breakthrough occurs when the mall’s watchman suggests that she never left the premises, having noted the absence of her usual cheerful demeanor that fateful evening.
Did Mili survive?
Concurrently, frustrated with his obstruction, Rawat’s partner forwards the crucial Cyber Cell information to Prasad. This revelation leads the search party to the storage freezer at Doon’s Kitchen. There, they find Mili, barely clinging to life, in the advanced stages of hypothermia.
Mili is rushed to the hospital and miraculously survives her ordeal. This life-threatening experience brings about a significant transformation in her relationships. Having witnessed Sameer’s dedication and concern, Niranjan grows to accept him. The film concludes with a heartwarming reconciliation: Mili’s near-death experience forges a new bond between her father and Sameer, who receive Niranjan’s blessings for their relationship. Mili decides to stay in India, abandoning her plans to move to Canada.
The film ends on a reflective note, with Mili’s father proudly acknowledging her resilience and spirit. The incident prompts the authorities to warn the restaurant manager, Malkoti, to install an alarm system in the storage freezer to prevent future accidents. The watchman’s observant nature and simple kindness are crucial in saving Mili’s life. It highlights the importance of everyday human connections.
It is a compelling survival drama that underscores themes of familial bonds, resilience, and the often-overlooked humanity in everyday interactions. Janhvi Kapoor’s portrayal of Mili was received with immense praise. The struggle for survival and the subsequent emotional resolution with her father and boyfriend resonated deeply, making Mili a noteworthy film despite its box office performance.
