‘Gulmohar’: Family Drama with Sharmila, Manoj

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By AlAkA sAHAni

What turns a house into a home?

Ironically, Gulmohar tries to find an answer to this just when the Batra family is moving out of their plush Delhi bungalow, which is going to be knocked down to make way for a high-rise.

When we meet the Batras the night before they have to evict their family home, the interpersonal relationships are frayed. They are caught unaware as distance between them has crept up. They are dealing with ego-tussles as well as the struggle to find their own space and identity. These issues eventually come to the surface, forcing the family in transition to confront them.

Such a setting is not new. What gives the story of a dysfunctional family, with their secrets, a refreshing touch is the presence of stalwarts like Sharmila Tagore and Manoj Bajpayee, who are cast together in a film for the first time. Who better than Tagore to essay the role of Kusum, who makes her own choices, doesn’t kowtow to social expectations, wants to get rid of family responsibilities, and likes to savour a glass of brandy at family gatherings. The veteran actor brings her grace and experience to portray Kusum, marking her return on screen after a decade.

It is not surprising that Bajpayee as Aroon drives the engrossing family drama with his riveting performance of a man in his 50s. He is a devoted son and harrowed father.

It is not Aroon’s anxiety but his inability to come to terms with his past that keeps him on the edge.

Some of Bajpayee’s best scenes are with Tagore as they go through old albums looking at their family photos together.

Or, when he mumbles that she should go slow with brandy even though he never questions any of her decisions. Bajpayee’s performance is ably aided by Simran, who makes the character of Indira, his on-screen wife, relatable. As Indira, she is holding everything together even when they seem to be falling apart. It’s good to have Simran back in a Hindi film, playing a meaty role. -- Indian Express

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