Aachari Baa Review : Heartfelt moments drowned in predictability

Story: Jaishnavi, 65, visits her son's Mumbai home after years but is left to care for their pet while the family goes to Darjeeling. During her stay, she bonds with the dog and the apartment's residents.

Review: ‘Aachari Baa’ is a simple film that touches on themes like women’s emancipation, parental neglect, and the loneliness of an elderly widow. While these issues are relevant, the predictable plot and screenplay fail to engage. The film follows familiar tropes—a son calls his rural-dwelling mother to his urban home, where she struggles to adjust. This drama works only in parts but feels too sanitized to offer anything fresh. Despite its emotional core, it lacks the depth needed to leave an impact.

The story follows Jaishnavi (Neena Gupta), a 65-year-old woman who earns her livelihood by making pickles in a small Gujarat town. She shares a strong bond with her co-workers, who are like family to her. It’s been over a decade since she last saw her son, Ketan (Vatsal Seth), now settled in Mumbai. So, when he invites her to stay at his home, she is both surprised and overjoyed. However, upon arriving, she is taken aback to learn that the family is leaving for a vacation to Darjeeling, leaving her in charge of their pet dog, Jenny. Initially struggling, she gradually forms a bond with Jenny, and the apartment residents. When she accidentally feeds the dog pickles and chocolate, society secretary Brijesh Malhotra (Kabir Bedi) steps in to help find a vet. As the community discovers her pickle-making talent, they come together to support her, forging new friendships along the way.

This film treads familiar ground, offering nothing we haven’t seen before. It features an independent elderly woman with a strained, almost non-existent relationship with her son. It also highlights how, in small towns, bonds between neighbours often feel stronger than family ties. Director Hardik Gajjar takes on the triple role of storyteller, screenwriter, and director, but the weight of these responsibilities seems to have affected the film. The script occasionally dips into excessive sweetness, and the forced use of Gen Z slang feels out of place. The absence of strong confrontation scenes weakens key turning points in the story. Vatsal Seth, as the son, is relegated to little more than typing on a keyboard. Had the film explored the reasons behind the mother-son disconnect, it could have added much-needed depth to the narrative.

Neena Gupta delivers a spirited and natural performance as Aachari Baa, but she is constrained by a one-dimensional script that leaves little room for surprises. Vatsal Seth, as her son Ketan, has an inconsequential role with little to contribute. Kabir Bedi, as society secretary Brijesh Malhotra, gives an earnest performance, though his character barely connects with the main plot.

The film shines while set in Rapar, a small Gujarat town, where Baa’s camaraderie with the women who help her make pickles and the ever-loyal Kanu Bhai feels warm and authentic. Their relationships are portrayed with genuine, earthy charm. However, the narrative loses momentum once it shifts to Mumbai, leaning on clichés and predictable storytelling. The songs, with their blend of folk, add some entertainment value. In the end, the film feels too sanitized to make an impression.