Right from the onset, TERE SHEHER MEIN gives you the vibes of a play set in 1960's - 70's with posters of movie like Footpath (1959), I(1965) and Noorie (1979) donning the walls of the pavement, where the play is set and also, where the characters in the movie reside. Yes, they are footpath dwellers and their life story is stereotypical, as portrayed in many movies and even plays, set in similar backgrounds.
There's a lead protagonist in Naasir (Niraj Pandey), who prefers being unemployed than continuing with a job that doesn't provide him dignity or match his values. He has a friend Vicky (Akshay Yadav), someone who's born with a silver spoon, who adds some humour to the proceedings and also tries to help Naasir.
Naasir loves Salma (Ayushi Nema, in a restrained performance as a victim), who loves him back and hopes that he can provide her a roof over their heads. There are side characters like Dalda Chor (Prashant Padale), who specializes in stealing Dalda jars from stores, but often gets caught and beaten up as well. Then, there's Zainab (Mukta Asha), the stereotypical mother in distress, who provides love and shelter to all and dreams of finding a better place for Salma and her younger daughter, Reshma (Anam Pandey). Her brother Majeed Khan (Prithvi Keshri), a businessman wants to take them to his place, but Zainab is unwilling to leave the footpath as her husband passed away on the same footpath. Majeed wants to adopt Reshma, as they don't have any children of their own. There's also Rani (Pratiksha Pokle, portraying the only character with some joy in her life, and probably hiding the sorrows well), the local prostitute who loves Naasir, but his heart only beats for Salma.
In such a setting, a villain can't be far away and we have one in Zamaan (Sanket Bondre), who's the local gangster, who provides protection and also runs a mortgage and lending business in the neighbourhood. He has his eyes set on Salma as his second wife. There's also the prowling sarkari babu, who will demolish their shanty and their meagre belongings on the footpath at his whim, without a warning. When things get tough, Zainab strikes a deal with Zamaan. If you want to really know what happens next you can think about old Hindi movie plots or watch the play when you get a chance, if it's really up your alley.
Dalda Chor and Chutku who stammers add some merry, humour and laughter to the proceedings and the characters' grim lives, but fail to light up the audience. Even with some song and dance sequences with Rani, at more than two hours running time, the play is a laborious watch. The single reference to Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana doesn't add relevance or recency to TERE SHEHER MEIN, as melancholy and overfamiliarity with the story hangs heavily over the stage.
*Pritam Roy loves movies and plays, in no particular order.
