Self discovery is the cosiest genre there ever is. Self discovery films have been the flag bearers of ‘feel good cinema’ since time immemorial. Be it films like Into The Wild, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Good Will Hunting or Spirited Away, across languages this kind of cinema ages well all the time. If we take a look at Indian Cinema itself, there are films like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Tamasha, Wake Up Sid, Dear Zindagi, English Vinglish, Queen, Charlie, Uyare etc where our protagonists go through a journey of finding themselves and cherishing freedom. Most of these films also saw commercial success as well. Most recent addition is Sooraj Barjatya’s ‘Uunchai’ (2022). The film is doing really well at the box-office besides, the extremely warm critical reception. There are quite a few myths, Uunchai’s success breaks. Let’s break them down.
Off-late the sub-genre of ‘self discovery’ has seen a downward trend in Indian Cinema. Our film-makers reduced attempting self-discovery trope owing to underwhelming box-office results. Add to it, pandemic has changed the cinema goer demography as well. There was a perception that only big-scale theatre experiences would do well at the theatres and small feel good dramedies are out of fashion. This is when Sooraj Barjatya comes with ‘Uunchai’. He has given Rajshri productions and Hindi Cinema many iconic highest grossing films.
Barjatya last directed ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ starring Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor which broke records in 2015. It’s evident that Uunchai is a come-back for the records. 7 years later, here’s bollywood’s famous family-drama-director giving a surprise box-office success with a self-discovery film in minimal screens with super senior generation stars.
Uunchai follows three aged friends who take a trek to the Everest Base Camp, to fulfil their fourth friend’s last wish. A simple trek eventually turns out to be a personal, emotional and spiritual journey for the three as they battle their physical limitations and discover the true meaning of freedom. The film stars an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Denzongpa, Parineeti Chopra,Neena Gupta, and Sarika.
At the right time when trackers and reviewers underestimated the commercial prospects of a film that featured no glim and glamour, no chartbuster songs and no big-screen experience, Uunchai comes by like a ray of hope for the Industry that once made films more for families and familial emotions and not for social media trends.
It took a Sooraj Barjatya to remind Hindi Cinema and audiences that feel good films will never be out of fashion. Self discovery will never be out of fashion. Now let’s hope already announced films like Jee Le Zara get the same reception commercially and critically.
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