Saaransh

Set in the early 1980s Mumbai, the film portrays a city of crowded tenements, bureaucracy, and changing social mores. It follows a grieving father navigating loss while facing economic hardship and red-tape. The timeframe aligns with the era's cinema that emphasized realism and social issues.

Primarily set in a middle-class Shivaji Park apartment in Mumbai, the place reflects the family's modest life. The narrative also traverses the city's bureaucratic spaces, including the customs office and the Chief Minister's office. A thread briefly touches New York through Ajay's death.

💔 Grief

The film centers on Pradhan's mourning after Ajay's murder, making his loss the emotional engine of the story. Grief shapes every decision, from his isolation to his acts of protecting Sujata and her baby. The portrayal is intimate and cumulative, showing how sorrow influences moral choices. It ultimately reframes despair as a call to responsibility and human connection.

🌀 Life & Rebirth

Parvati's belief that Ajay will be reincarnated drives a key subplot, influencing her care for Sujata and her baby, and shaping how the family perceives life and continuity. This belief adds a spiritual dimension to the drama, contrasting with Pradhan's atheism. It creates emotional tension when Sujata's situation challenges the family's expectations. The narrative uses reincarnation as a lens to explore hope amid hardship.

🏛️ Bureaucracy & Power

The story portrays systemic obstacles: disrespect at the customs office, red tape, and political influence used to manipulate outcomes. Pradhan's confrontation with authorities highlights the friction between personal tragedy and state machinery. The plot moves through public institutions, exposing how power can both impede and facilitate justice. The Chief Minister's later intervention reframes power as a tool for accountability.

❤️ Compassion & Duty

Despite personal grief, Pradhan opens his home to Sujata and her child, choosing protection and moral responsibility over despair. The act challenges social conventions and economic desperation, showing kindness as a force for change. The dynamic with Parvati evolves as she shifts from rigid beliefs toward acceptance. The film culminates in a sense of shared humanity and the renewal of life through Sujata's baby.