By Rohan Murti

‘Cheers’ is a tale that lauds a son’s stoicism and his mother’s benevolence; probably one of the rare films that celebrates flaws over a routine cup of tea. Most of our films tend to portray the mother as an epitome of affection sacrificing all her pleasures for her beloved child. But this one doesn’t comply with the age-old tradition. A mother bonding with her son over tea and a cigarette butt is something very rarely witnessed, at least in this country.

Ali Fazal (Fukrey, Furious 7) delivers a stellar performance, playing the son who had left home years ago sick of his blatantly abusive mother. He still recalls the day his mother slapped him when he broke one of her bottles, also the day he had left home. His maturity has bloomed over the years — the reason why he’s so oblivious to his past, something that he can never get over. The film also manages to showcase a weird and uncomfortable formality that still persists between them. The son appreciates his mother’s well-groomed hair as she blushes in acknowledgement, flicking her grey strand that falls over her cheek — a scene that underlines this unusual formality.

A few questions in the film speak volumes about the characters and how time has disparaged the essence of their bond. A visually poised yet concerned Anju Mahendru asks her son rather apologetically, “Shaadi karli tune?” Fazal shakes his head smirking to himself, only to learn that all her ‘partners’ have left her too.
Both of our protagonists are quite rarely relatable, given the conditions they’ve lived in and the kind of lives they’ve lead. But in just five minutes, we’re compelled to empathise with this not-so-flawless mother-son duo. Strong content and a visually ubiquitous maternal compassion are the driving forces of this ‘Cheer’-ful short film!      

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