Baghban, an eloquently scripted film by film by B.R. Chopra has actually picked up an issue of much greater concern for the entire society as a whole. The film is well written, well enacted by the cast with a smooth flowing story of laughter, smiles, happiness, tears, pain, agony and family. Family is a small word that has a very deep meaning especially in our Indian society. The main backbone of our society is based on sharing and caring and above all love and concern for each other.
The film starts with a very happy mode, the 40th anniversary of a very loving couple enacted by Mr. Amitabh Bacchhan and Hema Malini, although I felt Hemaji quite didn’t fit into the character as she looked much younger than the character. A lady married for forty years should be somewhere around 58 years of age and she didn’t seem so in the film. Amitji was more convincing in his character. Their sons with their respective families where around to celebrate the occasion. The happy mood in the film doesn’t stay for long, the father retires and it sparks confusion, conflicts of mind and gives birth to heinous mentality among the children. The main question WHO would take care of their parents. The couple are separated at a delicate age and are ill treated by their own blood. Finally they acquire love and concern from aliens.
But somewhere in the film I felt it was very one-sided, only one face of a much deeper issue was actually dealt with in a very carefree manner. The other side was untouched. In scenarios of negligence towards ones parents, one question arises, WHY? Why should a child abandon ones parents who have brought them up? Is it just for the reason that they no longer need them for their upbringing or is there a much deeper reason relating to socio-economic structure prevailing today? Take for example a couple who don’t have any bonding build a house for them, they produce five children two daughters and three sons. The man strives hard to earn well for the family, provide food, shelter, clothing and education to all his children. A very happily united family a joint one. This scenario is good only till the children are children, once they grow up and are wed and multiply, then sparks dissatisfaction and conflicts, which I feel is quite natural because the resources that were good enough for a limited number has to accommodate more. Hence it springs out conflicts amongst the members of the household. Further the same story continues to the next generation and so on.
Yes its true our parents are our foundations just like the roots of a strong tree, but to allow the tree to grow well the branches also should have enough space above to spread its arms. In today’s world where ordinary onions cost Rs. 25 per kilo and all other prices shooting at a tremendous rate a joint structure of a family automatically fails to prevail. A single man cannot provide for a big family in today’s expenses thus giving way to smaller nuclear families. Back in the film it was portrayed that the adopted son of the protagonist willingly accepts his foster father whereas his own blood doesn’t. Here I have a question, suppose Alok, the adopted son had not attained the success that he had in the film and was a normal pedestrian striving to acquire an employment or finding if impossible to earn his own bread in this tough world, could he have still being the same. Here would have been the acid test for the film. I feel at times we are not able to do justice with our very near and dear ones even if we really wish to.
Parents are our assets in life hence we must take care of them whatever may be the price.
Also being a woman I would question what should the parents of a daughter or daughters expect from their children. Should the above factor of taking care of ones parent hold true for them as well? In that case wouldn’t the society point out on them for giving extra privilege to their parents or neglecting their duties towards the in-laws even if they don’t?
These highly emotional and sentimental issues, cannot be solved by a film but I feel at least they took a step in questioning these issues. It requires in depth thought and questioning of ones conscience and the society.