Tahira Kashyap is set to make her directorial debut with the much-anticipated film Sharmajee Ki Beti, releasing on June 28 on Amazon Prime. Known for her writing prowess and short films, Kashyap has created a slice-of-life narrative featuring Sakshi Tanwar, Saiyami Kher, and Divya Dutta in leading roles. In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Kashyap delves into the inspiration behind her film, the portrayal of women in cinema, and the impact of digitalisation.
Realistic Portrayal of Women and Personal Experiences
Sharmajee Ki Beti explores the journey of five women across different age groups. Kashyap reveals that her inspiration for the film comes from personal experiences and observations. She states, “Sometimes, your first feature films are very close to your heart and life. Since they have a part of you, they are the most uncorrupted, innocent, truest way of telling your stories.” The film portrays women with their insecurities and idiosyncrasies in a humorous, light-hearted manner. Each character reflects a part of Kashyap’s own experiences, making the narrative authentic and relatable.
Kashyap chose to feature multiple protagonists to break the conventional pattern of focusing on a single leading character. She explains, “As someone who has just started off, I thought it is not authentic to give all the problems, accolades, and victories to just one person.” By depicting women from various age groups, Kashyap aims to explore the vast span of womanhood that often goes unnoticed in Indian cinema. The film has received positive feedback, particularly for its relatable characters and real-life issues.
The Role of Digitalisation and Social Media in Storytelling
In her interview, Kashyap also addresses the influence of digitalisation and social media on storytelling and human connections. She believes that while digitalisation has facilitated globalisation and connectivity, it has also reduced human engagement to short attention spans. Kashyap emphasizes the importance of empathy and compassion in filmmaking, especially in today’s violence-prone world. She advocates for creating cinema that resonates with audiences without contributing to societal disharmony.
Regarding social media’s impact, Kashyap notes, “The concept of social media and the attention span reduced to one minute and thirty seconds is really taking away humanity from us.” She highlights the diminishing importance of community living and meaningful conversations due to isolated indulgence in social media. While acknowledging the aspirational influence of cinema, Kashyap warns against the detrimental effects of social media on personal growth.
Tahira Kashyap’s Sharmajee Ki Beti promises to be a refreshing and realistic portrayal of women’s lives, grounded in personal experiences and keen observations. As she ventures into feature filmmaking, Kashyap’s dedication to authentic storytelling and her insights into digitalisation and social media underscore her thoughtful approach to contemporary cinema.