Qala’s estranged relationship with her mother Urmila began the day she was born. When the doctor tells Urmila that her other child—a son—did not survive because its twin Qala was stronger and took up all the nourishment from her womb, Urmila looks at her newborn in disgust and almost smothers her.
The mother-daughter relationship is tumultuous throughout the entire movie. While Qala tries her best to impress her mother and ignite any emotion for herself, Urmila’s nonchalance in raising her only child is unemphatic and cruel. Urmila, a retired singer herself, always wanted a boy so that she could groom him to become a maestro like her late husband. With Qala, Urmila does teach her music, but is never appreciative of her and doesn’t want her to sing for the movie industry. Qala struggles with abandonment issues and her mother’s constant scrutiny causes her to doubt her own skills. She is struggling with imposter syndrome when Urmila brings home Jagan—an orphan with immense singing talent. Despite Qala desperately fighting for it, Urmila give all her attention to Jagan and focuses entirely on building his career. To Urmila, Jagan becomes the son she lost at birth. A dispassionate mother, a sexist society, and her own inners demons—Qala conquers all to find the success she has been looking for. But her goal leads her to a path of loneliness and abandonment, while also being constantly haunted by a ghost from the past. The movie doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of Qala’s situation, and the acting by lead actress Dimri is absolutely superb. Her performance is raw and emotional, and she expertly captures the fear, desperation, and resilience of a woman trapped in extreme relationships. The portrayal of her character makes for an emotional and thought-provoking movie. Dimri, who was impressive in her previous lead role in Bullbul (2020), outshines her previous performances as Qala. The actor embodies her layered character and lives every bit of her life on screen. Swastika Mukherjee, as Qala’s mother Urmila, is detestable at times yet some glimpses of her backstory do manage to raise empathy for her. Debutant Babil Khan, son of the late Irrfan Khan, also makes his mark in the movie in his short but important role as Jagan. The cinematography by Siddharth Diwan captures every emotion of the people, time, and space Qala is placed in. And not to forget the music by Amit Trivedi which has already gathered a separate base of fan following. The tracks in the movie are hauntingly beautiful and feel fresh at a time when poorly made remixes are ruling Bollywood. Overall, Qala is a powerful and poignant movie that tackles difficult themes with grace and sensitivity. Writer and director Dutta’s portrayal of sexism in the society and movie industry is particularly noteworthy. She has styled the film in a vintage passion and used a female character to be representative of the women in our society who are forced to face similar situations even in the present times. Who should watch it? ‘Qala’ is a beautifully crafted and emotionally powerful movie that is sure to leave a lasting impression on the audience. It’s a must-see for anyone who enjoys thought-provoking dramas with strong performances and breathtaking cinematography. Rating: 4 stars Genre: Psychological drama Director: Anvita Dutta Actors: Tripti Dimri, Babil Khan, Swastika Mukherjee Run time: 1hr 59mins
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