Sadabahar is, quite frankly, a masterclass in wasted potential. Compelled to give this film a chance after reading glowing reviews, I was left utterly baffled by the disconnect between its supposed acclaim and the reality of watching it. What could have been a poignant exploration of loneliness and connection instead turns into a slow, painful chore to sit through. And mind you, I don't mind slow-paced films-when done well, they can be deeply moving-but Sadabahar lacks the emotional depth or compelling storytelling to justify its glacial pace.
Let's start with Jaya Bachchan, who disappoints in her portrayal of Amrita Kothari. Her performance is confusing, inconsistent, and utterly unconvincing. At one moment, she's depicted as a confident woman venturing out on her own, and in the next, she's timid and scared. The character flip-flops so often that it's impossible to understand who Amrita truly is. This isn't nuanced character development-it's just bad writing.
The locations are another glaring issue. Instead of feeling lived-in and authentic, they are overly clean and excessively decorated, creating a stage-like quality that disconnects the audience from the story. The artificial production design strips the film of any emotional grounding or realism.
The screenplay fares no better. It drags endlessly, offering nothing fresh or compelling to engage the audience. The moments meant to be poignant or reflective instead feel dull and cliché. Even the central element of the story-Amrita's connection to her radio-fails to evoke any meaningful nostalgia. What should have been a heartfelt narrative device instead comes across as a gimmick.
Overall, Sadabahar is a missed opportunity. It tries to be profound but ends up shallow, uninspired, and frustratingly pretentious. Jaya Bachchan's performance is far from her best, and the film as a whole fails to justify its existence. Skip this one-you won't miss anything.
