Single Salma Movie Review: Huma Qureshi’s Feel-Good Drama Loses Its Charm in Preachy Storytelling

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (1.5/5)
Director: Nachiket Samant
Cast: Huma Qureshi, Shreyas Talpade, Sunny Singh

In an era where mainstream Hindi cinema often relies on flashy spectacles and formula-driven stories, it’s refreshing to occasionally see a smaller, more grounded film make it to theatres. With Single Salma, director Nachiket Samant attempts to deliver a light-hearted, middle-class story centered around a woman rediscovering herself. Unfortunately, what begins as a promising premise soon slips into dull and preachy territory.

A Familiar Story That Loses Its Spark

The film follows Salma Rizvi (Huma Qureshi), a diligent woman in her thirties who supports her family of ex-Nawabs in Lucknow. Having spent years fulfilling responsibilities and helping her sisters settle down, Salma has little time left for her own happiness. When her mother insists she consider marriage, she reluctantly agrees and meets Sikandar (Shreyas Talpade) — a charming, talkative man who also narrates the story. Their connection is instant, but before marriage can take place, Salma travels to London for work, where she meets the free-spirited Meet (Sunny Singh).

What could have been a nuanced tale of self-discovery and modern womanhood ends up being a confused love triangle with very little emotional depth.

Comparisons Are Inevitable

Single Salma tries to capture the essence of films like Queen (2014), but it lacks the spontaneity and warmth that made Kangana Ranaut’s journey so endearing. While Queen celebrated Rani’s innocence and personal growth with authenticity, Single Salma struggles to make Salma’s transformation feel earned or engaging. Her arc feels forced, as if each event exists merely to move the plot rather than develop her character.

A Script That Feels Manufactured

Writers Amina Khan and Ravi Kumar offer a predictable “finding yourself” narrative without building a strong emotional core. The screenplay suffers from abrupt transitions and weak conflicts — scenes often jump from one situation to another without organic flow. For instance, a wedding sequence quickly cuts to Salma planning her London trip, leaving viewers disconnected. Despite some decent visuals and occasional humor, the film fails to maintain the charm or wit it aims for.

Performances That Fail to Lift the Film

Huma Qureshi, usually a reliable performer, struggles to bring depth to Salma. Her dialect feels inconsistent, and her portrayal never truly captures the spirit of a woman torn between duty and desire. Sunny Singh, as Meet, seems miscast and unconvincing in his Indo-British avatar. Shreyas Talpade adds brief moments of humor, but even his charm wears thin as the film drags on.

Final Verdict

Running for over 140 minutes, Single Salma feels unnecessarily stretched and tonally confused. The story meanders from Lucknow to London and back, only to end with a forced and misplaced message about women’s empowerment. Instead of leaving the audience inspired, it leaves them tired.

Verdict: A well-intentioned but uninspired film that mistakes preachiness for purpose.