Mumbai: The complex and often unspoken dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship will take centre stage in filmmaker Neeru Sharma’s upcoming 23-minute short film Like Maa, featuring acclaimed actress Sonali Kulkarni in the lead role. The first poster of the film has been unveiled, offering a glimpse into its emotionally layered world while keeping the central story under wraps.
Written, produced and directed by Neeru Sharma, Like Maa is set against the backdrop of an upper-middle-class family. The story revolves around Anjana, a homemaker played by Sonali Kulkarni, and her teenage daughter. Their relationship forms the emotional core of the film, which examines how love, expectations, fears, social conditioning and family experiences can pass from one generation to the next, often without conscious recognition.
For Kulkarni, the project goes beyond portraying a fictional character. The actress has said that the honesty and sensitivity of the story were among the first things that drew her to the film. She has also appreciated Sharma’s intimate approach to the subject, describing it as a deeply human story with the potential to connect with audiences across generations.
The recently released poster hints at the emotional tension surrounding the mother and daughter without revealing the film’s central mystery. At its heart, Like Maa explores the patterns people inherit from their families and society, and the ways these patterns can influence relationships and personal choices.
The film also features Mehdi Khan, Mehan Soni, Smita Inamdar, Aishwarya Manohar, Hisha Joshi, Nandini Sharma, Komal Khimsariya and Ayaz Khan in important roles.
Produced under the Niruvana Creations banner by Rajiv Parashar, the short film has Akash Sethi as cinematographer, Sandeep Kurup as editor, Kaushal Mahavir handling the music and Rucha Deogharkar overseeing production design.
With Sonali Kulkarni leading the cast and Neeru Sharma bringing a sensitive approach to an intimate family subject, Like Maa seeks to look beyond the conventional portrayal of motherhood and explore the emotional patterns that quietly shape the bond between mothers and daughters.
