Tighee is a quietly heartfelt drama, shining by means of sensitively curated human moments and impactful performances, discovers Sreeju Sudhakaran.

There’s a scene in Tighee that struck me deeply, and I’m not even referring to the disturbing twist that arrives later.

On this second, Sarika (Sonalee Kulkarni) vents her frustration at her elder sister Swati (Nehha Pendse Bayas), lamenting how, in caring for his or her ailing mom Hemalatha (Bharti Achrekar), she has misplaced all sense of who’s older and who’s youthful. Having as soon as been in an identical emotional house, that line resonated profoundly.

It’s one among many such humane moments in Jeejivisha Kale’s Tighee that linger lengthy after the movie ends — and that, in itself, speaks volumes about this quietly affecting drama. Its premise might really feel acquainted, each cinematically and in actual life, however the emotional authenticity elevates it.

What Tighee is about

Tighee follows two sisters navigating their strained relationship as their mom battles the ultimate levels of most cancers. Sarika has been the first caregiver, a task that has taken a toll on each her private {and professional} life. A fleeting flashback — the place a person compliments her and she or he blushes — subtly hints at a life she has needed to forgo.

Later, she herself admits to Swati that she can not maintain a courting life when she will barely step out of the home.

Sarika resents Swati for staying away for 3 years regardless of not residing that far-off. However Swati’s absence shouldn’t be with out cause. Her husband Malhar (Pushkaraj Chirputkar) is struggling professionally, and she or he is burdened by a mortgage taken from her lecherous boss (Jaimini Pathak), who tries to take advantage of her scenario.

There may be additionally an unresolved pressure between Swati and Hemalatha stemming from one thing Swati believes she witnessed at her marriage ceremony, an incident her mom denies. Whereas this thread is ultimately explored, it does depart behind a minor narrative inconsistency. Given her certainty, I’m wondering why Swati didn’t revisit her marriage ceremony footage earlier moderately than wait 9 years for readability.

Power in Refined, Human Moments

This minor niggle apart, what really attracts you into Tighee is its capability to mine emotional depth from on a regular basis moments. The familiarity of the premise by no means turns into a limitation as a result of the movie finds its energy in relatable, character-driven storytelling.

Nikhil Mahajan’s screenplay (he additionally serves as a producer) excels in the way it steadily unpacks the sisters’ estrangement, their particular person burdens, and their shared confrontation with impending loss. The movie’s emotional energy doesn’t relaxation solely on its drama-heavy moments — reminiscent of Swati’s unsettling encounters along with her boss or the third-act revelation — however on its quieter beats too.

A very touching occasion is Hemalatha forming a bond with a pet on her terrace. In that mild interplay, we witness a girl nearing the top of her life discovering solace in a creature on the very starting of its personal, a easy but poignant metaphor.

What stands out is how the movie avoids contrived emotional payoffs. The eventual reconciliation between the sisters shouldn’t be pressured however rigorously seeded by means of earlier interactions.

Whether or not it’s a light-hearted second of the sisters struggling to hold their mom upstairs, or them sharing a snack at an outdated school hang-out whereas questioning if their dad and mom ever knew about it, these scenes construct in the direction of a plausible emotional closure. Their journey in the direction of understanding one another feels earned.

The ultimate body encapsulates the movie’s quiet nature fantastically: Three figures on a seashore, one standing other than the opposite two, separated by a visual hole because the stressed sea crashes within the background. It conveys volumes with out uttering a phrase.

Dealing with of the twist

Even the surprising disclosure — I wasn’t ready for it in any respect — is not made simply out of the blue. I cherished how the revelation solely occurs as a result of it connects to the trauma of one of many characters.

The revelation, whereas disturbing, is dealt with in a delicate method, whereas additionally reinforcing the thematic weight of the title.

Performances strengthen Tighee additional

The performances are uniformly robust.

Bharti Achrekar delivers a deeply affecting portrayal, seamlessly shifting between caustic humour and emotional vulnerability. Her hospital monologue, the place she pleads for dignity in loss of life, is especially transferring, aided by a sluggish digicam push that attracts us into her emotional state.

Sonalee Kulkarni convincingly embodies Sarika’s simmering frustration, making her emotional outbursts really feel natural moderately than exaggerated.

Nehha Pendse Bayas brings a palpable vulnerability to Swati, particularly in her scenes along with her predatory boss, in what’s one among her best performances.

Nipun Dharmadhikari is endearing as Gandharva (Sarika’s buddy and startup companion), whereas Mrinmayee Godbole leaves a powerful impression in her transient look because the youthful Hemalatha.

Pushkaraj Chirputkar, Jaimini Pathak and Suvrat Joshi are additionally tremendous of their elements.

Tighee is a quietly heartfelt drama, shining by means of sensitively curated human moments and impactful performances. Don’t miss this.

Tighee Overview Rediff Score: