Storyline: Director Sameer Tewari’s Baapya is about the acceptance of an individual who undergoes a sex change surgery. The story revolves around Anil Borkar aka Anya (Girish Kulkarni), who is a fisherman residing in a village in the Konkan region. It has been 10 years since his divorce from Shailaja (Rajshri Deshpande), who now stays in Mumbai.
Anya currently lives with his second wife Vishakha (Devika Daftardar), his son Sanjay aka Sanju (Aaryan Menghji) from his first marriage and two little daughters from his second. Vishakha loves Sanju as her own son.
There comes a situation where Anya and Shailaja need to sign a few papers together regarding a property they co-owned before their divorce. For this, Shailaja needs to visit the village registrar office. When Shailaja arrives at the office on the given day, Anya, Sanju and others get the shock of their lives when they realize that she has undergone a sex change surgery and has now become Dr. Shailesh.
Review: Baapya deals with a social issue of a person undergoing a sex change surgery not only looked down upon but also mocked by the society. Such individuals are not accepted even in the most urban cities in 2026. So, one can imagine the situation in villages where the film is based. Hence, it is a daring topic explored by the makers.
But this isn’t an unconventional film made for film festivals. The makers have told the story in a light-hearted and entertaining manner without taking the seriousness away of the issue. The manner in which Anya, Sanju and others get to know about Shailaja’s sex change surgery and how the news spreads in the village like wildfire is not just entertaining but also riveting. Some moments where the villagers and, in turn, the audiences are sensitized about transgender individuals is quite touching.
Rajshri Deshpande’s act is also one of the biggest plusses. She should be lauded for taking up such a character. She does well in the flashback scenes where she feels trapped in a woman’s body. But she shows her true acting prowess when she has to act as Shailesh.
But for some reason, Baapya is unevenly divided in the two halves. While the first half is just an hour long, the post-interval portion goes up to around 90 minutes. This wouldn’t have been an issue if the second half didn’t have its share of minuses. The change of heart of one character towards another is plainly abrupt. This is an important point, so it can’t be ignored. There are quite a few scenes that just drag along. This is felt the most in the final 20 minutes or so.
The film also didn’t need these many songs, which hamper the narrative. The rap song in the initial moments comes out of nowhere and without any need.
As far as the rest of the performances are concerned, Girish Kulkarni once again comes up with an earnest and entertaining act. Aaryan Menghji also displays some good acting skills in a challenging role. Devika Daftardar brings forth a convincing act. Shrikant Yadav is likeable as the lawyer and Anya’s close friend. Varsha Dandale succeeds in being funny as Anya’s mother.
Overall: Baapya is a decent entertainer about the acceptance of transgender individuals.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Director: Sameer Tewari
Producers: Working I Films
Writers: Sameer Tewari, Vikrant Katkar, Gaurav Gajanan Relekar and Nikhil Ashok Palande
Cast: Girish Kulkarni, Rajshri Deshpande, Aaryan Menghji and Devika Daftardar
Also read: Khalid Ka Shivaji review: Worth watching for its portrayal of current social reality
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