Sir

"Sir" is a film unlike any other Indian film I have seen. While not all Indian films feature singing and dancing, not having it is unusual. But what's really different is that the story involves ordinary people...people who don't look like Bollywood stars. And, the story is interesting because it's rather mundane compared to most of the Indian films we get in the USA....and I mean this as a compliment.

The story is a very leisurely paced tale about a maid who works for a man in Mumbai. She is a widow and is an excellent maid, but Ratna (Tillotama Shome) is plain and from a lower socioeconomic group than the man she works for, Ash (Vivek Gomber). Ash has recently gone through a painful breakup with his fiancee, as she cheated on him and over time it becomes apparent to Ash that the only woman he truly trusts is Ratna...and over time he comes to love her. But such a relationship cannot be in India....and would be tough anywhere. And, more importantly, Ratna cannot allow this as she knows the predicament it would place them both in...and her feelings simply aren't a deciding factor.

This film is a nice bit of insight into real people and real problems in India. While I love more traditional Indian films, I enjoyed this because unlike the usual Bollywood offering, this one seems to have a bit more depth and was about real people...which I really appreciate. Well made and interesting....and available streaming through Netflix here in the States.

I don't understand why this film hasn't had a wider release--it hardly has any reviews here, and doesn't seem to be available on DVD or streaming. I saw it at a film festival, and it was the stand-out picture of the series. From a brief description--maid and employer find themselves attracted to each other--I assumed the story would be full of clichés, but the movie breaks them all, and never went where I was expecting. The acting is completely believable, and I was fascinated by the brief but illuminating glimpses of the social system in India, and the relationships between the employer class and the servant class. I would recommend this film to anyone who appreciates thoughtful, insightful stories.

At each point in the film, you feel society as a transparent, near invisible force between the two characters. THe way spatial distance has been used, dealt with, mirroring society's classification of people, is gorgeous. The performances of both Tillotama Shome and vivek Gomber are fab. Great casting here. From the moment the real collision happens and a spatial barrier of sorts is severed is where the mettle of the writer and so also the film is tested. And it's actually from this moment that the film soars way beyond what one had expected. It coolly and deftly averts every cliche and possible corniness that a story like this could have moved into and instead surprises you with such a rise that few films are able to. Gorgeous debut. Tough to believe it's her first film. Tillotama and Vivek stayed with me as their characters way after the film was over. Congratulations Rohena.

It is always good and relaxing to go back to the subtle, slow & calm movies when you are a reviewer and constantly indulge into fast paced Action, Thrillers, Adventures, Fantasies etc. Movies like Sir are not being made solely for commercial gains but the idea is to depict realities in a beautifully articulated art form. Sir is simple and calm with runtime of 1hour 39mins no loudness or high tension scenes which is indeed the USP of the movie. Film showcases how strong a woman can be despite of everything going against her, breaking the stereotypes of being a weaker gender Women's are actually the opposites they are always ready to challenge the circumstances, fighting against the odds and ready to sacrifice whole a lot just for the sake of society, acting mature. On the other hand, film has also showed that what Men's actually want from a women and that is just being cared, someone who understand them and being there for them in their downs all the other things like beauty, status etc. Are the secondary things. Both the leads Tillotama Shome & Vivek Gomber were in the charatcers throughout, they were natural neither less nor extra they just nailed it beautifully. Both the story & narration by Rohena Gera are simple yet engaging.

Don't go for this movie if you like fast paced, commercial films because you wont gonna find anything in this and you might get bored .

It is really a film worth watching, the story and characters stay on with you in a fine, beautifully quiet manner even when the film is over! A wonderfully subtle but very definitely thought provoking film with a realistic story line!