Baghban

Baghban (The Caretaker )is about an older couple (Amitabh Bachchan & Hema Malini) who have remained in love and devoted to each other, and have lived their marriage focused on their 4 natural sons and one adopted son (Salman Khan). They are good people who are loved by their friends but their geneority to their children means they retire with no money. They ask their sons that they live with them. All 4 natural sons and their wives resist this as it messed with their established lives. They offer a plan that Mum and Dad be split up and that each takes turns at putting one up. They aren't very generous with the parent they do have and treat them badly. Meanwhile Dad has befriended the childless owner of a local café/bookstore (Paresh Rawal) and his wife (Lillete Dubey) and they encourage him to write his story. Eventually adopted son and new wife rescue the pair and friends have arranged the publishing of the father's writings.While it was a little slow in parts (and quite long) I became quite involved in this one. It is well acted -though Salman Khan was trying to play himself down as humble so much he was almost unnecessarily low key at times. The sons and wives were a bit stereotyped too. However this movie had some very thoughtful and poetic passages on love and relationships, and I found myself quite moved and drawn into it.Frequenters of Bollywood are familiar with various plays on intergenerational relationships. We have seen amazing happy intergenerational families under the same roof; egotistical controlling parents dictating to their kids how to live with no real care for the child; and this sort - good parents with self-focused kids. This one was a bit deeper than usual and did leave me thinking of the balance between togetherness and freedom between generations that the West has taken into the free/ disconnected end (often as a reaction to experiences of control, blindness and suffocation from the opposite experience in earlier centuries).It was also an exploring of a deep long-lasting marital relationship and how love can be when people are considerate and tuned in. I wouldn't have given it the ending they did but others may disagree with me on that.Amitabh, Hema, Paresh & Lillete are especially good and the screenplay rich. The music was fine but mostly I can't recall much of it. The fact it brought me to tears at times (usually in a good way!) I always rate highly. Though it's fair to say some find it overdone in the melodrama too!Elsewhere on the Net it scores above average and it was nominated for, and won a range of awards. A keeper.

What can I say about this movie except you must see it ! After reading prior reviews of this movie, I knew that I wanted to not only see but own this film. It's three hours long, which means I won't be watching it over and over ( I do have a life) but I will watch it again. It's about selfishness and examines what happens when the children you've raised and loved, don't love you back. Baghad explores the Hindi family circle and takes a look at the flip side - the ugly side. It's not about one bad seed...it's about when all your children " leave the farm" and consider their parents a burden. I've watched enough Hindi films to know this is not the way things are supposed to be. The two lead actors, (Raj) Amitabh Bachchan and ( Poojah) Hema Malini were outstanding, perfectly matched. Salman Khan( in cameo role ) as the adopted, but most grateful child was a marked contrast to the rest of his siblings. He was so low key he was almost pious complete with halo ! As a avid SK fan, I was initially put off ( yes I was looking for the over the top - but the more I watched the movie, the more I came to understand the how of his character. The rest of the cast played their parts well - well enough for me to cheer at the end when Raj and Poojah did not forgive them for the way they treated them. I don't think any parent would. The music was delightful and and made nice connections with the scenes..but I didn't find a billboard hit among them. The clothing was very well done. A nice upscale mix of 2003/traditional hindi wear. All in all, it's a movie that makes you think, and examine your own personal relationship with your parents.

This was an excellent movie. the first Indian movie i've seen i watched because a friend just couldn't stop talking about it. The movie is long like 3 hours but you get lost in the story. It is such a wonderful family movie and so refreshing, non violent and clean something almost impossible to find anymore even in a cartoon! It is very impressive to find something truly entertaining and a great story line. It is romantic, the scenes that show dancing are fabulous. I love the couple in this movie. A lot about the movie is realistic. I think it was definlety written from an older persons perspective but it is great to see it made me call my mom just to say i love you after seeing it. Its a reminder of how much we should respect and cherish our parents. No matter the mistakes they made we should remember the good and treat them with the dignity we hope to be treated with when we are their age. If you like a great love story, great writing and a clean movie this is for you!

Love this movie and the actors as well I can read it with the subtitles. Thank you

Baghban is one of the best Indian movies I have seen- and I have seen lots of them!This movie reflects the reality of life and of real situation in many families nowadays. It's about the relationship between parents and children, respect, appreciation, care, duty and responsibility. Amithabh Bachchan plays an amazing role of a kind, loving, caring and happy father. And his response to his children's attitude is also very amazing, patient and humble. This movie is so real, it's unlike many other Indian movies which some of them don't have deep meaningful story. I cried many times while watching this movie and after- while thinking about it and about the reality of many famous who are facing similar situation.You will not regret getting this movie for sure!

I bought this movie for every sibling; a story depicting how we often don't show our parents the respect and love they deserve. A movie that brings back why we want to honor our parents.