Anusha Rizvi’s family drama, The Great Shamsuddin Family, began streaming on Jio Hotstar and is receiving great reviews. The film has a stellar star cast, which includes Kritika Kamra, Purab Kohli, Farida Jalal, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Juhi Babbar, Sheeba Chaddha, Dolly Ahluwalia, Natasha Rastogi, and Nishank Verma.
The Great Shamsuddin Family plot
Set inside a Muslim household in Delhi, the film begins with ‘Bani Ahmad’, played by Kritika Kamra, trying to complete a proposal for an American university within the 12-hour deadline. As she tries to complete her deadline, her cousin, ‘Iram’ lands up at her door, she is a divorcee and the man she trusted, took away all her money.
Another relative of Bani lands at the household and announces his decision to marry a woman from a different cast. As the elders of the house, ‘Akko’ (Farida Jalal), ‘Asiya’ (Dolly Ahluwalia), ‘Safiya’ (Sheeba Chaddha), and ‘Nabeela’ (Natasha Rastogi), turn up, chaos erupts in Bani’s family with unsolicited advice and lots of side-drama. Every entry at Bani’s doorstep brings a set of tension, and by the time everyone comes under one roof, a lot of confusion is created. As Bani tries to meet her deadline, the film neatly captures how dreams and domestic duties collide.
Stellar performances steal the limelight in The Great Shamsuddin Family
The star cast of the film stands out. Be it the nosy aunts or the dramatic cousins, each character is layered with great depth. Kritika Kamra, the titular character at the centre of the film, nails the drama to perfection as she struggles to complete her deadline while managing her relatives. It’s the older generation who stood out. Farida Jalal, Dolly Ahluwalia, and Sheeba Chaddha captivated the screen with humour and wisdom. Even the smallest role in the film seems crucial and contributes to the plot.
What worked in The Great Shamsuddin Family?
Anusha Rizvi portrayed the important aspect of family through The Great Shamsuddin Family. She used the chaos as a comedy to send a strong message about how every member of a family stands by the others. She captured the essence of every Indian family, where conversations overlap, and suffocating affection takes centre stage. However, the long screenplay and the monotonous writing prevented the film from becoming an immersive drama.
The Great Shamsuddin Family, final verdict
If you are looking forward to watching a light-hearted comedy without putting too much of your head, The Great Shamsuddin Family is an ideal pick. From drama to emotions, the film has everything one needs to understand the dynamics of an Indian family.
