Pagglait Movie (2023) Review: A Quiet Storm

🌸 Pagglait Movie (2023) Review: A Quiet Storm of Self-Discovery

📅 Published on Tuesday, July 9, 2025

📝 Introduction to Pagglait movie

“Pagglait” is a Hindi-language film released on March 26, 2021, on Netflix. This film is not like your usual Bollywood movies with lots of dance, love, or action And quiet, deep. It tells the story of a young widow who tries to find herself after her husband’s sudden death. The word “Pagglait” means crazy or mad. But in the film, this label is used in a very ironic and meaningful way.

The movie is directed by Umesh Bist. It stars Sanya Malhotra in the lead role of Sandhya Giri. She plays the role of a newly married woman who loses her husband just five months after the wedding. What follows is not loud drama. Instead, it is a story of a woman discovering her strength.

This film got a lot of attention because of its different style. It focuses more on internal emotions and social expectations than on big events. It shows what happens inside a home when someone dies. And more importantly, what happens inside a woman who starts thinking for herself. This article is written in small sentences to make it easy for you to read. Every section will take you deeper into the movie. Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, you will enjoy reading this.

🎭 Main Plot of Pagglait movie

The story starts with a death. Astik Giri, a young man, has just died. He was married to Sandhya only five months ago. His death is sudden and shocking. The entire family is filled with grief. They gather at the family home to perform the last rites. Sandhya, the widow, is expected to cry, mourn, and sit quietly. But she doesn’t do any of these things.

She feels nothing. No tears come to her eyes. But not in shock. And not in pain. She is just confused. People around her start calling her strange. Some even whisper that she might be “Pagglait”. They say maybe she is mentally weak or unstable. But Sandhya is just numb. She never really got close to Astik. Their marriage was arranged. They barely knew each other.

As days go by

strange things happen. The family finds out that Astik had a life insurance policy. Sandhya is the sole nominee. She will receive ₹50 lakhs. This becomes a big issue in the house. Some relatives start showing fake sympathy. Others start thinking about how to get that money back. Sandhya watches all this silently.

Things become even more confusing when Sandhya finds Astik’s old photos and letters. She learns that he was in love with another woman before marriage. Her name is Aakanksha Roy. Sandhya goes to meet her. She wants to understand the truth. Meeting Aakanksha gives her a new perspective. She realizes that she never really knew her husband.

Now, Sandhya begins to change. And becomes curious about her own life. She decides not to be a victim. Who wants to make her own choices. In the end, she does something bold. She refuses to marry again. And returns the insurance money. Also leaves the house and starts a new job in Delhi. This is not just the end of a story. It is the start of her own life.

👩 Main Characters and Cast of Pagglait Movie

Let’s take a deep look at the characters in “Pagglait”. These people are not just actors playing roles. They feel real. They behave like normal people around us. Each character adds depth to the story.

Sandhya Giri – Sanya Malhotra

Sandhya is the central character. She is a young woman who becomes a widow soon after her marriage. At first, she is confused and lost. But as the story unfolds, she begins to change. Sanya Malhotra plays this role with great honesty. Her expressions, her silence, and her small actions all speak loudly. She shows the pain of being judged by society.

Astik Giri – Omkar Kapoor

Astik dies at the beginning of the film. He is seen only in flashbacks and photos. But even in that short time, we learn important things about him. He was not truly in love with Sandhya. His love was with another woman. This secret becomes the turning point for Sandhya.

Aakanksha Roy – Sayani Gupta

She was Astik’s girlfriend before his marriage. She is a confident and independent woman. When Sandhya meets her, she doesn’t show jealousy. Instead, she shows strength. Aakanksha represents the modern woman who follows her dreams.

Usha Giri – Sheeba Chaddha

She is Astik’s mother. Who cries and mourns deeply. She also worries about her family’s future. Her character is very emotional and traditional. She wants everything to go according to customs. Her expressions show both pain and confusion.

Shivendra Giri – Ashutosh Rana

Astik’s father. He is calm and gentle. He tries to keep the family together. His dialogues are soft but full of meaning. He is one of the few who understands Sandhya’s silence.

Nazia – Shruti Sharma

Sandhya’s best friend. She comes to visit her during the mourning days. She brings humor, comfort, and support. Her presence helps Sandhya open up and think differently.

Other characters include uncles, aunts, cousins, and neighbors. Each one brings something to the story. Some show greed. Some show fake sympathy. And try to help. Together, they create a full picture of a typical Indian joint family.

🏡 The Setting and Background of Pagglait Movie

“Pagglait” is set in a small Indian town. The streets are narrow. The houses are old. The neighbors are close. Everything feels familiar. The house where the story takes place is a traditional Indian home. There are multiple rooms, a kitchen, a verandah, and even a rooftop. It looks lived-in and warm.

The setting is important because it makes the story feel real. You can see the culture, traditions, and way of life of a middle-class family. You can hear the temple bells, smell the food from the kitchen, and feel the sadness in the air.

The background also shows Indian customs related to death. Relatives come from different cities. There are prayers, rituals, and food arrangements. The men sit together. The women sit separately. There is a lot of talk, gossip, and sometimes arguments.

But behind all this, there is something deeper happening. Sandhya is changing. And the house becomes a silent witness to her transformation. The walls, the rooms, and the small objects all hold memories. The setting supports the emotional weight of the story.

🎭 Themes and Messages of Pagglait Movie

“Pagglait” is a film full of meaning. It is not just about one woman’s story. It is about many things that are part of Indian life. Let’s look at the main themes the movie talks about.

1. Grief and Emotions

The movie begins with a death. But it does not show loud crying or dramatic scenes. Instead, it shows how people react differently to loss. Sandhya feels nothing. Others think she is cold. But grief has many faces. Some people cry, others remain quiet. This message is shown in a simple yet strong way.

2. Freedom and Identity

Sandhya’s journey is not just about losing her husband. It’s about finding herself. She begins as a quiet and confused woman. But slowly, she starts asking questions. What does she want? What does she feel? She learns to listen to her own voice.

3. Women in Society

Indian society expects widows to behave in certain ways. They should stay sad, wear white clothes, and not smile. Sandhya breaks all these rules. She drinks cold drinks, eats chips, uses Facebook. People around her are shocked. But she is not wrong. She is just different.

4. Money and Greed

When the family finds out about the ₹50 lakhs insurance money, they change. Some become kind. But become greedy. Some want to control Sandhya. This shows how money can bring out true colors in people.

5. Relationships and Secrets

Sandhya finds out that her husband had another woman in his life. At first, this hurts her. But then it sets her free. She realizes that her marriage was just a formality. She decides to live for herself, not for others.

These themes make “Pagglait” a deep and meaningful film. It teaches us without shouting. It makes us think.

🎥 Direction and Cinematography of Pagglait Movie

The director of the film, Umesh Bist, has done something very special. He has taken a difficult topic like death and turned it into a story of self-discovery. That is not easy. Most films about death are full of sadness, tears, and heavy emotions. But here, he keeps everything soft and natural.

He allows silence to speak. Sandhya does not cry loudly. But her silence says a lot. There are moments where no one talks. Yet, you understand everything. This shows the power of good direction. The director trusted the audience. He did not explain everything. He just showed the truth, and let the viewers feel it.

The camera work by Raghav Ramadoss is also very important. The shots are simple. But they are full of emotion. He often focuses on faces. You can see the pain, the confusion, and the anger in the characters’ eyes. The house is also shot in a way that makes it feel alive. You feel like you are walking through the rooms with the family.

Natural lighting is used. There are no bright or fake colors. The film looks real, just like life. The small streets, the flower decorations, the puja room, and the terrace all look like places you have seen before. This adds to the charm of the film.

The editing is slow-paced but fitting. Scenes are not rushed. Everything unfolds at its own speed. It gives you time to think. It gives the characters time to grow. This kind of storytelling is rare in Bollywood, and it deserves appreciation.

🎶 Music and Sound of Pagglait Movie

The music of “Pagglait” is special for one more reason. It is the first film where Arijit Singh worked as a music composer, not just a singer. And he has done a wonderful job. The songs are not loud. They are soft, deep, and emotional. They match the quiet mood of the film.

Each song expresses a feeling. For example:

• “Dil Udd Ja Re” shows Sandhya’s inner wish to be free. It’s like a bird wanting to fly from a cage. The lyrics are poetic, and the tune is peaceful.
• “Thode Kam Ajnabi” plays when Sandhya finds out about Astik’s past. The song expresses how people who are close can still feel like strangers.
• “Pagglait Title Track” brings a little fun. It plays during Sandhya’s turning point. She starts becoming bolder and breaks rules. The song shows her transformation.

The background score also adds depth. During emotional scenes, the music is light and slow. In scenes where tension grows, the sound becomes quiet, giving space to the acting. The film never forces music on you. It lets the music become part of the story.

Even the natural sounds in the background are important. You can hear birds chirping, cups clinking, and people whispering. It makes the setting feel real. The sound design is minimal, but it works beautifully. It shows that less is more.

💬 Powerful Dialogues

“Pagglait” is filled with short but strong dialogues. These lines are not shouted. They are spoken softly. But they stay in your mind. They show the mindset of characters. They also expose society’s thinking.

Here are some of the most powerful lines from the film:

1. “Log kya kahenge? Yeh sabse bada rog hai.”
   This means “What will people say? That is the biggest illness.” It shows how people care more about society than themselves. This one line reflects the whole problem with how widows are treated.
2. “Mujhe toh ro bhi nahi aa raha.”
   Sandhya says this early in the film. It means “I can’t even cry.” She feels guilty about not feeling anything. But this line tells us that grief has no fixed shape.
3. “Mujhe shaadi nahi karni. Mujhe naukri karni hai.”
   In one scene, Sandhya clearly says she doesn’t want to remarry. She wants a job. This simple line is powerful. It breaks the expectation that a woman needs a husband to live.
4. “Woh mujhe jaanta hi nahi tha.”
   Sandhya says this when she discovers Astik’s love for another woman. She realizes their marriage was just an arrangement, not a connection.
5. “Main pagal nahi hoon. Mujhe samajhne ki koshish karo.”
   She defends herself by saying she is not mad. She just wants understanding, not judgment.

Each line in the film is written with care. It’s not about being poetic. It’s about being real. And that’s what makes the dialogues so effective.

📊 Public Reaction and Reviews

After its release on Netflix, Pagglait received a lot of attention. It didn’t have a big theatre release because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it still reached millions of viewers through the streaming platform. And most of them loved it.

Critics Loved It:

Film critics from leading newspapers and websites gave it high ratings. Some called it one of the best Indian films of 2021. They praised Sanya Malhotra’s performance and the fresh direction style.

• NDTV wrote, “A quietly powerful story told with maturity and grace.”
• The Hindu said, “Sanya Malhotra delivers a career-best performance.”
• Indian Express called it “Uplifting, real, and sensitive.”

Audience Response:

People on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook also reacted positively. Many shared how they connected with Sandhya. Some shared their own stories of loss and confusion. Others loved how the film showed society’s double standards.

Women, especially, found inspiration in Sandhya’s bold decision at the end. She became a symbol of hope. People created memes, reels, and reviews in many languages. The film became a topic of conversation in homes and colleges.

Even those who usually enjoy commercial movies liked “Pagglait”. That shows how good storytelling can touch everyone, no matter what their taste is.

🎬 Ending Explained

The ending of “Pagglait” is emotional and uplifting. After facing many truths and lies, Sandhya makes a big decision. She decides not to stay stuck in the past. Who refuses to remarry, even though the family tries to convince her. Sandhya also decides not to keep the ₹50 lakhs of insurance money.

Instead, she returns the cheque to her in-laws. She says the money belongs to the family. This one act shows that she is not greedy. She is strong. Sandhya wants to earn on her own. She wants to live life on her terms.

She packs her bags. Sandhya leaves the family home. She boards a train to Delhi, where she gets a job. The camera shows her smiling for the first time. She is not sad. And not angry. But she is at peace. She is finally free.

The ending is powerful because it does not need a man, a romantic scene, or a big twist. It shows that self-respect is enough. That a woman can walk away and start again. And that is the biggest victory.

It gives hope to many people who feel trapped in their situations. It says – “You can be free too.”

🧠 Final Thoughts of Pagglait Movie

“Pagglait” is not a film for just passing time. It is a film to feel, think, and learn from. It takes you inside the mind of a young woman who is expected to cry, to be quiet, and to follow customs. But she does none of those things. Instead, she listens to her heart.

It shows the real face of society. A face that says one thing and does another. A face that controls women and calls them mad if they ask questions. But “Pagglait” breaks that mask. It speaks the truth.

The best part of the movie is its honesty. There is no overacting. No dramatic music. No fake characters. It’s just life. The pain, the humor, the anger, and the hope – everything is shown in the right way.

Sanya Malhotra deserves special praise. She carries the whole film on her shoulders. Her journey from silence to confidence is inspiring. And the team behind the camera has created magic by keeping things simple and real.

If you love real stories, watch this movie. If you feel lost, watch this movie. And if you want to be free, watch this movie.

🔚 Conclusion of Pagglait Movie

In conclusion, Pagglait is a bold, beautiful, and honest film. It doesn’t shout. It whispers. But that whisper goes deep into your heart. It makes you think. It makes you feel. And finally, it makes you smile.

The film shows us that grief is personal. That society does not always know what is right. That women can make their own choices. And that a small decision can change a whole life.

“Pagglait” is not just a movie. It is a message. A message of freedom. message of courage. A message of becoming who you truly are.

So, if you haven’t seen it yet, give it a try. And if you have, maybe watch it again – this time, with more understanding.

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