Cast: Girish Kulkarni, Rajshri Deshpande, Shrikant Yadav, Devika Daftardar .
Director: Sameer Tewari
Overview: The film centers on a revolutionary theme for Marathi cinema: gender transition.
Storyline : The story is set in scenic coastal region of Maharashtra where in Anya (Girish Kulkarni ) a fisherman is in love with Shailaja ( Rajshri Deshpande) a girl from his village , they are friends since childhood but Shailaja is quiet different girl , she dresses like a boy and inside also she feels like a boy but she is unable to express this to her elders , When Anya proposes to her , she refuses to get married as she wants to pursue her carreer to become a doctor but her grandmother and Anya forces her to get married with a promise that she can continue her studies after marriage, Shortly after she gives birth to baby boy but she is very restless, so Anya supports her to get admission in medical College, but in all this her duty as a mother lacks behind , which leads to divorce between Anya and Shailaja , she is heart broken and leaves the village , shifts to Mumbai ,Anya gets married again and he has 2 daughters from the marriage .Many years later Shailja returns to village as Dr Shailesh after undergoing gender reassignment surgery. A Shailja has come to village for some land deal that belongs to Anya and her as Anya is knee deep in loan , She has only one condition to meet her son Sanjys .But Sanjya is angry with her as she left him when he was small , But this transition from Shailaja to Dr Shailesh brings around ripples in the village and life of Anya and Sanjay ,
, The film isn’t just about the physical transformation; it’s a character study on acceptance and identity. It explores the ripple effect of this change on: Anya (Girish Kulkarni): Shailaja’s ex-husband, a good-natured fisherman whose love and loyalty are tested by a reality he struggles to comprehend all this forms the crux of the movie
Technical Review : Director Sameer Tewari opts for a rooted, realistic approach rather than a melodramatic one. The film explored not only family resilience but the wider village community, shifting the narrative from shock and denial to a slow, painful path toward empathy.
The film successfully shifts from a lighthearted, humorous tone in its early village scenes to a more serious, moving atmosphere as the transition unfolds.
Performances: Rajshri Deshpande: had Delivered astonishing” performance, Deshpande portrays the internal chaos and eventual composure of Shailesh with incredible nuance. Her transformation, both in body language and voice modulation—is the anchor of the film.
Girish Kulkarni: As Anya, masterfully balances humor and gravitas. He represents the “everyman” perspective, moving from chauvinistic denial to a more rounded understanding of masculinity and love.
Final Words : Baapya is a “bold, brave, and beautiful movie .highlighting its importance in Indian cinema as a rare exploration of a trans man’s journey. It moves beyond just “gender issues” to tell a larger story about love, empathy, and what it means to be a parent.
Ratings : 4*/5*
Watch Trailer Here
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