Goodbye

A lovely movie that shows the struggles of a father and all his kids as they grapple with the sudden, shocking death of their beloved wife and mother. People are never ready to face the agony of losing a loved one, especially the heart of the family, the matriarch. This is a journey of evolving raw grief to content acceptance, rigid mechanical ritualism to easygoing camaraderie. Amitabh gives a master class on the agony of a man who loses the love of his life, trying very hard to come to terms with the full impact. It's heartening to see that even in dark grief, strained family bonds can be repaired and people can come together. A really heartwarming family drama.

Goodbye (2022) is a truly underrated gem that resonated deeply with me, evoking a range of emotions seldom experienced while watching a movie. This poignant film beautifully explores the themes of individual and familial acceptance in the aftermath of losing a loved one. It teaches us to find solace in cherishing the precious moments shared with them while still embracing happiness. Unlike many Bollywood films, Goodbye focuses on reality rather than indulging in action, plot twists, or unrealistic storylines. It delves into the profound questions of life and death, unearthing the true meaning hidden beneath.

Right from the beginning, the film captivates me with the heartfelt past scenes involving Gayatri and the puppy she brings home for Harish. Flashbacks of the past family time the parents and children had vividly depict the power of family bonding and how a mother can transform a mere house into a loving home. The movie adeptly avoids unnecessary elongation and instead encapsulates every aspect of family life through succinct sequences. Contrary to some reviewers, I found the funeral scene to be a necessary portrayal of society's varied responses to loss. It realistically portrays the different ways in which people experience grief, acknowledging that the pain felt by a husband, or a child differs from that of a friend.

In today's generation, many of us live far from our parents, engrossed in the demands of our careers, marriages, and personal lives. Like Gayatri's children, we often find ourselves living emotionally detached, fast-paced lives, often forgetting the precious time we had with our families. Goodbye refrains from attributing fault to children, husbands, or society; it rather offers a nuanced perspective, highlighting the different perceptions held by each individual. Similarly, the film encourages us to view traditions and customs from a different angle, reminding us "Not everything we don't understand is wrong".

One aspect that truly impressed me was the respectful portrayal of Hindu traditions surrounding death. The film neither coerces nor judges anyone for following these traditions; instead, it invites us to see them through a fresh lens. It recognizes that even while science validate a custom, it is the power of stories that truly strengthens and perpetuates our cultural traditions. As an atheist myself, I found it refreshing to witness the film's appreciation for customs that promote acceptance and happiness without causing harm. The journey to Haridwar serves as a beautiful metaphor for the family coming together in their shared loss, creating lasting moments of connection. It exemplifies the purity that Indians often find even amidst great sorrow, with simple elements like the street food, the presence of Pandits, the sacred Ganga river, and the Hari Krishna dance instilling a sense of tranquility and peace.

The exceptional direction in Goodbye deserves special mention. My personal favorite sequence is the animated album that beautifully depicts Harish's love life through a kite flying incident, accompanied by a heartwarming background score. The animated portrayal of a young Amitabh Bachchan deepens the emotional connection, leaving a lasting impact. No songs (except the first party song) will break the movie sequence, and there is no unusual ending. The sweet and melodious songs gracefully guide the audience towards a satisfying and happy ending.

In my opinion, Goodbye deserves a place among the illustrious films that delve into the profound exploration of life's meaning. This movie gets into my list of "Finding the Meaning of Life" and joins the league of "Tamasha", "Rang De Basanti", and "Udaan". This film's ability to touch the soul and deliver a heartfelt message is unparalleled, making it a truly remarkable directional piece.

Overall, Goodbye is an underrated gem that skillfully explores the intricacies of acceptance, family bonds, and the meaning of life. Its authentic portrayal of grief, coupled with exceptional direction and a heartfelt narrative, make it a must-watch for anyone seeking an emotional and thought-provoking cinematic journey.

What a funny and emotional film.

After a very long time, Bollywood has produced such a stunning film.

Death is the final but most important reality of life, and this film recounts the entire tale about it.

The movie masterfully depicts the feelings of the entire family when the most significant member of the family departs in the interim.

Different family members' emotional ups and downs are expertly depicted.

All of the actors gave their all in their performances, but Amitabh Sir & Meena Madam's chemistry easily outshines that of any brand-new coupling.

Rashmika Mandana does excellent acting.

After a long wait, Bollywood has finally produced a quality family film.

I adored it so.

Please watch it with your family.

Tragi-comedies are a very tricky genre to execute well on screen. While there have been numerous cases of success in Hollywood like "Amélie (2011)", "The Darjeeling Limited (2007)" and "Death At A Funeral (2010)", the genre is still in its nascent stage in Bollywood and India in general with only a few hits to its name, that too primarily after their OTT releases-like "Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi (2019)" and "Pagglait (2021)". So it was surprising that director Vikas Bahl, the visionary behind "Queen (2014)" and "Super 30 (2019)" chose the mainstream theatre release format for this genre-blender and it seems like this bravery was ill-conceived.

Amitabh Bachchan stars as "Harish Bhalla", the patriarch of the Bhalla household, who is just coming to terms with the sudden death of his loving wife "Gayatri", played by the effervescent Neena Gupta. Tasked with informing their busy and distant children of the tragic news, how he navigates the ensuing funeral and the idiosyncrasies of the family as they come together after a long time form the rest of the narrative. Rashmika Mandanna plays "Tara", Harish's only daughter and designated black sheep, after her consistent scorn towards his religious conservatism, made worse by her choice to go against his wishes and date a Muslim.

Despite its intriguing premise and a group of fine actors, a disjointed screenplay that moves along like a sequence of unrelated scenes without any real cohesion makes "Goodbye" a tedious watch. The director that gave us such natural comedy in "Queen" struggles to mount situations that deliver genuine humour, with most of the gags coming across as forced and contrived. Rashmika struggles with her Hindi accent as expected, this being her first Hindi original movie, but makes the best of an underwritten role, especially in the emotional sequences.

We are noboby to judge an Amitabh Bachchan performance and the veteran tries his best to salvage a meandering script. A scene where he gives a final goodbye to his beloved wife is a sure tearjerker but such sequences are few and far between in an otherwise, largely lackluster project which oscillates between drama and comedy inorganically, failing to deliver in both genres with equal aplomb. "Goodbye" is one film where I couldn't wait for the film to end and say "Goodbye" to an abysmal theatre experience. Not recommended!

Cannot say that the movie is flawless, but certainly watchable. As always, Amitabh and Neena Gupta are amazing and other actors have done their part well. A typical family drama with emotional angle+ few comedy scenes especially with unexpected performance of Sunil Grover. Few scenes will bring tears to your eyes if you usually get emotional during movies (I do!). The movie will definitely remind you of Irrfan's dialogue from Life of Pi : "I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye." And I don't understand such a low rating. Definitely you can give it a try.