Sonali Kulkarni and Neeru Sharma’s ‘Like Maa’ to Uncover the Truth About Childhood Trauma and Generational Pain
The relationship between a mother and daughter is built on love, trust and deep emotions. But can fears and unresolved wounds passed down through generations also become part of this bond? Filmmaker Neeru Sharma’s upcoming short film Like Maa explores this sensitive and thought-provoking question.
Anil Bedag
Oct 20, 2026 09:19
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Mumbai (Anil Bedag): The relationship between a mother and daughter is built on love, trust and deep emotions. But can fears and unresolved wounds passed down through generations also become part of this bond? Filmmaker Neeru Sharma’s upcoming short film Like Maa explores this sensitive and thought-provoking question.
Starring actress Sonali Kulkarni, the 23-minute film has unveiled its trailer, prompting audiences to reflect on motherhood, social conditioning and the tendency to blame victims rather than understand their experiences. Set in an upper-middle-class neighbourhood in Meerut, the film tells the story of Anjana, a 36-year-old homemaker who struggles to understand the needs of her teenage daughter while navigating family responsibilities and the pressure of maintaining social respectability. The narrative highlights the importance of understanding a child’s emotions amid societal expectations and the fear of losing family honour.
For Sonali Kulkarni, the role is particularly significant on an emotional level. She believes that childhood trauma can remain with a person even after growing older, getting married and embracing motherhood. The film encourages viewers to recognise unresolved emotional experiences and find a way to heal from them.
Written, produced and directed by Neeru Sharma, Like Maa raises an important question: Do we unknowingly repeat the thoughts, attitudes and behaviours of our own parents? The film conveys that self-reflection and sensitivity are essential to prevent the pain of the past from becoming an inheritance for future generations.
Sonali Kulkarni plays the lead role of Anjana. The supporting cast includes Mehdi Khan, Mehan Soni, Smita Inamdar, Aishwarya Manohar, Hisha Joshi, Nandini Sharma, Komal Khimsaria and Ayaz Khan.
Produced under the banner of Nirvana Creations, the film is produced by Rajiv Parashar. Akash Sethi has handled cinematography, Sandeep Kurup is the editor, Kaushal Mahavir has composed the music, and Rucha Devgharkar serves as the production designer.
