Safia/Safdar Review: A powerful and thought-provoking reminder of what women must endure to be accepted

Safia/Safdar Review: Baba Azmi's directorial is not just a simple narrative of how women face issues in a patriarchal society, but it teaches how they should never give up to prove their worth.

Naseeruddin Shah, Kanwaljit Singh, Aditi Subedi for Safia/Safdar

Safia/Safdar

Safia/Safdar Story: The latest ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium) film Safia/Safdar starring Naseeruddin Shah, Kanwaljit Singh, and Aditi Subedi, follows the story of Safia, a young girl from a middle-class family who takes on the responsibility of providing for her household after her father becomes paralysed. To survive in a male-dominated environment, she adopts a dual identity, which is shown by the split between the titles 'Safia' and 'Safdar.'

Safia/Safdar Review

Films depicting social issues always grab attention as they resonate with viewers' real-life experiences, raise public awareness about gender inequality, and provide diverse, complex characters that challenge traditional ideas. This change reflects a broader cultural transformation and a growing demand for authentic representation. One such film is Safia/Safdar. It was selected for the Chicago Asian Film Festival 2025, and after watching the film, I can now understand why it was selected.

The film, directed by Shabana Azmi's brother, Baba Azmi, deserves all the praise for depicting a very common issue of women going through challenges to be accepted in a male-dominated society, but the narrative is very unique.

Also Read: Safia/Safdar OTT release date: When and where to watch Naseeruddin Shah, Kanwaljit Singh's social drama

The film follows Safia, an ordinary engineering student, who has a great stubbornness to prove her worth, and believes that marriage cannot be the solution for women to be accepted in a male-dominated society. Her father, Salman (Kanwaljit Singh), is a local barber and faces threats from the moneylender. One day, when Salman becomes paralysed, Safia's life turns upside down, forcing her to become the sole breadwinner of her family.

Not knowing where to start, Safia goes to different shops to get a job, but she faces rejection just for being a girl because she realises that opportunities are reserved for men. When you stop a girl from expressing her talent or determination, something powerful rises. Safia takes a bold step as she disguises herself as “Safdar” to survive. The film captures her struggle with unsettling honesty, reflecting a society where gender often overshadows power. 'Safia/Safdar' in the title aptly represents this dual existence, which is not just a physical disguise but a symbol of the moral value of being alive.

We are living in the 21st century, and still women face rejection at jobs, various events and get pushed away by men. Even though a lot has changed, it needs more polish to achieve gender equality. Safia/Safdar's story clearly teaches us how women should not get worried about the patriarchal society and never give up because once they start supporting themselves, it becomes a powerful community.

Aditi Subedi as Safia/Safdar delivers a sincere performance that adds emotional weight to the film with power. Seasoned actors Naseeruddin Shah and Kanwaljit Singh as Altani (moneylender) and Salman show powerful support, adding depth and credibility to the story. The writing and direction are not too overwhelming, along with the runtime, making it a perfect binge-watch.

Safia/Safdar Verdict

Safia/Safdar, directed by Baba Azmi, is a powerful depiction of how women go through various challenges to get accepted in a male-dominated society. It depicts gender inequality and employment inequality. Aditi Subedi, Naseeruddin Shah, and Kanwaljit Singh's performances and the direction make this an impactful watch. It is a meaningful social drama that deserves to be seen and discussed.

Safia/Safdar is now streaming on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium)!

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Cast and Crew

Naseeruddin Shah

Kanwaljit Singh

Aditi Subedi

Siddharth Menon