CAST: Rishi Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Juhi Chawla, Isha Talwar, Sheeba Chaddha,
Satish Kaushik

DIRECTED BY: Hitesh Bhatia

BLUF: Brij Sharma (Rishi/Paresh) has just retired from his job and contemplating what he should do with the rest of his life. He tries different things and stumbles upon being a home chef for kitty parties arranged by a group of women. They form a bond and that unfolds the cute story of Sharmaji Namkeen with a lot of heart.

THE MEAT AND THE POTATOES

The story is set in Delhi and does portray the class divide between south Delhi and the rest of the metropolis.

Sharmaji’s friend (Satish Kaushik) in a scene calls him the ‘working-class hero’, and that is what he is. His problems may look very simple to others, but for him it is an existential crises.

There are no villains in Sharmaji’s life. He could have lived his retirement watching daily soaps, taking walks or going to yoga classes but he is conflicted by where his happiness really lies.

His only challenge is to make his sons realize that he needs to own his life at his terms and not their conditions.

When he starts cooking for a group of women parties, they become his friends; yet, his own children do not understand the need that is driving him to keep himself busy.

IN THE KNOW

Sharmaji Namkeen is a story idea by Bhatia and written by him with Supratik Sen. The writing adds little details to the screenplay that allows the audience to become relatable to the characters.

The story brings the daily humor into the situation of the Delhi life but is also a commentary into the life of the common man.

In a way, we were glad that this very sensitively written story with its quirky characters was Rishi Kapoor’s swan song, because not only does it touch your heart in so many moments but it also makes you laugh out loud at the simplicity of life and its lack of complexity for some people, who believe whatsapp forwards and think that the last scene of Baghban should be included in school coursework.

The direction, actors and editing bring the entire movie together beautifully. 

Alternating between Paresh Rawal and Rishi Kapoor, you almost miss that they are two different people, such is the seamlessness of that switch.

Sheeba Chaddha, Juhi Chawla, Ayesha Raza, Suhail Nayyar, Taruk  Raina – all make their characters so real and raw that you feel you know these people IRL.

Kudos to the entire crew and cast for pulling this movie off.

You sign off on the scrolling BTS and credits with a lump in your heart because it then when you realize that this larger than life person is indeed gone.

We highly recommend you watch this warm, fuzzy story of Sharmaji.