Review of Baghban

Baghban (2003)
7/10
Spellbound performance by Big B.
1 February 2023
Baghban stands itself as an emotion appealing family drama, which presents the age old conflict between selfishness and selfless, between fake love and true one, between parents and children. It is a modern story of the same old family problem, children finds their parents as a burden. In this line , The Tokyo Story of 1950s is recommended but Baghban is unique in the sense of its presentation. The colorful settings, the presentation of emotions in a much deeper level ; perhaps it could make you cry, the musical scores betweeen, the matured love story of two adults in their 60s, the applaudable performance of adults towards the youth generation etc.

Analytically, Mr Malhotra is a retired banker, who happily lives with his family, his four own married sons and one adopted son, who lives in foreign. But his happiness is shattered when his own children neglects him and his wife, even for the triflest matters. This enlightens him about truth in family lives, about the world, about reality. A ray of hope appears in the form of his adopted son, who loves and accepts them as his living God. Mr Malhotra is happy with this but still it cannot outweighs his own children acts. Throughout the film, this war between selfish and selfless grows intense and finally he decides to never forgive his own children. He chose not to give share of his old age success as a writer. The film actually depicts the journey of Mr Malhotra from emotional attachment to enlightenment. The journey has the power to appeal to viewers emotionally, wholly it goes credit to first class act of Big B, Hema Maam and other senior roles like Paresh Rawal etc.

Technically , the film is clear in it's details, portrayal and narratives. I feel the songs should have been less. No comments about performances, the antagony characters are well acted, you will like to hate these guys. Salman's act is dramatised, but still convincing as the obedient and optimistic son. Though well made film, but still few things are neglected like ---- Mr Malhotras upbringing, his characteristics as an individual, his children upbringing etc, which was needed, atleast to explain the unenlightening episodes. It is not a masterpiece but a well made film having realistic characters relatable to all universally. Finally the spark of the film is Big B, who as the saddenned father, gave spellbound performance !

A 69 on a scale of 100.
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