Last Updated: September 22, 2023, 14:26 IST
The Great Indian Family as the name suggests is a sweet, inoffensive family drama on a slim premise, which has some strong performances, the unmistakable charm, and texture of small-town India, garnished with moments of joy and sadness.
Revolving around Vicky Kaushal’s character Ved Vyas Tripathi aka Bhajan Kumar, the film sees a religious Hindu man go through a major crisis when he gets to know he is Muslim by birth. On the surface, the film might seem to be a cliché commentary on Hindu-Muslim relation, but it is much more than that. At its heart, the Vijay Krishna Acharya directorial showcases the unbreakable bond that Indian families share, especially during times of crisis.
A fairly inoffensive, pleasantly entertaining small-town family drama, The Great Indian Family primarily succeeds because of some realistic dialogues and the natural performance of a strong ensemble. Even though it isn’t quite thrilling and the movie won’t take you by surprise, there is enough charm and swagger in this bubbly concoction to keep you hooked. There is indeed something to be said about a Bollywood film that lays so much in store by its script (which is a bit of a letdown), its relatable setting, and its believable characters. The creative choices the director makes reflect amply in the outcome.
There could have been a lot to enjoy in the film but the script contrivances rankle. Keeping the nuanced asides and routinely good dialogues, but despite all that this film refuses to get interesting and the humour quotient is also missing. This is a movie that works on account of the trimmings: the acting, the clap-trap dialogues, and the authentic texture of the world that it’s set in. If only there were more meat in the main dish.
The ensemble cast includes Manushi Chhillar, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Yashpal Sharma Sadiya Siddiqui, Alka Amin, Srishti Dixit, Vedant Sinha, Bhuvan Arora, Aasif Khan, Ashutosh Ujjwal and Bharati Perwani.
The star of the show is Vicky Kaushal in the guise of an unassuming young man who is pushed around too easily until he decides to take a stand. The actor renders an authentic performance without hitting a single false note. He is wonderfully restrained, and effortless and delivers a mature and refined performance. Two thumbs up for the supporting cast as well, especially Kumud Mishra as the endearingly broad-minded father.
At 112 minutes, the film doesn’t look dragged or needlessly stretched but has its high and low moments. While the high never gets to a point that it makes you go wow, the lows are loaded with flaws and loopholes. The story needed way more depth and a better screenplay would have helped.
Overall, The Great Indian Family is an easy-going family entertainer that won’t bore you. But, it won’t leave a lasting impact either.
