Shyamchi Aai is directed by Sujay Sunil Dahake who gifted Marathi Cinema with a Masterpiece like Shala. Shyamchi Aai is based on the novel of the same name which describes the life of social worker and freedom fighter Sane Guruji and his bonding with his mother.
The best thing about Shyamchi Aai is its casting. The film has a bunch of talented actors who have performed exceptionally well.
The character of Sane Guruji is played by 3 actors. Sharva Gadgil plays the child version, Mayur More plays the teenage version and Om Bhutkar plays the elder version. Sharva Gadgil is sensational as child Shyam. He looks so mature in the character and convinces the audience with his powerful act. Mayur More is a wonderful actor and easily gets into the character. We all know what Om Bhutkar is capable of, he leaves a solid impact with his performance. The attitude and dialogue delivery of Om is something to watch out for.
Gauri Deshpande plays the role of ‘Shyamchi Aai’ on whom the film is named. Gauri has given a performance of the lifetime which will be remembered for years. We often talk about ‘Father of Acting’, but Gauri Deshpande is ‘Mother of Acting’ in this film. Her each and every scene with her son Shyam is a pure delight. The way she teaches her son about moral values is something to cherish.
Sandeep Pathak plays the role of Shyam’s father. Sandeep is a wonderful actor and this character makes his filmography much impressive. The supporting cast of Sarang Sathaye, Jyoti Chandekar, Urmila Jagtap, Gandhar Joshi, Raghav Vartak, Akshaya Gurav, Dipti Bhagwat, Deesha Katkar, Aniket Sagvekar and Raj Dak, have delivered outstanding performances.
The best part about Shyamchi Aai is that it doesn’t focus only on Shyam (Sane Guruji) or his mother. The film gives importance to each and every character which gives the audience a variety. The communication which happens between father and son, mother and son, and siblings is exemplary. The film beautifully highlights that, if there is a presence of love in one’s life, it can bring contentment, irrespective of what financial circumstances are.
The film has many philosophical theories which will highly educate the audiences. There are many scenes which will give a thought provoking message to the audiences.
The dialogues of Shyamchi Aai are on a different level. The dialogues are powerful and hard-hitting which have a subtle meaning. The words are very wise and are full of maturity. The main essence of the whole film lies in the dialogues.
The one thing which should be noticed in Shyamchi Aai is its a two way process of learning. The mother profoundly shapes Shyam’s life and upbringing by instilling the importance of holding onto one’s principles despite facing extreme poverty. Indirectly Shyam also teaches her mother a lot which is clearly visible on-screen.
Sujay Dahake’s direction is amazing. It’s a huge responsibility to adapt a legendary novel like Shyamchi Aai which is an emotion for all the Maharashtians into a feature film. Compared to Shyamchi Aai (1953), Sujay’s film is far behind that. Sujay has given a different shape to the novel with his vision but could have done better. An opportunity to make a Classic is missed.
The way black and white theme is used is a masterstroke by the makers. Marathi Cinema has recently used the same B & W theme in Kachha Limbu. The B & W theme was used to show that the lives of the characters are colorless and they are going through alot. In Shyamchi Aai, the family has to suffer a lot and there is not much for them to celebrate in their lives. The film explores the debt-ridden poverty condition of Shyam’s family and ends with the illness and death of his mother.
The set design, costumes and production value looks very rich on-screen.
The emotional scenes work big time in Shyamchi Aai. The film is an emotional tearjerker which will inspire as well as educate.
The part where Shyamchi Aai lacks, is its pace. The film is 140 minutes long which hurts somewhere. A short trimming would have made this film much better and engaging. There are some scenes which are unnecessarily exaggerated. The film sometimes makes viewers lose their interest because of the length.
The makers should have explored more about the ideals and moral values of grown-up Sane Guruji which would have left a huge impact on viewers. There could have been one or two scenes added, showing elder Sane Guruji sticking to his values in a tough situation, remembering his mother’s teachings.
Overall Shyamchi Aai celebrates motherhood. A mother is the most powerful warrior on this planet and Shyamchi Aai is a wonderful tribute to all the mothers out there. Watch this film for its technical aspects and powerful performances. Shyamchi surely explores the bonding between a mother and a son in a beautiful manner, which deserves a watch.
Rating – 3/5*
