M
Maali (The Gardener)(2022)
Hindi90 mins
A middle-class couple’s marriage is called into question during a quiet getaway when a gardener’s unwitting comment stokes old resentments. Much that has been suppressed over the years spills out, as the wife mulls over all her sacrifices through the years. Language: Hindi (subtitles available)
Director:Shiv C Shetty
Mood:
emotionaldarksuspenseful
Where to watch:
CICinemapreneur
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Theatrical Release
- 18 August 2022
- Director
- Shiv C Shetty
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
Storyline
A couple on a quiet trip finds their marriage under strain. A gardener's casual remark brings their long-hidden frustrations to the surface. The wife reflects on all the sacrifices she has made over the years.
“A simple remark unravels years of unspoken truth.”
Film Details
90Minutes
HindiLanguage
Release Date18 August 2022
Parental Guide
Violence
Low
Language
Low
Sex / Nudity
Mild
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
Low
Where to Watch
No subscription options available.
Vibe & Tags
Mood
emotionaldarksuspenseful
Themes
familyidentitylovecorruption
Toneintense
Pacingslow-burn
Complexityrequires-attention
Audiencearthouse
Best Withwith-partner
Violence1
Emotion5
Humor1
Rewatchability3
Cast & Crew
#1
A
Auroshikha DeySakshi
→#2
S
Sujata SharmaSujata
→#3
I
Ishan Anuan SinghAmrit Bakshi
→#4
H
Hemwant TiwariSamar
→#5
A
Anita NegiTulsi
→#6
S
Shiv C ShettyDirector
→Trivia
- The film was shot in just 12 days, mostly in a single location to keep the production lean.
- Director Shiv C Shetty also served as the film's editor, maintaining tight control over its pacing.
- It was an official selection at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival in 2022.
- The movie's dialogue was largely improvised by the actors during rehearsals.
- The gardener character, though central to the plot, has very few lines in the script.
- The entire film was shot using natural light to create a realistic, intimate feel.
- It was produced independently with a very small crew, mostly consisting of first-time collaborators.