Sui Dhaaga: Weaving Dreams from Humble Beginnings

Director Sharat Katariya's Sui Dhaga is a rag to riches story of Mauji and Mamta struggling with their working-class identity. Wrapped in simplicity, the story that speaks about the ordeal of a middle-class man who manages to meet both ends even at the cost of his self-respect relates to the common Indian man.

Mamta (Anushka Shama) is the typical Indian daughter-in-law who remains busy with cooking and serving food, tending to the water pump and her mother-in-law's moods. Mauji (Varun Dhawan) is the typical Indian underdog who works in an Usha showroom and spares no effort in licking his boss boots to survive in his job. Mauji's father is the typical Indian disapproving, retired father who whiles away his time on the terrace and his mother is the typical Indian mother who cannot stop worrying about the water pump or stop ordering about her daughter-in-law.

However, the director manages to pull off all this typicality with a sweetness and nostalgia of sorts that tugs at the heart. The audience feels the warmth of this bittersweet setting and cheers for Mauji and Mamta's attempt at a life of dignity. However, this genuine effort is glossed over by Bollywood melodrama in the second half, with forced hardships and a dingy fashion show that leaves a sour aftertaste. Although there are certain portions in the second half, that vaguely attempts to rescue the cause of the film and the innocence of the leads, they fail to engage the audience emotionally.

Some parts of the film feel too sudden and devoid of integrity, only aimed to churn box office profits. The film largely depends on the performances of the actors, especially the leads. Varun Dhawan makes a valiant attempt to internalise Mauji. In some scenes, he does come through, but in the others, especially those with high emotional intensity, he seems infantile and out of sorts. Anushka Sharma is commendable as Mamta, compulsively covering her head and fussing over household chores.

One feels Mamta's pain and applauds her wit as she becomes the biggest champion of her husband's enterprise and shows him the way. Nonetheless, there are scenes where she resorts to her comfort zone of melodramatic mainstream acting. Both the leads do a marvellous job of tracing the gradual love story of Mauji and Mamta, which becomes one of the best things about the story. Raghubir Yadav as Mauji's father and Yasmin Dass as his mother do a splendid job of their roles. They provide the humour and emotional fuel that the story needs to propel.  

Verdict: Sui Dhaga largely misses out on the Made in India part but is watchable for the nostalgia that is Usha machines and the individual characters who keep you engaged through their wits, struggles, and quirks. The predictability of the story can be overlooked for the little moments in the story that makes us fall in love with the characters and make us want to cheer for them. Finally, you leave with the feeling sab badhiya hai!