Single Salma Review: Old Soup Doesn’t Boil Again...”

By Shantiswaroop Tripathi

• Rating- 1.5 Stars
• Producers: Huma Qureshi, Star Studio 18
• Writers: Amina Khan and Ravi Kumar
• Director: Nachiket Samant
• Cast: Huma Qureshi, Shreyas Talpade, Sunny Singh, Nidhi Singh, Tessy Lushington, Navni Parihar, Kal Sabir, Sammy Jonas Heaney, Sachin Kavetham, John Harplay, Kanwaljit Singh, and Asif Khan
• Duration: 2 hours 22 minutes

We’ve often heard that government subsidies can help the growth of cinema — but the films being made under such subsidies seem more determined to ruin it. Produced with support from the Film Bandhu scheme, Huma Qureshi’s self-discovery–themed film Single Salma is one such example. Though the intent is right, the execution is all wrong — and for that, the writers are entirely to blame. The clumsy screenplay and cringe-worthy dialogues completely derail the film.

Story

The story revolves around a 33-year-old woman named Salma from a Muslim family in Lucknow. However, the film opens with Sikandar Khan attending a Small Entrepreneur Award ceremony in London, narrating his journey to success. He openly admits to his weak English but believes he connects with people through his heart.

Then we meet Salma (Huma Qureshi), a woman who has sacrificed her own life for her family. She remains unmarried to support her sisters’ marriages. Her father, still lost in his false sense of nobility, has mortgaged their ancestral mansion to Rastogi — and it’s Salma who pays the installments. She works at the Urban Development Department in Lucknow to help free her family from debt.

Salma always has time for everyone but herself. She confides in her friend Ratna (Nidhi Singh) about her feelings. Despite her selflessness, Salma remains warm and patient. When her parents bring up potential grooms, she doesn’t protest — she simply sighs. After much persuasion from her mother, she agrees to get engaged to Sikandar (Shreyas Talpade), who is busy proving his worth.

Soon after their engagement, Salma gets a chance to go to London for a training program that aims to help Lucknow’s infrastructure and transform it into a “Smart City.” Sikandar convinces her and their families to let her go, postponing their wedding.

In London, Salma meets Meet (Sunny Singh), who works with her team. Over time, she finds herself drawn to him — and eventually, he reciprocates her feelings. But Meet’s British outlook and lifestyle leave Salma confused — is he really the right man for her?

So, who will Salma choose — Sikandar or Meet? Beyond this love triangle, the London trip becomes a journey of self-discovery for Salma — a quest to rediscover her identity and inner strength.

Review

The writers have left no stone unturned in ruining this film. They seem clueless about the real state of modern Lucknow. In recent years, the city — like much of India — has embraced modernity, but the writers remain stuck in outdated stereotypes. The film even mocks India’s obsession with marriage.

To be fair, the film starts off decently. But the moment the story shifts to London, Lucknow, and poor Sikandar are left behind in nostalgia. What began as a promising story soon turns into a disjointed mess, with the second half collapsing under the weight of weak writing and direction. Nachiket Samant, despite being an experienced Marathi filmmaker, fails to control this downfall.

The film pretends to be progressive and feminist, but the execution is so clichéd that it feels hollow. The moment Salma lands in London, her sudden transformation feels completely unconvincing. Not just Salma — even Sikandar’s character is poorly written. The problem lies in the writers’ lack of clarity about their characters and story.

While Single Salma attempts to critique patriarchy and class divides, it does so in such a clumsy manner that it only exposes the writers’ inadequacy. The story remains tangled, confused, and painfully dull.

Performances

Despite the weak script, Huma Qureshi gives her best and tries hard to bring life to Salma’s character. She fights to keep the film afloat, but ultimately can’t save it. Still, she manages to make the audience empathize with Salma’s emotional world.

Shreyas Talpade, in the role of Sikandar, sports a fresh look and even modulates his voice differently, leaving some impact — but his underwritten character keeps viewers from connecting with him. Sunny Singh, as Meet, fails to make an impression. Nidhi Singh, in a small role as Ratna, shines briefly. Navni Parihar and Kanwaljit Singh deliver strong performances in their limited parts.

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