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Baghban
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'Baghban'

By ApunKaChoice Bureau
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

There is a saying that parents take care of their children when they are young and growing up. But when the children step into responsible life, it is their turn to take care of their parents. Ravi Chopra-directed Baghban is based upon a similar theme.

The movie tells the story of Raj Malhotra [Amitabh Bachchan], his wife Pooja [Hema Malini] and their four sons [Aman Verma, Samir Soni, Sahil Chadda, Nasir]. Raj has a flourishing job as an ICICI employee and his earnings are enough to keep the whole family going.

But

Raj is in his old age and now wants to spend ample time with his wife. Even after 40 years of their marriage Raj and Pooja are very much in love with each other. Like a gardener, Raj has nursed his family of four children with the hope that one day he and his wife will have comfortable life.

But fate has something else in store for the couple.

Raj takes premature retirement from his job to spend more time with his wife. The responsibility to take care of the couple now falls onto their sons.

But none of them are willing to do so, particularly when they realize that their father has no money left. So the Malhotra children come up with a solution – the father would live with the eldest [Aman], the mother with the second son [Samir]. And after six months, they would shift to the third and fourth sons [Sahil, Nasir].

Raj is not happy with the idea as it means separation from Pooja. It is only a matter of time when their children start ill-treating them.

This is when the couple’s adopted son Alok (Salman) steps in. Even though he is not born of them, Alok loves Raj and Pooja like deities.

Time passes and one day, fortune turns in favor of Raj and Pooja. And that is when the greedy sons realize their mistakes and come back to their parents asking for forgiveness.

Although based upon an oft-repeated storyline, Baghban is rich in emotional drama that is likely to reducer a viewer to tears. The movie is replete with some moving sequences like – Lilette Dubey reading Hema's letter to Amitabh (since the latter has broken his glasses accidentally) or the 'karwa chowth' sequence, or Bachchan’s song 'Main Yahan Tu Wahan' over phone and, last but not the least, the climax when Amitabh talks about the parent-child relationship.

Other highlight of the movie is the Holi song Hori Khele Raghuveera and the Valentine Day song.

Amitabh Bachchan delivers a scintillating performance as the doting father who has been the backbone of the family that falls apart after his retirement. Hema Malini looks gorgeous even in her old age. The chemistry between Amitabh and Hema is still groovy.

Salman comes in a marginal song sequence in the first half and then returns only towards the pre-climax. Alongside him, Mahima Chaudhary goes unnoticed in a blink-and-you-will-miss role.

On the whole Baghban is a healthy family entertainer that takes a look at the lives of parents who are left in lurch in their old age to fend for themselves by their children.

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