Acclaimed actor and filmmaker Shefali Shah once again proves her storytelling prowess with Happy Birthday Mummyji, a sharply observed, emotionally layered short film that transforms domestic burnout into cinematic brilliance.
Penned, directed, and headlined by Shefali herself, the film was born out of the stillness and storm of the COVID-19 lockdown.
What started as a period of family bonding quickly unraveled into something more complex, as Shefali candidly reflected on Instagram:
“During COVID, one of the good things that happened besides clean air and clear skies was togetherness… Every day was a Sunday. Everyone was at home together, sharing meals, hygiene, sometimes chores too, and conversations. Let’s be honest, the honeymoon period was short-lived.”
That emotional shift becomes the soul of Happy Birthday Mummyji. The film follows Suchi, a woman stuck in her luxurious holiday home, surrounded by comfort but starved of space. She isn’t angry, just exhausted. Not unloved, just unseen.
Shefali captures what so many women endure silently the mounting pressure to hold it all together, the emotional labour behind every seemingly ‘effortless’ day, and the silent yearning to just breathe. With humour, honesty, and an unmissable wink to the absurd, the film gives voice to that quiet storm.
Shot with a small, fearless crew, the film is intimate and intentional. And like much of Shefali’s recent work, it continues her streak of telling stories that place women, especially their inner lives at the centre. She doesn’t just portray women thoughtfully, she makes space for their truth to breathe. Happy Birthday Mummyji is another brilliant move in that direction.
As Shefali puts it, “It’s a story of every Mother India who has a Chaalbaaz hidden within.”
And this time, she lets her break free.
Link to her post : https://www.instagram.com/p/DMc2D2rh8cn/?igsh=MTF0bjEzdXY3MHd2dQ==
