Families are rarely perfect. Some are loud. Some are layered. Some survive in silence, others in spirited arguments. The Great Shamshuddin Family, directed by Anusha Rizvi, belongs to the rare category of films that understands this chaos not as conflict, but as coexistence. Streaming quietly amid louder, darker OTT offerings, this film arrives like a warm afternoon conversation. Unassuming, honest, and deeply human.
Anchored by an ensemble cast that includes Kritika Kamra, Farida Jalal, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Sheeba Chaddha, Dolly Ahaluwalia, Juhi Babbar, Anup Soni, and Purab Kohli, the film paints a Muslim family not through the lens of stereotype or spectacle, but through everyday emotion. It does not attempt to explain identity. It simply allows it to exist.
A Family That Refuses to Fit a Template
What makes The Great Shamshuddin Family quietly radical is its refusal to present a Muslim household as monolithic. Instead, it offers a family that argues, adapts, loves fiercely, and occasionally exhausts itself with its own contradictions. Divorce, interfaith relationships, women consuming alcohol, choosing to live independently, and confronting social unrest are treated not as shock elements but as lived realities of the modern age to which the older generation slowly warms up.
The narrative gently dismantles the idea that a woman’s identity must orbit marriage or motherhood. Here, women are allowed to be flawed, vocal, hesitant, rebellious, and rooted, all at once. Their choices are not framed as rebellion for rebellion’s sake, but as personal negotiations with tradition and change.
Beautiful Chaos, Lightly Held
Despite engaging with themes that often invite heaviness, the film chooses lightness as its primary language. The chaos is affectionate rather than abrasive. Arguments unfold with
humour. Disagreements are softened by shared history. Even conflict feels communal rather than confrontational.
This tonal balance is where Anusha Rizvi’s direction shines. She resists melodrama. She trusts silence. She allows moments to breathe. The result is a film that feels intimate without being intrusive.
Women at the Centre, Across Generations
The emotional heart of the film lies in its women, divided by age but united by resilience. Farida Jalal, Sheeba Chaddha, and Dolly Ahaluwalia bring an old-world warmth to the narrative. Their characters carry inherited taboos, internalised rules, and protective instincts shaped by decades of social conditioning. Yet, they are not rigid caricatures. They are curious, capable of unlearning, and surprisingly receptive.
On the other side stand Kritika Kamra, Juhi Babbar, and Shreya Dhanwanthary, who bring modern restlessness and assertiveness to the story. Their characters ask uncomfortable questions, push boundaries, and demand space. But what makes the film tender is the confluence between these two generations. They clash, but they also listen. They disagree, but they learn to coexist.
The tug of war between generations is refreshingly fun to watch. The banter feels organic, often laugh-out-loud funny, and occasionally poignant. It is sweet in ways that do not feel manufactured.
Love Beyond Labels
At its core, The Great Shamshuddin Family makes a quiet but powerful statement. Love, liberalism, and literacy rise above race and religion. The film never sermonises this idea. It demonstrates it through lived choices, mutual respect, and everyday negotiations.
Men in the film are present but not overpowering. They exist as allies, observers, and participants rather than authority figures. This subtle shift allows the women’s voices to take precedence without diminishing anyone else.
A Gentle Reprieve from OTT Fatigue
In a digital landscape crowded with crime thrillers, psychological dramas, and high-stakes narratives, this film feels like a welcome pause. With its minimalistic setup, it captures day-to-day emotions more effectively than many recent OTT releases.
There is a theatrical sensibility to its structure, reminiscent of classic comedies of errors, Shakespearean misunderstandings, and Indian family dramas that found humour in chaos rather than cruelty. It evokes the warmth of films like Kapoor and Sons, Piku, and even the playful confusion of Hera Pheri, without imitation.
Final Word
The Great Shamshuddin Family is a clean, chaotic, and deeply comforting film. It reminds us that families are not defined by perfection, but by persistence. By the willingness to sit at the same table despite disagreement. By the courage to evolve without abandoning roots. It is simple without being simplistic. Progressive without being preachy. Funny without being frivolous. An absolute must-watch, especially with family.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Because sometimes, the most radical stories are the ones that choose kindness over conflict and conversation over condemnation.
By: Anushka Singhal
