31 Mar, 2022, Hindi 2 hrs 10 mins, Comedy Drama Family Cast- Rishi Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Juhi Chawla Streaming on: Amazon Prime
Critic's Rating: 4.0/5
A simple, slice-of-life story that, with a sprinkle of humour, knocks out age discrimination and gender stereotypes.
Sharmaji (Rishi Kapoor and Paresh Rawal), a 58-year-old Delhi widower, tries to adjust to his newfound retirement. In search of purpose and company, the single father chooses to pursue his long-held culinary goals in order to keep himself engaged. Do his sons approve of their father's cooking antics and newly discovered voice?
'Either get busy living or get busy dying.' Isn't routine underappreciated? Even a dead-end job can sometimes keep you going. For Saajan (Irrfan Khan's character in The Lunchbox), life goes on. Days move into months, and months turn into years while he faithfully performs his 9 to 5 tasks. That pattern makes it easier for him to get through the day. Sharmaji's previous job as a home appliance salesman applies here as well. It has kept him busy, which is sometimes all that matters. Following his retirement, WhatsApp groups and his passion for cooking lead him to a female kitty gang (led by Juhi Chawla). He finds solace in their monotonous banter, and despite their wealth, the women are as desolate as he is. Director Hitesh Bhatia communicates a point through a simple, slice-of-life story.
Exceptions include Nancy Meyers' The Intern, starring Robert De Niro, and Shoojit Sircar's Piku. Stories about elderly people are rarely presented with zeal, and when they are, they frequently carry an undercurrent of sadness or regret. All adult children are ungrateful, and all parents are tormented, the epitome of sacrifice and tolerance. Real life, on the other hand, is rarely one-dimensional. Sharmaji Namkeen deftly avoids the Baghban stereotype and provides a fresh perspective on self-love, grief, and solo fatherhood.
While everyone has an opinion, no one is a villain in this situation. Sometimes the only thing you have to overcome is your own baggage of inhibitions. Bhatia's protagonist does not wallow in self-pity, as someone his age should in our films. The main character is nice but does not give in when pressed. He is a devoted father who maintains his dignity. The characters are as real as they can be, and their circumstances are understandable.
The film is breezy, hilarious, and inspiring, and is peppered with scrumptious Delhi street cuisine (Aloo Tikki Chaat, Dahi Bhalle, and so on). It never becomes preachy or theatrical, and striking that balance was difficult. How do you make the audience root for the protagonist when there is no obvious conflict? He is neither a victim nor an oppressor. Bhatia, like Shakun Batra, delivers an honest portrayal of flawed yet charming child-parent dynamics, which becomes a highlight of the film. Despite their differences, people can coexist as a family.
The late actor was gifted with the ability to reveal his soul in every role he played. Rishi Kapoor, like his legendary father Raj Kapoor and son Ranbir, has an inherent honesty and spunk that was mirrored in his portrayals. In his youth, his attractiveness frequently eclipsed his versatile talent. Over time, he worked hard to maintain his charm while delivering some very memorable performances, and Sharmaji is considered one of his best.
While Paresh Rawal was nice enough to stand in for the parts that Rishi Kapoor couldn't owing to his declining health, this film belongs only to Rishi Kapoor. He is the one who makes you cry with his smile and a thought. Indian parents are habituated to putting their kids first. Sharmaji Namkeen gives you food for thought.