6 Learnings For Female Entrepreneurs From Shamsunissar Of Darlings

The Shefali Shah-Alia Bhatt starrer has already created waves and is garnering a lot of appreciation – for the right reasons. The film, a satirical take on something as serious as domestic violence, leaves no scope for doubt in the viewer’s mind as to what it would feel like if the tables are turned. While revenge is obviously not the solution, the message that wives need to stop defending their husbands or expecting them to change is loud and clear.

What I also loved about the film was how strong and powerful the character of Shamshunissar is. She isn’t just progressive about divorce but, unlike some reel and real mothers who urge their daughters to adjust, she also actively encourages her daughter to stop tolerating abuse.

What’s interesting is that those are not the only learnings to take away from her character. The woman, a single working mother, imparts many valuable lessons for female entrepreneurs.

Shamsunissar invests her time and energy in getting to know who her customers are. When she knows she is on the verge of losing one customer, she instructs her partner to look for more customers elsewhere.

Seek honest feedback (gracefully)

There is one scene in the movie where the police inspector gives negative feedback about her food. It is clear to the viewer that the feedback may well be dishonest, because the police officer just wants to find fault with the mother-daughter duo. However, at no point does Shamsu take offence at his words. Instead, she gracefully apologises and instantly brings the conversation back to the topic of discussion.

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In one of the scenes Shamsu is shown cooking non-veg biryani. She often visits the butcher shop too. However, that is not the only dish Shamsu can cook. Her expertise in cooking extends to vegetarian dishes too, as is evident from the names of delicacies she rattles off when making the reel for social media.

Research. Practice and improve your skills

Do you remember that hilarious scene where Shamsu asks her daughter where they were when God was distributing common sense? Shamsu and her daughter didn’t start their catering business overnight. They watched umpteen cookery shows, honed their cooking skills to get to a point where they could start a tiffin service.

Don’t be afraid to seek help

The single mother knows she cannot manage everything on her own. She has a robust support system that she relies upon in times of crisis and otherwise too, to help expand her business. She offers Zulfi partnership in exchange for his services as the delivery person.

In one scene, she even tells her daughter how much assistance she got from Kasim, the butcher. In that one moment, she teaches her daughter, and by extension, us viewers, how important it is to cultivate meaningful relationships.

Invest in Branding, Marketing and Promotions

One of the most striking scenes for me was at the end of the film. Shamsu has invested in colourful stickers that proudly proclaim the name of her business. Every person who will pass by that table where those tiffin boxes are kept will be sure to notice them, for just those stickers have elevated the product from drab-looking steel boxes to something that’s special and eye-catching.

It is remarkable how the character is an inspiration for progressive, powerful women who do not shy away from going out there and chasing their entrepreneurial dreams.

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