It never occurred to me to take this movie so literally. For me, it was a sad and beautiful other-worldly parable, about love and sacrifice. And I think Amitabh and Hema played it like a parable, not like a real-life story. I thought it was all very poetic, pure, and fable-like, especially the phone conversation between the two lovers. Not like the ‘real world’ at all - more like a depiction from a centuries-old love story that was transported to the present.

Like the fable at the core of the film (the ‘gardener’ or ‘caretaker’ who gives us all but receives nothing in return), the entire story, to me, was meant to be taken, not literally at all, but simply as a didactic piece.

Because I wasn’t interested in making the film ‘realistic’, I think I was able to focus on the simple lesson it teaches at the base of the sweeping melodrama and hyperbole. And I think it’s a lesson worth being reminded of often - the centrality of sacrifice to the notion of love.

Hema and Amitabh, as you remarked, are wonderful in this film. Corny, perhaps, but also tasteful in their passion.

Again, thanks for an interesting review.

She was truly gorgeous in the movie. I think I liked her more than when she was younger.

But one surprising thing I noticed: in the making-of feature on the DVD, when she’s being herself on camera talking about the movie and the role, she seems so uncomfortable and lacking in confidence, it’s like night and day from the poised woman she plays on screen.

Watching that movie literally made me angry. We could not agree with your post more - the emotional manipulation in that movie was more blatant and heinous than any other movie we had ever seen in our lives! What possessed Amitabh’s character to announce out of the blue that he would like to live with his kids? Why would you want to leave such a nice haveli & great neighborhood? Why were the kids so rotten? Why did the parents agree to the most ridiculous plan in the history of Indian cinema? AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE MOVIE THAT I SHOUTED OUT LOUD AT THE SCREEN - Why the hell didn’t Amitabh just man up & move back home after getting treated like crap by his kids? The filmmakers should be ashamed - no Indian parents I have ever known have ever been treated that way - what a horrible movie.

Yes, I feel the potrayal of Raj & Pooja was the one saving grace.

I’m a big Salman Khan fan. It was funny to see him in a role where, aside from the dishum-dishum with the car dealer, he kept getting all weepy and sentimental over his father. But some of his dialogue was so fawning and syrupy it was gag-worthy.

AB was even asked when he was being interviewed by Charlie Rose in the US a year or so back (on a show that aspire to be “serious”, and fails often, because of the host) about the rings, and he answered something along the lines that he had been advised to wear them.

Having grown up around men who don’t wear many rings, it still catches my eye to see Indian men wearing several, with stones in them, and moreso wearing one on an index finger.

about the film: i have a ambivalent feeling towards baghban. there were some scenes where i had to shout at the screen in disbelieve, and there is a lot of cornyness, but i also liked the bachchan/malini chemistry very much and i called my parents right after watching the movie, so it must have struck some chord with me

and it has Salman in it. very corny though. but Salman! i like.