Film: The Great Indian Family

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Manushi Chhillar, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa and others

Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya

Rating: 2.5 moons

Headlined by Vicky Kaushal, this Vijay Krishna Acharya directorial follows the story of Bhajan Kumar aka Billu, a religious Hindu man who later turns out to be a Muslim by birth. He is a devotional singer. His father (Kumud Mishra) is a renowned priest of the town. Theirs is a typical Indian family that takes pride and makes it a business by being Pandits. Imagine their horror, then, when it is discovered that Billu is a Muslim by birth. The film follows his journey, from singing to falling in love with Jasmeet (Manushi Chhillar) and what begins as an entertainer, turns into a meaningful plot.

Unveiling different layers throughout, The Great Indian Family revolves around the religious disputes that keep on arising even in contemporary 2023. Religion and identity are the heart of the narrative, and the film does get preachy in several situations. Vicky as Bhajan Kumar again proves that he is an exceptional box office talent. From his comedy timing to emotional scenes, he maintains a strong grip on his character. He is ably supported by Kumud Mishra and Manoj Pahwa who are both excellent. Manushi Chhillar is wasted in just two songs and doesn’t really have anything to do.

The director manages to turn TGIF into a thought-provoking story and has beautifully brought up the major issues of religious differences. But keeping that aside, the film could have been more engaging. It felt distant at points and somehow required a slightly better treatment of the scenes. Seems like Vijay Krishna Acharya tried to make a clever film, keeping in mind the current demographic and political fabric of our country. But it didn't land as well as expected. Thank God, or not!?