Single Salma Review: What Happens When a Woman Finally Chooses Herself?
- Ridhi Jain
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Huma Qureshi’s latest film, Single Salma, positions itself as a modern coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of everyday struggles women often navigate quietly. The film opens by placing Salma at a critical point in her life, where, in her whole life, she has worked hard to support her family, but while remaining single.
A work trip to London changes everything just when she was getting married. The personal choices demand courage and long-overdue clarity. With a grounded setup and a relatable emotional framework, the film attempts to capture the complexities of rebuilding one’s life after years of self-doubt.
Inside Salma’s world: A journey through love, loss & second chances
The film Single Salma presents the life journey of a woman in her 30s, whose identity is not defined by her academic achievements, her job, or even the ability to run the house, but by her marital status. Her being single became everyone's centre of attention. The narrative introduces Salma as an everyday individual struggling with expectations that have shaped her choices for years.
Salma’s mother is obsessed with getting her married and even makes Salma swear by the Quran to agree. The groom hunt has set in, and when one of the matchmakers tells Salma bluntly that, “Iss umar mein ladka nahi, aadmi milega,” she sets the tone for the kind of choices Salma must make in her quest for companionship.
The family relies on her, and often her personal dreams are not taken into account. Her decision to take control of her life sets the stage for a story that blends with the pressures of social norms.
The film follows her attempt to reconnect with her passions, navigate evolving friendships, and make decisions that align with her newly discovered voice.
The cast behind the emotion: Who brings Salma’s story alive?
The cast plays a crucial role in ensuring the emotional weight of Single Salma lands effectively.
Here are the key performers who drive the narrative:
• Huma Qureshi as Salma
She is a bold and vulnerable character with passion who balances humour and heartbreak.
• Sunny Singh as Meet
Charming and natural, Sunny plays the supportive character with a lively presence who brings warmth into Salma’s life.
• Shreyas Talpade as Sikander
He is a person full of unpredictability, adding conflict and tension that shape the emotional core of the story.
The supporting actors, Navni Parihar as Salma’s senior colleague, Mrs. Shrivastav, and Nidhi Singh as Salma’s outspoken best friend, bring much-needed perspective and energy. Sohail Sen’s music, however, is easily forgettable.
Where Single Salma hits hard and where it hesitates
Single Salma succeeded in scenes where the filmmaking embraces simplicity. The director uses everyday spaces to highlight the disconnect between who Salma was and how she wants to be. The cinematography brings warmth around her, adding visual softness that supports the emotional tone of the film.
Sometimes the writing is biased towards over-explaining conflicts rather than letting them naturally occur. Some sequences have the same common patterns of narration, which influence the originality of the story. Nevertheless, this movie doesn't fail when it focuses on emotional scenes that resonate with the viewers, keeping the audience interested.. The scenes provide a glimpse into the soul of Single Salma, showing the honesty of the story despite failed execution.
Does Single Salma live up to its word?
Single Salma is a genuine effort to describe the rebirth of the woman's emotion sincerely and subtly. In spite of the obvious imbalanced moments of unequal writing, the movie has a relatable quality that is driven by the amazing performance of Huma Qureshi.
It is not a groundbreaking narrative work, but an emotional look into self-worth, independence, and the courage to begin something new. Viewers who enjoy grounded, character-driven narratives can see valuable insights in the experience of Salma.
Keep reading The ScreenLight for more entertainment deep-dives and reviews.
