Sharmaji Namkeen
2022 · Directed by Hitesh Bhatia
Original language: Hindi
- comedy
- drama
The story
Late Rishi Kapoor in his swansong plays B. G. Sharma, a 58-year old middle-class widower living in West Delhi. After being laid off from the company he has worked for his entire life, Sharmaji struggles to deal with the beast called retirement. His struggle to stay relevant in front of his two sons finally ends when he rekindles his love for cooking through a kitty party. A bunch of merry women rekindle in Sharma, a passion for cooking and chutzpah in general, that help him find his true calling.
What it’s like
Warm, sunlit domestic interiors in West Delhi, with soft natural light through curtained windows, cluttered kitchens full of steam and spice colour, and the bright saturated palette of everyday Indian middle-class life. The camera stays mostly close and conversational, settling into familiar rooms and lingering on hands at work over pots and dough, with a light, bouncy score of dhol-tinged pop and gentle strings that keeps the mood buoyant. Its vibe is cosy, wry and affectionate, the kind of gently funny comedy that suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or a light evening with something on in the background. The pace is easy and episodic, with broad humour and playful banter softening a story about an older man facing the loss of work and identity, and his slow, awkward rediscovery of purpose among a group of boisterous women. The arc moves from defensive pride toward open-hearted confidence. Intensity is very low: no violence, no gore, no sexual content, and only mild emotional sadness around grief and job loss. It suits viewers who want a warm, humane, mostly light-hearted film about second chances, family friction and found joy in later life.
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