The Great Indian Family Movie Review

Dharamputra (1961), produced by BR Chopra and directed by Yash Chopra, was the first Hindi film to depict the dangers of Hindu fundamentalism. The film deals with the issues of religious fanaticism, fanaticism and communalism amid the backdrop of Partition. In it, a child belonging to biological Muslim parents is raised as a Hindu by family friends, but grows up to be a religious fanatic who hates Muslims, not knowing his own origins. . Six decades later, it is fitting that Yash Raj Productions is carrying forward the legacy of making socially relevant films by investing in The Great Indian Family. Here, a newborn baby, whose Muslim parents were killed in the riots, is adopted by a Hindu priest as his son. No one in his family knows about the child’s identity until circumstances lead to it being revealed. How this changes his equation with the people around him and whether the changed circumstances are capable of breaking their bond is the essence of this social comedy.

It is good that director Vijay Krishna Acharya has chosen a light-hearted path to convey his point. The film starts off as a genuine comedy but later takes a serious turn. We see a small town boy named Ved Vyas Tripathi/Bhajan Kumar/Billu (Vicky Kaushal) becoming the king of bhajans in Balrampur. His father (Kumud Mishra) is the most reputed Pandit of the area. Whose rival Pandit Mishra (Yashpal Sharma) wants to grab this post at any cost. Bhajan Kumar lives in a dysfunctional family and sees them as ‘snakes’ who always create obstacles when he starts climbing the ladder, and considers his life similar to a game of snakes and ladders. Although there are conflicts in the family all the time, they still love each other very much. Bhajan Kumar’s father goes on a pilgrimage and in his absence, the family discovers that he may be an adopted child and worse, his biological parents may be Muslims. The news somehow leaks into the society. His uncle (Manoj Pahwa) is somewhat influenced by social pressure and suggests that Bhajan should remain silent until things calm down. Angered by his family’s lack of support, Bhajan moves out of his house and starts living with a Muslim friend. Circumstances take such a turn that he starts thinking seriously about converting to Islam…

The film gives the message that all religions are one and the greatest religion is humanity. Bhajan is alive and well because a Hindu priest and his wife decided to adopt him. He is given shelter by a Muslim family in his time of need and his Sikh girlfriend (Manushi Chhillar) has no problem with him belonging to any religion. And it says everything without resorting to chauvinism. This shows that today we are becoming the kind of society which is succumbing to blind hatred. We are closing doors to each other instead of integrating and learning from each other. We are forgetting that as a nation we are one great Indian family. Every family is dysfunctional and although it is not necessary that everyone gets along with each other, there should be love and respect between the members. Such films are the need of the hour and it is great that Yash Raj Productions has decided to take the lead in this. Congratulations to director Vijay Krishna Acharya, known for masala films like Thugs of Hindostan and Dhoom 3, for raising the issue of communal harmony.

Kumud Mishra says a lot more through his silences and his expressions than through his dialogues. He is seen as a symbol of goodness in the society and there is a dire need of people like him in real life. Manoj Pahwa plays the role of an everyman who is good at heart but can get swayed in the wrong direction like people who are easily influenced by social media forwards. You can cast Vicky Kaushal in anything and he will shine. He is in his element in both the comedic and dramatic parts. He represents the sacred soul of India which is in danger of being contaminated by the poison of communalism. His anger, his helplessness seem real. Manushi Chhillar is easy to watch and quite capable in her brief role. There was not much scope for him in the film.

This film is a must watch for the important message it conveys. Religious harmony is the need of the hour and should always be maintained.