WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
When family is the most important thing in our lives, what would we do to keep it protected, safe, secure from any harm? Would we choose to keep certain things hidden away within for fear of the hurt it could bring to them? Would we then find ourselves in a place where all those secrets begin to take their toll, forcing us to reveal them, and therefore take that risk of pain? Brothers Rahul (Fawad Khan) and Arjun (Sidharth Malhotra) Kapoor have their own lives, one a successful writer the other a bartender. Called home unexpectedly to their parent’s (Rajat Kapoor & Ratna Pathak) residence in Coonoor because of their ailing grandfather Amarjeet (Rishi Kapoor), it is an overdue reunion for the family.
Initially peaceful being back at home, a sudden chain of multiple events is set loose that rocks the entire venture. At first only having fun in putting up with their grandfather and his increasingly erratic but undeniably humorous state of mind, Arjun soon finds himself struggling with feeling accepted by his parents in light of Rahul’s larger successes in life. Venturing out and becoming involved with a local girl, Tia (Alia Bhatt), things seem to be turning around for the better. But Mom and Dad begin to show more and more the stresses on their marriage, and soon, dysfunction begins to take a dark hold on the group, even as they prepare for their grandfather’s 90th birthday.
As tensions build, the brothers still make desperate attempts to stay grounded in their sibling relationship to keep order, but it is only then that buried secrets and lies come out, further breaking them all apart, and causing rash decisions and anger towards each other. Soon, it becomes the test that shows it is always possible to hurt the ones we love, but can we again love the ones we hurt?
Next, my Mind:
Delivered with a highly emotional, deeply affecting, powerfully soul-stirring, and tear-jerking resolve, director Shakun Batra’s dramatic ode to fractured bonds, the price of lies, the healing in forgiveness, and the ceaseless love of family absolutely solidifies the fact that Bollywood films are here to stay with an exclamation point. Taking the viewer through a complete kaleidoscope of moods from the silliest of humor, the warmest of love, and the weight of betrayal, to the shock of loss and the release found in absolution, the film is a winding road of inner and outer turmoil amidst glimpses of joy. In classic Bollywood style, there are those wonderful moments of dancing and celebration, but also the times of deep, human connection that moves you unquestionably.
Khan is fantastic as the successful and confident Rahul, who desires only the best for his family, but might be hiding something from them at the same time. Likewise, Malhotra’s Arjun is perfectly played as a man still searching for his worth and acceptance in the world and his family, keeping a lot bottled up until situations force him to act. Together, the two are so wonderfully portrayed as the brothers they are, and it’s entertaining and heartfelt to see the actors embody the siblings so well. Rajat Kapoor and Ratna Pathak are also extremely good as the Kapoor parents, trying desperately to put on the happy face for their sons while only sometimes hiding the fact there’s trouble boiling underneath.
Alia Bhatt is a refreshing, bubbly, beautiful, smiling presence in the middle of all the strife, and her relationship with Arjun both anchors him while providing a needed support for her as well, given a painful past she hasn’t totally released from inside her heart. Rishi Kapoor is a total gem here, playing Amarjeet as a man with poise, outrageous antics, not-so-delicate proclivities, and a longing to see his family united again that is so winning yet heart-rending. Overall, this is arguably one of the best, most intensely-charged dramatic films this reviewer has seen any time recently, and it is a testament once again to the magic coming from India.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
