English Vinglish (2012)
This film is a quiet triumph and a love letter to mothers everywhere. Sridevi delivers a powerful performance as Shashi, a homemaker and small-time ladoo entrepreneur who is constantly belittled by her husband and daughter for her inability to speak English.
When a trip to New York for a family wedding forces her to navigate the city alone, she secretly enrolls in an English-speaking class. The film beautifully captures her journey of self-discovery and empowerment. It’s not just about learning a language; it’s about finding her voice and demanding the respect she has always deserved. The final speech is guaranteed to leave you with a lump in your throat and a wide smile.
Do Dooni Chaar (2010)
A wonderfully authentic and charming slice-of-life comedy, this film revolves around the Duggal family, a middle-class household in Delhi. Rishi Kapoor plays a schoolteacher struggling to make ends meet, who dreams of upgrading the family’s old scooter to their very first car. What follows is a hilarious and relatable journey filled with financial misadventures, generational clashes, and ultimately, the realization that family is what truly matters. It’s a clean, simple, and light-hearted drama that perfectly portrays the aspirations and struggles of a common Indian family with immense warmth and humour.
Piku (2015)
This film trades grand melodrama for quirky, everyday chaos, and the result is magnificent. It follows the story of Piku, a headstrong architect, and her eccentric, hypochondriac father, Bhaskor, who is obsessed with his bowel movements. Their road trip from Delhi to Kolkata, accompanied by a reluctant taxi service owner, forms the crux of this witty and moving tale. ‘Piku’ is a masterful exploration of the complexities of a father-daughter relationship, filled with arguments, unconditional love, and shared responsibilities. It’s a film that finds profound emotion in the most mundane of conversations, celebrating the imperfect, exasperating, yet deeply loving nature of family.
Kapoor & Sons (2016)
Breaking away from the tradition of idealized families, ‘Kapoor & Sons’ presents a refreshingly real and dysfunctional one. Two estranged brothers return home to be with their ailing grandfather, forcing them to confront old resentments, sibling rivalries, and their parents’ crumbling marriage. Despite the constant arguments and buried secrets, the film showcases the undeniable love that holds them together. With a brilliant ensemble cast, it navigates complex themes with sensitivity and humour. It’s a mature, modern family drama that acknowledges that families can be messy and complicated, but the bond is ultimately what helps them heal.
Baghban (2003)
A modern classic that is a must-watch for its sheer emotional power, ‘Baghban’ tells the story of an elderly couple who, after the husband's retirement, are separated and forced to live with their different sons. The film explores the pain of parents who feel they have become a burden to the very children they dedicated their lives to raising. While their biological sons treat them poorly, their adopted son shows them the love and respect they crave. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that serves as a powerful, if sometimes heavy-handed, reminder of the sacrifices parents make and the importance of caring for them in their old age. This is one film that will have the entire family reaching for the tissues.
