Published By: Sayan Paul

Birthday Special: Revisiting Kirron Kher's National Award-Winning Performances - 'Sardari Begum' and 'Bariwali'

There’s a whole universe of Kirron Kher beyond her melodramatic mom roles.

When you think of Kirron Kher, it’s easy to picture her as the loud, emotional mother, full of drama and big gestures. But there’s so much more to her as an artist. Beyond her work in mainstream Bollywood, Kher has also given us performances that are subtle, layered, and deeply moving. In fact, two of those roles—'Sardari Begum' and 'Bariwali'—won her the prestigious National Award. These films may not have made it to the big league of commercial hits, but they captured the actress at her finest. So on her birthday today, let’s revisit those unforgettable performances that truly show what she’s made of.

(Credit: Film History Pics)

Sardari Begum (1996): The Fire and Soul of a Thumri Singer

Imagine peeling back the layers of a woman’s life through scattered memories, broken relationships, and haunting melodies. That’s what Shyam Benegal’s 'Sardari Begum' does. Released in 1996, the film begins with a reporter trying to uncover the truth behind the death of a courtesan during a riot in Delhi. But what she finds is so much more—a fiercely independent woman who dared to live life on her own terms.

Kirron Kher steps into the role of Sardari like she was born to play it. There’s something magnetic about her—she owns literally every frame. Whether she is belting out thumris with pain and pride or locking horns with a judgmental brother, Kher brings a fiery grace to Sardari. She is bold and stubborn, yet tender and torn.

(Credit: itspiabenegal)

You see her fighting the world to sing, to love, to just be—and then you also see her falter, lose, and ache. It’s a role full of contradictions, and the actress handles it with such honesty that Sardari doesn’t feel like a character anymore. She feels real—flawed, fascinating, unforgettable. No wonder she received the National Film Award – Special Jury for this stunning performance.

(Credit: T-Series)

Bariwali (2000): A Quiet Storm Behind Closed Doors

If 'Sardari Begum' was about defiance and drama, 'Bariwali' is about everything unsaid. Directed by Rituparno Ghosh, the Bengali film takes us into the silent world of Banalata—an aging, lonely landlady living in a crumbling mansion outside Kolkata. Her life is slow, almost still, until a film crew arrives to shoot at her home. And then, without warning, feelings she had long buried start to stir.

Kher’s portrayal of Banalata is heartbreakingly quiet. You see Banalata light up when she meets the charming director, Dipankar. For a brief time, there’s hope, there’s connection. But that too fades, and what’s left behind is a woman confronting her loneliness all over again.

(Credit: Hoichoi Bangladesh)

There’s a moment near the end, where Banalata stands alone in her vast, empty home—and Kher doesn’t say a word. But her body, her face, the way her eyes glisten—they say everything. That kind of acting is rare. It’s what earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress.

(Credit: Hoichoi Bangladesh)

Notably, the voice behind Kirron Kher’s character in the film belonged to the late Bengali television actress Rita Koiral. Despite her significant contribution, Koiral’s name was conspicuously missing from the film’s National Award nominations. Years later, in a 2017 television interview, she revealed that she had been instructed to stay silent about dubbing for Kher. This sparked a controversy, raising uncomfortable questions about credit, recognition, and the often-overlooked contributions of lesser-known artists in the film industry.

Beyond these two gems, we’ve seen Kirron shine in 'Devdas', stir our hearts in 'Khamosh Pani', and more recently, engage in a completely different role—public service. But these two films remain the soul of her artistic legacy.