Shimmy review: Beautifully establishes the evolving relationship between a father and daughter

Pratik Gandhi plays a man adjusting to his new life as a single father in the wonderful short film Shimmy (2021) written and directed by Disha Noyonika Rindani. Amol Parekh and his daughter Raima (Chahat Tewani) have to navigate their evolving relationship as important coming-of-age milestones can’t be ignored any longer.

The screenplay, with dialogues by Jai Mehta, deftly takes us to a moment in the Parekhs’ lives when the father-daughter duo are tiptoeing about the absence of Raima’s mother. Raima is in that awkward phase of life, entering her teens, where she needs a female presence in her life.

The occasion of a classmate’s birthday party brings up certain insecurities for Raima, and Amol wonderfully steps up to accompany her to the store to get what she needs. The father-daughter scenes have the right amount of embarrassment and sweetness, as both are trying to accommodate the other.

The mother’s non-appearance hints at many things in Shimmy, but both Amol and Raima are trying to work on their relationship. Gandhi and Chahat Tewani have a wonderful on-screen relationship, accentuated by his teasing of her classmate and her exaggerated eye-rolls at his statements.

Amol especially takes time off from work to be there for his daughter when she needs it the most. With minimal action, Gandhi conveys how he is working to improve their exchanges.

Their talks in the car as he drives Raima around adds to their togetherness though their small family is dealing with a huge loss in their lives.

Pratik’s wife, Bhamini Oza Gandhi, is also fantastic as saleswoman Sheetal who guides father and daughter in the shop. The real-life couple have a superb scene in the store as the clueless Amol doesn’t fully comprehend that he is being hit upon.

Writer-director Rindani employs a joyful song ‘Choro’, sung by Natasha Noorani, to highlight the growing changes for the Parekhs. When the time comes, the two finally let go.

Produced by Guneet Monga and Achin Jain, Shimmy is a sweet and praiseworthy look at a modern father-daughter relationship and the importance of being there for one another.

Shimmy is now available on the Amazon app’s miniTV.