Rating : 3.8/5 (Good)
Genre : Drama
Year : 2018
Running time : 2 hours 2 minutes
Director : Sharat Katariya
Cast : Anushka Sharma, Varun Dhawan, Raghuvir Yadav, Yamini Das
Kid rating : G
Sui-Dhaga is a family-friendly, clean, crowd-pleasing entertainer, and we have had very few of those this year. From the trailer, Sui-Dhaga looks like a predictable film, which it is, to a certain extent, but it is an interesting, pleasant film.
Mauji (Dhawan) and Mamta (Sharma) are husband and wife, who live with his aged parents. When blue-collar-worker Mauji is insulted publicly by his boss, Mamta exhorts him to quit his job and start something of his own. Mauji has one skill – and that is of tailoring, but when he decides to set up shop, the idea is firmly opposed by everyone except Mamta. The road to entrepreneurship and dignity will be an uphill one . . .
Sui-Dhaga is the tale of the common man – the aam aadmi, who’s trying to make ends meet, fill up the paani-ki-tanki before the water is gone, and sweating through the heat and grime of everyday life. Katariya’s “Dum Laga ke Haisha” – another splendid film – was also of a similar genre. Like that film, the beauty of Sui-Dhaga is in the details. From nicely etched characters to accurately depicted locales, to the realistic portrayal of middle-class life, Sui Dhaga is very believable.
This is an underdog tale, so the first half of the film sets up the atmosphere, introduces us to the characters and presents the problem. The second half of the film then goes about solving the problem in classic underdog-ian we-can-take-on-the-world style – and that’s a tad less realistic than the rest of the film. I can swallow that however because the film overall is so well done, seamless and well-heeled.
I liked the fact that Sui-Dhaga weaves into its storyline the plight of weavers and artisans who’ve left their traditional skills because of insufficient remuneration. Mamta’s character in the film is also interesting – she is quiet, but stands shoulder-to-shoulder with her man. When he tries to pin blame on her, or minimize her contribution, her anger is palpable.
All the actors seem to be in top form. Mustachioed Varun Dhawan as sab-badhiya-hai happy-go-lucky Mauji looks and acts the part. Raghuvir Yadav as his fearful-of-change father is wonderful and is ably supported by Yamini Das who plays his wife. Anushka Sharma seems a little too modern to be playing a small-town, subservient bahu, but she also does well.
Sui Dhaga has it all – high drama, humor, emotion. The scenes between Mamta and Mauji, as they struggle through their vicissitude, and bond, left me a little misty-eyed – I was so invested in their life. Melodious songs complete the package. This wholesome charmer is a must-watch!
Kidwise: Clean. Family-friendly.
