After being immersed in the intense drama of Succession, I felt the need for a change and decided to watch Three of Us. Some compared it to Past Lives, but they feel like two different worlds. Three of Us is a delicate, emotional journey about reclaiming lost time while learning to let go. It’s a story of three intertwined lives: Shailaja Desai, her husband Dipankar Desai, and her childhood friend (Crush perhaps), Pradeep.
Shailaja, the main character, is in the early stages of dementia. She works, possibly in handling divorce cases in Mumbai, while her husband sells insurance. At the start, she struggles with her memory, writing down everything she forgets. One night, she asks her husband to take time off and go with her to Konkan, where she reveals she spent her childhood.
In Konkan, Pradeep enters the scene, Shailaja’s old friend and now a banker. As they reconnect, layers of the story begin to unfold.
- In the beginning, Shailaja is portrayed as lost, almost disconnected from herself. As the movie progresses, we witness her slowly coming alive again, her memories breathing life back into her.
- There’s a poignant conflict within her—while she clings to the happy memories of her childhood, she desperately wants to forget the painful ones. A mysterious woman in a hut becomes the symbol of her emotional release, allowing her to confront her hidden burdens.
- Her interactions with old friends show glimpses of her former self. She remembers more than we’d expect from someone battling dementia, adding complexity to her character.
- Her graceful Bharatanatyam dance is one of the most touching scenes. It’s a moment of beauty, yet she hides her lapses, especially in front of Pradeep, not wanting him to see her vulnerability.
- Dipankar, her husband, is loving and patient, though his possessiveness subtly creeps in when Shailaja spends time with Pradeep. The way he takes care of her is good, but not quite on the level of Ganapathy uncle and Bhavani aunty in OK Kanmani. There’s a quiet tension as both men realize they each know different sides of her. Despite the unspoken rivalry, they share a mutual understanding.
- Pradeep fits into the story naturally. He doesn’t feel like an outsider, even though he wonders why Shailaja has come back into his life after so many years. He is curious but gentle, wanting to spend time with her.
- Pradeep’s wife, though she doesn’t appear much, plays an important role. She shows a mix of care and admiration for Pradeep’s writing, but also a bit of jealousy, especially when it comes to his time with Shailaja.
The ending ties everything together nicely. The film is about reliving the past while also learning to let it go. If you enjoy emotional stories with deep, meaningful characters, Three of Us is worth watching. Give it try!. Available in Netflix.
Cheers
PS: In hurry!
Check out the other movies reviews
If you like what you see and wish to support my work, then
Share your thoughts/suggestion at the comment section or mail at
randomwhyss[@]gmail[dot]com
Don’t miss out! Get notified about new blog posts straight to your inbox !
(No spam, pinky promise!)
Enter your mail to receive updates
Random Whys 