Baghban: Did It Age Well? A 21-Year Retrospective

Well, it’s the 21st anniversary of Indian parents’ Roman Empire aka Baghban. And I am having trouble controlling my giggles as I rewatch it in 2024 to ask, “Did it age well?” In fact, I gave up on the rewatch a couple of times—once just 15 minutes in. And the second time due to fits of laughter when the meme, “Rula diya na bechari ko? (You made the poor thing cry?)” appeared.

The Unique Casting Choice

That said, I do credit Baghban for casting two actual old people to play their age and showcasing romantic love between an older couple. They may both be delusional and out of touch, but at least they are in love. However, a loving couple may not always make loving parents. Exhibit A is our 60-year-old Raj Malhotra (Amitabh Bachchan) and 55-year-old Pooja Malhotra (Hema Malini). My flatmate has a theory that they are older versions of Raj and Simran from DDLJ as they repeat some DDLJ dialogues in this movie. But instead of being cool parents, these two create a family dynamic where all the children lie to their parents constantly.

The Flawed Parental Dynamic

Bachchan as the patriarch, Raj, cares about sitting at the head of the table, being served, and always being made a priority. His big tragedy in life is having to give away his newspaper to his son first. And not being able to cook eggs. In fact, all of Raj and Pooja’s troubles were entirely self-manufactured. They couldn’t take blows to their inflated egos. They had a free house to live in but wanted to extract “sewa (service)” from their children. Raj wanted gratitude and reverence for feeding and clothing them, for educating them. But these are normal parental responsibilities. Every decent parent provides for their child to the best of their capacity.

Financial Mismanagement Exposed

And we want to believe Raj when he says he made sacrifices for his children that left him broke. But Raj managed to work as an accountant at a bank for 40 years, yet he made the poorest financial decisions. He rented an honest-to-God mansion for 40 years, threw a lavish anniversary party that must have cost lakhs, but didn’t even have 1500 rupees left after his retirement. Brother, where is your provident fund? Our man says he has four sons who are his four fixed deposits. They must now return his investment by giving him “love,” which is code for “worship.” But the sons had built their own lives and had no desire to function as financial fail-safes.

The Illusion of Respect

One of their sons rightfully describes his father as “dominating” and “controlling.” So the respect and love Raj and Pooja believed their children had for them was a lie. But it was Pooja herself who taught them to be duplicitous (and later taught her granddaughter the same). And considering the movie shows us the couple celebrating their 40th anniversary at ages 60 and 55 respectively, it was clearly a child marriage for Pooja. Her entire personality had been shaped by a self-aggrandizing man. Not the best formula for nurturing parents, is it?

The Adopted Son’s Subservience

Meanwhile, Salman Khan enters as the perfect (adopted) son who literally places the parents’ portrait in the mandir of his house. He is grateful to the point of groveling because he was an orphan who owes everything to Raj and Pooja. His feelings are understandable but also border on unhealthy subservience.

Cultural Context: Adaptation and Intent

It is widely understood that Baghban was adapted from Make Way For Tomorrow (1937). The original showcased the horrors of capitalism and the toll financial hurdles take on familial and romantic love. Released at the tail end of the Great Depression in the USA, the movie provided a positive argument for the Social Security Act (1935). So on one hand, we have a film that was helping to bring about social change so elderly people could have access to income and facilities as public policy. Baghban’s purpose on the other hand was only to produce a guilt trip for the desi audience—and brand placements. Oh, so many brand placements! From chai to courier services to Archies to banks, half the movie is just commercial advertisements.

Rooting for Unlikely Characters

It’s almost impossible to root for any character in this movie except the dogs. I just wanted justice for poor Tiger and Pinky! After living with the elderly couple who kept them chained outside 24×7, they are relocated rather suddenly. But then they run away (gasp!) and somehow cross state lines to arrive back home. Forget Baghban, tell me how these two dogs traveled across the country! Now that’s a movie I will watch.

Conclusion: Baghban – Did It Age Well?

Someone will have to either pay me or hold me at gunpoint to ever subject myself to the torture of watching Baghban again. The movie has no place in 2024 unless you want to have a laugh. And there are better movies to laugh at. May I suggest Heroine?