Baabul is a Family Drama dealing with a Father’s love for her daughter-in-law in the time of crisis. Widow Remarriage is the subject of the movie with Rani as the widow and Amitabh being the Father-in-law.
Balraj Kapoor is the ‘Baabul’ or ‘Father’ (Amitabh Bachchan) in the movie. He is a rich business man with an advanced approach towards life unlike the contemporaries. He is happily married to Shobhana (Hema Malini). Shobhana is the backbone of the house taking care of all the family’s needs. They have a son named Avinash (Salman Khan) whom they love very much as he is the only child they have. Balraj has an elder brother, Balwant (Om Puri) who is a staunch orthodox and believes in total commitment towards one’s tradition and customs no matter what it takes. Honour of the family is important to him more than anything in the world.
After studying many years abroad Avinash is coming to India. The whole Balraj family is delighted with his arrival .Avinash is a handsome man with a charming personality. One day he meets Malvika Talwar a.k.a. Millie (Rani Mukherjee) who is a painter. Millie is a beautiful girl and Avinash falls in love with her. Millie too finds his personality attractive. With the blessings of their parents both get married. Very soon Millie gives birth to a boy named Ansh. The whole family is excited to have a new member in their home and in their lives as well. Everybody is happy.
But this happiness turns into sadness when one day Avinash dies in a car accident. This news desolates the entire family. Balraj and Shobhana are able to alleviate their pain as they have each other’s emotional support along with the presence of Ansh, giving them some relief as well. But no one is more affected than Millie who undergoes depression. Balraj finds it very painful to see her daughter-in-law in a state of reclusiveness.
Balraj desperately wants to bring back happiness in Millie’s life. He searches for Millie’s best friend Rajat (John Abraham). Rajat though was a best friend of Millie but he harboured a secret love for Millie. He was never able to express his feelings to Millie. After Millie’s marriage he left for Europe to pursue his career in music. Balraj is able to get in to contact with Rajat. He decides to bring Millie and Rajat, together in a hope of bringing happiness in Millie’s life.
But he has strong opposition from his brother Balwant who considers it as a shameful act. Even his wife is against his decision. Balraj now stands alone. But he is determined to give a better life to Millie. But will he be successful? Does Millie find this decision appropriate? The answers to these questions have been highlighted in ‘Baabul’.
Viewer's Review
Not Wholesome entertainment
by Vikas Joshi (posted on : 07-Dec-06) Rating: (Average)
Baabul is OK up till Salman dies. After that it is Sorrow Laden movie. It is not easy to digest the ‘Rona-Dhona’ , ‘Dukh Hi Dukh’ after his death. Pain rules the movie afterwards which is quite common in many movies where the latter part is dull as compared to the former.
Salman has a very small role and that too is insignificant. This is more of Amitabh and Rani’s movie as you get to see them more often than everyone else. Rani is quite good at portraying grief stricken roles evident from her previous roles so nothing Exciting from her acting. Songs are OK.
Quite ‘Average Stuff’, not Wholesome entertainment.
Widow Remarriage Highlighted
by Sarika Angi (posted on : 06-Dec-06) Rating: (Good)
Socially relevant issues like Widow Remarriage get a wider scope of reaching people especially to whom it is targeted at, when it is depicted through Visual Means.More importantly when such issues are depicted through Commercial Movies. Had ‘Baabul’ been made an Art Movie it would have less impact and less reach as they are not looked at upon with much enthusiasm by the Masses.
Baabul is a Good Effort as it highlights the Plea of Widows especially those living in Rural Areas where they are not allowed to remarry. But to some extent this scenario prevalent in Urban Areas as well in spite of educated people living in them.
Ravi Chopra has mixed a Social Issue with Entertainment which is a Noble Effort in itself. Valued stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan and Rani Mukherjee become attraction point for the viewers who in turn get some social message which is highlighted in the movie along with entertainment as well. Therefore such movies serve Dual Purpose- First is the ‘Commercial Purpose’. Second is the ‘Social Message’.
Sounds Good One!
by Gaganjot (posted on : 29-Nov-06) Rating: (Good)
The Chopra Banner is known for producing Good Quality Entertainment Movies. Baabul too would be a good movie.
With the star cast of Credible and Bankable actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee to name a few, Baabul is sure to be a successful movie.
Added to the Fact that the theme song 'Kehta hoon babul o mere bitiya' is tuned and sung by Amitabh Bachchan himself which does generate interest in the movie as well.
The Promos look Good and as always with Ravi Chopra’s movie this will be an Emotional Drama dealing with the Human Relationships which the Cinemagoers Love to Indulge in.
