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Movie Name: Gulmohar
Directed by: Rahul V. Chittella
Starring: Manoj Bajpayee, Sharmila Tagore, Amol Palekar, Suraj Sharma, Simran
Genre: Family, Drama
Release Date: 3 March, 2023
Running Time: 131 Minutes
Language: Hindi
Rating:
Follows the final four days of the Batra family living in their 31-year-old family home as they move to a new city.
Gulmohar: 2023 Bollywood Family Drama
Gulmohar is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language drama film written and directed by Rahul V. Chittella. the film stars Manoj Bajpayee, Sharmila Tagore, Simran, Suraj Sharma and Amol Palekar. It is scheduled for release directly on Disney+ Hotstar on 3 March 2023.
Set in Delhi, “Gulmohar” follows the final four days of the Batra family living in their 34-year-old family home as they move to a new city.
The film, co-written by Arpita Mukherjee and Chittella, was born out of the latter’s experiences of having lived and worked in Nair’s house in Delhi, which was subsequently sold.
“I was in Delhi for some meetings in early 2019 and visited the house as it was getting packed up. As I saw all my favorite paintings and photographs get removed from the walls by the movers and packers, that was when I got the idea of having Arpita’s and my story of familial ties be placed against the backdrop of a home being sold and getting packed up over the next four days,” Chittella told Variety.
“Gulmohar” is designed as a heartwarming family film. “I wanted to explore the meaning of family and home in current times, the only two things that have ever mattered, more so now than ever. I wanted to explore the idea of togetherness in times when we are building walls between each other,” Chittella said. “My assistant once asked me – ‘Why can’t we go a bit dark with the script?’ But Arpita and I clearly wanted our characters to smile, cry, and love together. It was perhaps the phase of life that we were in. There’s too much polarization and darkness and divide among ourselves. We need to sit back, breathe and feel each other’s presence. It’s a real treasure that we often take for granted.”
Chittella describes the experience of working with Tagore and Bajpayee as “beautiful and ecstatic” and that the seasoned actors helped immensely in getting the junior cast members “surrender to the idea of being in an ensemble piece.”
“Gulmohar” streams from March 3.
Movie Trailer:
Gulmohar Movie Review:
THREE generations in a sprawling two-storey Gulmohar Villa come together for one last night of celebrations, before charting their own journeys. Each facing individual challenges, while some look forward to the freedom while others not quite. Director Rahul V. Chittella, who is also the writer of this story along with Arpita Mukherjee, paints a world with themes of adoption, ambition, love, loss and longing.
Albeit the many subplots are difficult to process, the amiable presence of Sharmila Tagore and the masterful act by Manoj Bajpayee makes film a pleasant watch
The story of the film Gulmohar follows Kusum Batra (Sharmila Tagore), whose decision to sell their Delhi house, where they had spent 34 years together, isn’t sitting well with her son Arun Batra (Manoj Bajpayee). His son Aditya (Suraj Sharma), along with his wife, doesn’t want to move to the sprawling penthouse they have zeroed-in at Gurgaon, but rent out an apartment with his wife elsewhere. Kusum’s grandchildren and her devar Sudhakar Batra’s (Amol Palekar) family are also stakeholders of this villa.
Rahul V. Chittella’s debut feature weaves in a world that one can relate to. Amongst the multiple narratives, it’s the mother-son strand that stands out prominently. Sharmila Tagore makes it back to screen after 12 years and she has a gorgeous, gracious presence. As the head of the family, the dignified demeanour she carries through ups and downs, and the twinkle in her eyes, is endearing.
Manoj Bajpayee is a brilliant actor and he nails this role too — an adopted son, trying to keep the values instilled by his late father intact. His reverent attitude towards the mother, loving ways towards wife Indu (Simran) and concern towards his son Aditya (Suraj Sharma) reflects effectively through the different frames. In the loving way how he says ‘mamma’ or how his body language changes as the reality of the house papers is revealed, his mastery over the craft is quite palpable.
The lead is well supported by the impressive ensemble cast. Suraj, as the struggling son, Santhy as house-help Reshma Saeed, Jatin Goswami as watchman Jeentandra, and Anuraag Arora, as cousin Kamal Batra, perform marvellously. One absolutely adores Talat Aziz as Avinash. It’s the music that wins your heart, right from the first frame. Dilkash Saza Yeh Deeje to Hori Mein, which concludes the film, are superb.
Not just the numbers, the background score is amazing. Kudos to cinematographer Eeshit Narain for capturing Delhi’s ‘long forgotten in smog’ beauty alive on screen. Chittella’s film carries hints of his filmmaker friend and mentor Mira Nair’s signature, and hints of Monsoon Wedding.
However, the film that is a microcosm of the world, is let down by the numerous subplots. By the half-time, as the conflict hits a crescendo, one has already had too much. The viewer struggles to keep up with the characters and their respective storylines. The film talks about adoption, ambition, generation gap; has queer angle, talks of love marred by caste, class, education and religious divide.
While one is all for the queer community, to add not one but two lesbian love stories is a little too much. On account of so many subplots, at 131 minutes, the film seems stretched. But it sure paints a happy picture, predictably with everyone getting their fair share of sun at the end.
