‘Gulmohar’: As beautiful as flowers
"Gulmohar", a 2023 film written and directed by Rahul V Chittella, is an elegant piece of work you can't miss. Weaving a tale of stories surrounding a family living in the Gulmohar Villa, the film churns out beautiful depictions of love, secrets and bonds.
What pacifies the audiences right from the beginning is the calm yet vibrant cinematography. The aesthetic set designs and beautifully captured shots portray the very mundane, yet pleasing beauty of Delhi. The history and heritage of the old and the legacy of aspirations of the modern are aptly captured.
The movie is helmed by the ensemble cast of Sharmila Tagore, Manoj Bajpayee, Simran, Suraj Sharma, Amol Palekar and others. Sharmila Tagore's graceful presence is stunningly captivating. Manoj Bajpayee is brilliant as always, playing an extremely complex character. Suraj Sharma is also thorough in his performance.
The movie shows how the house, Gulmohar Villa, almost has a soul of its own, hosting families for generations. A two-storied house was once considered as a sign of success, as a sign that one has made it in life. It turned out as a safe space for decades, like most homes do. And yet, when the house is to be abandoned, the empty stairs bereft of photographs, only bearing empty nails shows the tales once woven in that building.
Gulmohar Villa is to be demolished soon, like many others in line in the current frenzy of high-rises. Various political aspects, including corruption and extremism are hinted at in the movie. Yet the characters are not some self-proclaimed messiah of justice. One rather sees very realistic depictions of righteous people navigating through complex social situations.
The aspect of family and bloodline is put under much scrutiny, and one ponders over the true meaning. The formerly common joint families were replaced by a trend of individualistic living, with different people living in different worlds by just being in different rooms. But in the end, a beautiful house is one built on love and support.
The movie is not limited to the ones with generational wealth only. It doesn't shy away from the fact that in this subcontinent, parallel worlds exist in terms of wealth and class. Often, the have-nots have nothing in common with the haves. And yet, across the spectrum, it is one's choices that make them right or wrong.
The movie shows the vulnerability of men, a fact least talked about. It shows how often they fail to communicate, and are burdened with unrealistic expectations. We see powerful female characters taking charge, and are introduced with healthier power dynamics.
In the end, life is an act of letting go. Once in a while, one can take things as they come, and not try to micromanage everything. In our fast, stressful lives, "Gulmohar" is a flowery reminder of that aspect of ease and acceptance.