Mrunal Thakur's Pooja Meri Jaan draws mixed reviews on Zee5

Mrunal Thakur's new Hindi film Pooja Meri Jaan is now streaming on Zee5. Early reviews describe a film with sincere intentions that stumbles in the telling. Critics agree it raises important questions about consent and how society judges women, but they are less sure it answers them well.

Mrunal plays Pooja, who turns down a marriage proposal from her close friend Aniket, played by Vikram Singh Chauhan. When Aniket takes his own life soon after, Pooja is charged with abetment to suicide. Her character, her past relationships and her choices are then put on trial, both in the courtroom and in the eyes of the people around her.

Navjot Gulati directs the film with co-director Vipasha. Huma Qureshi plays Sana, a corporate lawyer who takes up Pooja's case, and Vijay Raaz plays Jatin, the lawyer on Aniket's side. The script is reportedly credited to Gulati, Kanishka Singh Deo and Niren Bhatt.

Mrunal is the clear highlight. Reviewers say she carries the film and is clearly committed to the role, and one calls her handling of trauma nuanced enough to keep Pooja from becoming a passive victim. Another review felt her performance made Pooja seem cold. Huma Qureshi and Vijay Raaz are given little to work with, playing courtroom figures who mostly voice the script's talking points.

The main complaint is the execution. Reviewers found the film leans too much on dialogue, spelling out every point instead of letting scenes land on their own. It also moves between thriller, courtroom drama and social commentary without settling on any of them. One review argued that the film turns Aniket into a villain to clear Pooja, which weakens its own case. Touches like Romeo and Juliet references and stylish details are also said to distract from the serious subject.

The film reportedly runs 1 hour and 57 minutes. Fans of Mrunal Thakur may find it a decent pick for a lazy weekend afternoon, but anyone hoping for a sharp, hard hitting courtroom drama could come away wanting more.