Sheer Qorma review: Emotional film about accepting love in all its hues

Faraz Arif Ansari’s short film Sheer Qorma, starring Shabana Azmi, Divya Dutta and Swara Bhasker, is the story of two queer women who long for acceptance by their families.

Saira (Dutta) has brought her partner Sitara (Swara) home for the first time to meet her family. Identifying as queer and non-binary, Saira has come home after 15 years but gets the cold shoulder from her mother (Azmi), who dotes on her heterosexual son and his partner.

Unable to come to terms with her daughter’s sexuality, the mother makes her disdain quite clear, deeply hurting Saira. A narrative of accepting love in different hues, Sheer Qorma exposes the family dynamics of people with different sexualities who struggle to belong and yearn to be one with their family.

The costume and set design are luxurious and ornate, feeling quite over the top, and the drama unfolds in a fairly predictable manner. However, there is no denying that the climax is a powerful one, fuelled by the moving performances which bring home the anguish of the women longing for acceptance while portraying the love of a parent for her child.

Although the struggle for acceptance amongst LGBTQ+ people has been an oft-recurring theme in numerous films, what makes Sheer Qorma stand out is its portrayal of Indian Muslim queer women. The ultra-conservatism of Muslim households, so often portrayed on screen, is countered by the queer couple as well as the resolution of the film, which paves the way for understanding, love, and an inclusive outlook.

In a beautiful scene, we see Saira and Sitara praying, reinforcing the belief that their love is not unholy or against the laws of nature in any way.

Sheer Qorma touches a chord with the powerful performances of its leading cast, who bring out their strong yet distinct characters with intensity and sensitivity. The film was premiered at the Frameline Fest in San Francisco, USA, in June and has been screened at numerous festivals since.

Sheer Qorma was screened virtually at the International Film Festival of South Asia, Toronto, Canada, on 18 and 19 August 2021 and is part of the virtual 12th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Australia, on from 15–30 August 2021.