Three of Us: A Quiet Reminder to Cherish the Present
Three of Us isn’t a movie that screams for your attention with flashy visuals or dramatic twists. Instead, it unfolds like a quiet conversation — honest, tender, and deeply personal. It invites you to slow down and listen, not just to the characters, but to the emotions they stir within you. It’s this quiet power — the raw performances, the subtle storytelling, the poignant silences — that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Shefali Shah's Heartbreaking Brilliance
As Shailaja, Shefali Shah delivers a performance that is both inspiring and devastating. She plays a woman grappling with the early stages of dementia — and you see it in her every glance, every pause, every hesitant step. There are no grand flashbacks. Instead, her return to her childhood town becomes a vessel of memory — where every alley, every faded photograph, and every encounter quietly echoes the weight of forgotten time.
A Reunion Built on Silence and Years
Jaideep Ahlawat’s Pradeep meets Shailaja again, and their reunion is a masterpiece of unspoken emotion. Their first conversation feels like two souls tiptoeing around years of unsaid things — laced with awkward joy, unresolved love, and the quiet ache of time lost. You don’t need dramatic monologues — just the stillness between them says enough.
Imperfect Relationships, Fully Realized
This isn’t a story about perfect marriages or romantic resolutions. Pradeep and his wife share a bond that’s playful, rooted in everyday realism. Shailaja’s relationship with her husband (played by Swanand Kirkire) is far more complex — sometimes warm, sometimes distant, always honest. Their tension reflects what many couples face when life throws them into uncharted emotional territory.
One of the most resonant moments is Shailaja’s visit to her old dance teacher. As a former dancer myself, I saw my own past flicker on screen. Her movements — not perfect, but full of soul — reminded me how time alters our bodies but not always our spirit. It’s a deeply personal, quietly powerful moment.
Facing Truths, Even When They Hurt
The film doesn’t romanticize the struggles of living with illness or regret. It lets the discomfort breathe. One particular argument between Shailaja and her husband is raw and uneasy — not because it’s dramatic, but because it’s real. You recognize yourself in it — the fear, the helplessness, the longing to connect.
When Pradeep learns of Shailaja’s condition, Jaideep Ahlawat channels a storm of emotions with heart-wrenching restraint — sadness, love, regret — all simmering just beneath the surface. It’s not what he says, but what he feels, that breaks you.
More Than a Story About Memory
At its core, Three of Us is not just about memory loss. It’s about how memory lives in others. It’s about finding peace, accepting change, and understanding that life is often built in quiet, passing moments.
Still, I found myself wanting to know more about the people on the sidelines — Pradeep’s wife, steady and compassionate, and Shailaja’s husband, hiding his fear behind silence. What were they thinking? How did they cope? Exploring their inner worlds would’ve deepened the emotional tapestry of the film. But maybe that’s also the beauty of it — Three of Us doesn’t try to wrap everything up neatly. It leaves space for reflection, even outside the frame.
A Slow Burn That Warms You From Within
This isn’t a movie for when you're in a rush. It’s for those slower days — when you need a reminder to pause, breathe, and feel. It doesn’t demand your attention. It earns it, gently. And when it’s over, it leaves you quietly transformed.
One of the most touching lines in the movie is when Pradeep says:
“Kal toh tabhi aayega, jab aaj khela jaayega.”
(Tomorrow only comes when we play today.)
And that’s what the film leaves you with — the urge to live more presently, more fully, more honestly.
If this movie resonates with you or brings up emotions you’d like to talk about, we invite you to reach out to our Support and Engage verticals for inclusive and affordable mental health help.
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Image Credits: Wikipedia