Baghban
An aging couple confronts filial abandonment while finding unexpected devotion from the son they adopted.
Overview
A poignant exploration of familial bonds and the challenges of aging.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- earnest
- wistful
- melancholic
- family movie night
- emotional weekend viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini's performances and the film's emotional engagement, while finding its story predictable and its romantic chemistry and presentation uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Raj and Pooja are rejected as a responsibility by their financially independent sons after Raj retires.
Raj and Pooja's bond remains affectionate and emotionally intimate despite their children's abandonment.
The adopted son proves more compassionate and dependable than Raj and Pooja's four biological sons.
The conflict turns on expectations surrounding filial duty, elder care, marriage, and family reputation.
Films like Baghban, and why
Avtaar
shared Indian family melodrama, aging-parent conflict, and emotional critique of adult children's obligations
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...
shared Bollywood romance and family-values drama centered on marriage, sacrifice, and generational tensions
Baghban
shared tearjerker treatment of family relationships, parental sacrifice, and reconciliation
Swarg
shared Hindi-language domestic drama about aging, family duty, and emotional neglect
Movie Details
- Director
- Ravi Chopra
- Release Date
- 2003-10-03
- Runtime
- 183 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (131)
Cast
- Amitabh Bachchan
- Hema Malini
- Salman Khan
- Mahima Chaudhry
- Aman Verma
- Paresh Rawal
- Lillete Dubey
- Sharat Saxena
- Rimi Sen
- Sanjeeda Sheikh
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Baghban about?
- An aging couple confronts filial abandonment while finding unexpected devotion from the son they adopted.
- What is Baghban like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Baghban as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Baghban violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Baghban.
- What did critics think of Baghban?
- Critics broadly praised Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini's performances and the film's emotional engagement, while finding its story predictable and its romantic chemistry and presentation uneven.
- Which films are like Baghban?
- Films with a similar feel include Avtaar, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..., Baghban, and Swarg.
- How long is Baghban?
- Baghban runs 183 minutes.
- Where can I watch Baghban?
- In United States, Baghban streams on Hulu.
