In the short film Happy Birthday Mummy JI by Royal Stag Large barrel select, Shefali Shah is playing the Bahu of a rich family who is celebrating the birthday of their mother. She arranges everything but her husband and the entire family gets stuck in Mumbai because the lockdown has been extended.
The entire thing is canceled. Thus, leaving her alone in the huge house. She encourages everyone present in Mumbai to gather together and celebrate their mom’s 57th birthday without her.
The Plot of the Movie: Happy Birthday Mummy JI
Her preparations don’t come to fruition but no one in the family seems to care much, her husband cuts her call on his whims. She asks her husband what I do here all alone he says to her ‘Nothing. do nothing’ She decides to spend it alone in peace, has a huge picnic with herself, walks around exploring the forest, walks on grass, playing, reading a book, and barbecuing. She attends the party from her phone, listening to everyone celebrate on call. She then takes a luxurious bath and the camera draws back from her. When her husband informs her that she will be taken to Mumbai tomorrow morning she lies to him saying that she has a fever.
If you are looking for good short films by Large Barrel select Happy Birthday Mummy JI is the one of them.
Review Of Happy Birthday Mummy JI Youtube Shorts Film
This is a movie that tries its hand at the lockdown genre but fails to land a blow. We only see one character in this movie, she is called Suchi played by Shefali Shah She is the star of the movie, her acting is stunning, she portrays all the nuances perfectly, we don’t see any other character on screen we just hear them as she does. The movie is subtle and so is her performance. She is enthusiastic in the beginning but by the end, she is quiet and calm having discovered herself more.
The camera skilfully shows us, all the decorations she has done, all the efforts she has put in which is unseen by her entire family, especially her husband who cuts the phone call every time he is done talking and does not wait to listen to her, this shows us that he takes her for granted.
The cancellation of the birthday is a blessing in disguise; she enjoys being alone. The opening of her bra is a symbol of her freeing up herself of all the societal roles and responsibilities, emphasis on this has been given by a more soulful music being replaced by a mellow one.
Once Suchi starts enjoying herself the camera doesn’t move a lot too it is steady showing everything is peaceful. You should definitely check out this short film on Youtube, for its attempt and for Shefali Shah.
Conclusion
However, somewhere this remains a very surface-level exploration of the alienation of women and the fact that women get no time for themselves. The subject can be dealt with at a lot deeper level than it was in the movie. The movie is sanitized, Shefali Shah pulls it through her acting and her red dress adds some drama to the narrative.
Almost all women at some level are marginalized by their own families. Can this problem be solved by a picnic and isolation? Does every woman have the luxury that Suchi did? These are the questions we are left with. Watch this movie on YouTube Royal Stag Large Barrel Select to unveil some lockdown and personal experiences if any.
