The Lift Boy is a feel-good story about how a lift man’s son and the owner of the building forge an unlikely relationship that forever changes the boy.
A simple plot and an honest intention make The Lift Boy one of the more charming films I have seen in a while. But there is only one bone I have to pick with the makers…
The Lift Boy —Review at a Glance
- Story — 3.5/5
- Acting — 3/5
- Direction — 3.5/5
Pros: Sweet and simple story, heartwarming climax
Cons: A sometimes weird depiction of social dynamics
Must-Watch: Not necessarily a “must-watch” but is a good film
One-Time Watch: Yes
When to Watch The Lift Boy — Whenever you want something light and positive
The Lift Boy Review — A Deep Dive
The Lift Boy is a heartwarming story about a young boy, Raju, who learns what it means to be responsible and grow up after he takes over his father’s work as a building’s liftman.
Now, what this movie does well is that it keeps things simple. It’s not a social commentary, nor is the story trying to reinvent the wheel.
The Lift Boy simply wants to tell you Raju’s story.
But having said that, it seemed to me at various points in the film that the scriptwriters did not always know how to handle the power imbalance between characters that come from different social strata.
Sure, Raju is a trained engineer and Mrs D’Souza has paid for his education, but I don’t see why the writers stuck to English as if it were the gospel truth. For example, it is particularly irksome towards the end that Mrs. D’Souza keeps on talking to Krishna in hardcore English, despite the man evidently struggling to put together a proper sentence.
There are a few scenes like this throughout the movie that make for a weird moments between characters without enough justification, though I won’t discuss them in detail here to save you from potential spoilers. As such, the choice really falls on you as the viewer to ignore the glaringly obvious class-based dynamic between different people.
Similarly, it also feels at times that Raju’s character hasn’t been fleshed out completely. In some scenes, he appears to be too proud to take on his father’s work because he is almost an engineer, but when he does show up for the job, all of a sudden he’s the most optimistic lad on the planet.
There are a few such inconsistencies throughout the film…
However, upon ignoring all this, it is clear to see that the actors are truly comfortable in their roles, and in particular, Nyla Masood stands out as the strong guiding figure for Raju.
The Lift Boy is otherwise a good movie that you should watch when you want to see something new but aren’t ready to commit to extreme emotions or cerebral plot twists. It’s an “old school” comfort film, and I do think we could use more of such stories today.
The Lift Boy Plot Overview
Raju has been struggling to clear his Engineering Drawing exam, and it is all that stands between him and a college degree. However, despite having given it four times, he is unable to clear it.
When his father has a heart attack and cannot show up at work, Raju takes his place as the liftwaala in a residential building (owned by Mrs D’Souza). Eventually, Raju and Mrs D’Souza form a close, cherished bond, and she helps him figure out what he wants from his life.
