Gharat Ganpati (2024)

✨A rush of positivity and warmth!✨

A very well written story & screenplay. This film beautifully portrays the variety of dynamics in a family. It shows some very realistic issues between different family members and the unresolved bitterness between them. Throughout the film there was an emphasis on the significance of relationships, bondings, culture and the younger generation's perspective on all of the above! This film also has captured the essence of 'Kokan' in some very beautiful angles and shots!

What I loved is, this story not only shows Kriti's struggles of impressing the 'Gharat' family, but along with that also addresses how Ketan should take a stand for her in front of his family members, instead of making her adjust everytime. This was much needed. If they hadn't done that, then I would have been highly disappointed. Because in the first half it felt as if the guy isn't taking any efforts himself, infact he is just making her feel more bad and uncomfortable, telling her to adjust more. But in the second half a convincing redemption of his character happened. All the questions and doubts that I had in the first half, were answered eventually in the second half as the story progressed. It was a very satisfactory turn of events and very convincingly done.

All the performances of actors were very well done, and the characters too were well established. A special mention for Nikita Dutta who has done an amazing job in portraying Kriti! We were with her throughout the story, understanding her emotions, feeling her stress as our own.

This film also has some of the most amazing songs with perfect background score to tune with the emotions running in the movie! 🎶

Moreover, this film has used some very amazing symbolism throughout, one of the examples is the scene where the entire family is fighting and the camera is zoomed on a 'Mahabharat' photo frame in the living room. The detailing that went behind the shots is very visible! 

I also loved the conversation about "बाईपण म्हणजे काय?" ("What is womanhood?") which takes place between Kriti and the women of Ketan's family. Where the older generation only sees womanhood as "having kids" or "serving the husband & in-laws" or "living for others", Kriti brings a valid and sensible perspective. She throws light on the misunderstood definition of womanhood, by saying that "आप सबके definitions गलत हैं." (All of your definitions are wrong.) She then goes on to talk about how womanhood is not only about serving others, but also honouring our own needs & wants, living for ourself more than anyone, and then bringing people together. Not by losing ourselves, instead by being strong and independent. Loved this conversation between two generations!

Now let's talk about that one thing which I feel could have been portrayed better in this film -

The only thing that I didn't like is, when Sharad says to Ahilya, "घर तेव्हाच तुटलं होतं जेव्हा आपण इथून मुंबई ला राहायला गेलो, आपल्या स्वप्नांच्या मागे धावत". (The family broke long back when we shifted to Mumbai, running behind our dreams.) That dialogue was said as if having dreams and moving out from a place is something bad. This is what I felt was a bit unnecessary. There might be millions of people who have moved out from their hometowns and settled in a big city for a better life and future, and this dialogue felt like shaming those people for having their dreams, for following their ambitions. That felt a bit unfair. Because I am someone who believes it all depends on your intentions and efforts. Physical distance won't affect the emotional distance if you really take efforts to keep the bonding alive, be it from anywhere in the world. Because if living together would have solved all problems then all families living together would always be happy. But still some aren't, right? So becoming distant from heart & mind doesn't depend on where you live, it depends on the efforts that you take to maintain relationships, to keep in touch, to meet each other, it depends on the understanding you have with your family, be it from nearby or far. Ofcourse this is my personal opinion. Other than this, I have no other complaints from this film. 

Overall, this film was a beautiful journey of the 'Gharat' family. Their equations, their issues, their insecurities and complaints, and eventually the re-ignition of their innate family spirit!🏠

Throughout the film, I have laughed, cried, smiled, felt heavy, felt joyous, felt anticipation, but at the end, it was a wholesome experience! An emotional rollercoaster! As they had written in the trailer of the film - एक सर्वांगसुंदर लंबोदर कथा!💖

Please watch this as soon as possible, it's running in theatres near you! 🎥 🍿