Three of Us

"Three of Us" is like a warm hug that makes you genuinely smile, even though it has a somewhat sad feeling. The movie feels personal because the characters take you on a stroll down memory lane. Shefali Shah is amazing as she shares the protagonist's childhood memories. Jaideep Ahlawat is just as good as the protagonist's old friend, and Swanand Kirkire does well alongside these strong performers. The music and environmental sounds make the scenes even better. It's a movie that feels emotionally immersive and leaves you wanting to experience something beautiful, something sad, and something deeply personal.

"To know and feel all this and not have the words to express it makes a human a grave of his own thoughts."

I want to begin the review with the quotes by metaphysical poet John Donne. I had recently quoted his poem for the terrific "Sapta Sagaradaache Ello: Side A (2023)," and "Three of Us" echoes the same yearning and ethereal feeling. It has been hours since I saw the latter, but I am still grappling with the film's emotions, like an outlander lost in a labyrinth. The profound impact is such that I have been daydreaming about alternative closures, vividly imagining the characters assuming different fates, especially Shailaja (Shefali Shah). I really tried to brush off the thought of putting together a movie in my mind. I knew that dwelling on it would only evoke a melancholic feeling, a stillness which sometimes is comforting, isolating, inviting thoughts and to ponder on life in a good way. This hit me so hard with its simplicity that I feel compelled to share something about it.

Coming to the story, those who have seen the trailer will have a general idea of the plot and it very much lingers on the same thread. It is a poignant film touching on the fading memories of a woman diagnosed with dementia as the mundanity of her life looms over her, like a heavy weight on her heart and mind. She had a sense of yearning to visit her childhood home set in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Compelled by this longing for her childhood home, she embarks on a journey to confront the nostalgia, the echoes of guilt, and the regrets that have haunted her. She is accompanied by her husband Dipankar Desai (Sawanand Kirkire) who supports her quest. As the plot moves, her journey is captured with a nostalgic lens, congregating between worlds with a bittersweet intersection of a childhood crush Pradeep (Jaideep Ahlawat). From here we see so many emotions at play as the arrival of the latter begins to fill and create a void for the people involved and gradually results in fall out. But Shailaja who is now viewing the world through a foggy lens treads among the familiar streets of her childhood with her husband and former flame by her side. I don't want to delve more into the plotline as it is a tapestry of various emotions, inviting contemplation and reflection and an experience to be viewed in its own right.

I'm very hesitant to recommend it to everyone due to its pacing and the screenplay devoid of clichés which is its greatest asset. In the fast-paced smartphone generation sitting through "Three of Us" is a big yawn and it is definitely for the acquired taste. But this is the kind of movie that passionate cinephiles must support and SPREAD THE WORD. Kudos, to director Avinash Arun Dhaware and the team for this gem. Personally, this has to be his best considering his brilliant body of work. I love the choice of his characters and it hits the bull's eye in this film, they seem to complement each other very well. It is so tough to pick one as the best performance, everyone has aced it all around and gelled realistically to their respective character traits.

In closing, it is an experience to witness Shailaja in the forgotten yet flourishing garden of her memories and the question of whether she found solace and redemption must be savored as a bittersweet delight. You can smile but you're also about to feel sad but can't do either.

There is no doubt that it is one of the best movies among the best three movies of 2023.

More to say about the BGM. Impossibly good Absolutely perfect. While BGM is good in most movies, Foley work is not very good. But there was no mistake here.

We all know that Shefali Shah is a very classy actress. Here again she recognized her caste. I am surprised to see her. If you put her in any container, she can take the form of that place. Which is the best quality of a great actor or actress. I think the movie would have been wonderful without Shefali Shah. The character is made for Shefali Shah only. The fact that she dances so well would have remained unknown without watching the movie.

Shefali Shah always needs a good actor to accompany her. The movie is also perfect in character selection. Jaideep Ahlawat. I think Jaideep Ahlawat is an underrated actor. It is unfortunate that Indian cinema could not use him properly.

Not mentioning the cinematography would be unfair to the movie. The location is very well chosen.

I think this is the best movie of 2023. I was forced to give 10 out of 10 to be perfect in all aspects. Highly recommended.

Shailaja is diagnosed with dementia and she requests her husband Dipankar to take her on a vacation to Vengurla where she had spent few years of her childhood. There lies some beautiful memories and a painful past which Shailaja wants to revisit before time runs out for her and this might help her find the Shailaja whom her husband also doesn't know about. This is her chance to stop and look back at the life she had leave behind.

I thought I signed up for an emotional journey which it was but the pay off in the end, simply made this magic. No wonder I yearn for these dramas where one explores the real human emotions. Such a profound way to handle the characters here, not just the main character of Shailaja. I loved how it doesn't shy away in letting Dipankar to speak out at a crucial moment and the scene is not escalated for dramatic impact but does enough to showcase their relationship.

The film truly hit me hard at the giant wheel scene and even the follow up scene with Pradeep and his wife as she asks about a bribe, so beautifully handled. Standout performances truly made this a special watch and each characters have been etched with such care. With all that happens in that trip, coming back to Shailaja asking "what if I forget Bharat?", to just present the life moves on and like Shailaja and her loved ones accepting her predicament, there isn't much to do.

I will truly cherish watching this though I do regret for taking my own time to watch it.

Three of Us is simple, straightforward, and realistic storytelling done right. The plot isn't pathbreaking given there are recent examples worth referring to, but it's the film's picturesque Konkan setting, soothing soundscape, and lovely performances that make it memorable.

It helps that the director in Avinash Arun takes precedence over the cinematographer, as he's not only able to treat us to beautiful frames, but also able to tell a moving story about someone looking to reconnect with their past, with the likelihood of forgetting it all again. Shefali Shah makes even the gentlest of smiles and glances mean something more in a performance that warrants every bit of attention it gets. She's already on a fantastic run lately, and I'm sure she'll keep delivering solid work.

Jaideep Ahlawat backs her up in a wonderfully written supporting role (with a spectrum of emotions), and he carries the poetic demeanor with consummate ease. Kudos to the man for having taken on roles that bring out the versatility in him - An Action Hero, this, and Jaane Jaan immediately come to mind. All these characters are demanding in different ways, and they're all safe in Jaideep's hands.

Swanand Kirkire is also endearing and sweetly relatable in the role of Shefali Shah's husband, and during their low-key exchanges, there's an irresistible next-door charm to them. While the use of music/score is commendable in certain portions, what I truly want to appreciate is the use of ambient sound. There's a scene with Shah's character sitting at a park in Mumbai, the city sounds in that particular scene evoke the feel of tidal waves, and it acts as a precursor for when the couple actually visit the Konkan coast.

Some scenes feel slightly rough around the edges, especially one where the husband-wife conversation displays signs of heat (but is defused shortly after) in the pre-final act, along with the one at the hut with an elderly woman. On the other hand, there are some absolutely brilliant stretches of writing and acting. The ferris wheel sequence is symbolic of the circle of life. It's true; the older we get, the yearning for home, and the opportunities to reconnect with childhood friends & memories keeps getting stronger. Also, I like how dementia isn't the film's centerpiece, although its undercurrent is felt throughout.