Review: “Sharmajee Ki Beti”-A Heartfelt Journey of Self-Discovery

Sharmajee Ki Beti recently got an OTT release on Amazon Prime. The film written and directed by Tahira Kashyap Khurrana boasts of a stellar cast of actors and performers including Sakhi Tanwar, Divya Dutta, Sharib Hashmi along with Saiyami Kher, Parvin Dabas, Vanshika Taparia and Rista Mehta.

Set in Mumbai, this woman centric film, is an attempt to go beyond the ‘trying to fit into the stereotypical’ or ‘seek to justify the sense of worth and drive’, that women often do. It is all about a woman understanding herself and finding her own space in the larger scheme of things.

In a nutshell, two best friends Gurveen and Swati studying in standard-8, eagerly await to embrace adolescence and experience young adulthood. Both, per chance share the same surname, Sharma.

While Gurveen believes she is gay, Swati eagerly awaits her periods.

The narrative, widens its scope to add Swati’s mother Jyoti (Sakshi) and Kiran (Divya) and Kiran’s next door neighbour Tanvi (Saiyami Kher).

Jyoti, is a teacher in a coaching center and loves her job to bits much to the chagrin of her daughter Swati, though her husband Sudhir (Sharib Hashmi) supports her to the T. Gurveen’s mother, Kiran, who hails from Patiala, is struggling to keep up to the pace of the city that never sleeps-Mumbai .
She often question’s, ‘everyone is busy, but where are they going?”

Stuck in an unhappy marriage to Vinod (Parveen Dabas), this happy go lucky, friendly woman often finds her happy place in her imagination or the streets of Mumbai.

Her neighbour Tanvi, a budding cricketer, in love with a handsome struggling actor from Haryana, has her own struggle between pretending to be a pretty femme fatale that her boyfriend wants her to be and being a bindass, competitive individual that she is.

The question is, will they settle with what is expected, or will they embrace what they truly are?

This is not a rebellious film; nor is it fast and furious. It has its own flow and pace. It is a film that you will like if you enjoy the subject as well as the insight.

The film rakes-up the issue of paucity of time repeatedly, in different scenarios and makes you wonder, why are we in this tearing, dashing hurry-all the time?

It broaches on more rustic concepts of pride, respect and happiness and it does delivers on all those elements.

The screenplay is decent, and the story is compelling. The character arches are well drawn-out.
The music and background score stand out. It’s pleasant and unintrusive.

Sakshi and Divya deliver solid performances but it’s the ‘chota packet bada dhamaka’ Vanshika Taparia that steals the show! She is so believable and relatable as young, effervescent teenager with her very teenage problems. She is wonderfully supported by Rista as Gurveen.

Saiyami, who comes from a prominent film and sports background is okay. She is the granddaughter of Usha Kiran, a renowned Marathi actress, and the niece of Tanvi Azmi, a known Bollywood actress.

While her role was fleshy and different from the regular run of the mill one’s she looks the character, but does not deliver it. She needs to hone her skills to make them work for her.

All in all a good watch.