Goodbye Movie Review

Goodbye starts off with Tara Bhalla (Rashmika Mandanna) celebrating her first victory as a lawyer in Mumbai. She ignores the calls and messages put up by her mother and father. Her father Harish Bhalla (Amitabh Bachchan) was calling to break the news that her mother, Gayatri Bhalla (Neena Gupta), had died suddenly of a heart attack. Tara instantly flies off to Chandigarh to be with her father. The duo have never seen eye-to-eye as she’s too independent and he’s too old fashioned. She hates rituals of any kind and fumes about how her father is blindly following the advice of a family friend PP (Ashish Vidyarthi), when it comes to last rites. Her elder brother Karan (Pavail Gulati) flies down from the US with his American wife Daisy (Elli AvrRam). Karan is a workaholic who has ear pods on even while acting as a pallbearer. Another brother Angad (Sahil Mehta), who is the mother’s favourite, is flying from Dubai. He’s a bit of a foodie and his father overhears him ordering butter chicken and garlic naan while they’re conversing on the phone and guilt trips him into ordering khichdi instead.

She has another brother called Nakul (Abhishekh Khan), who is on a climbing holiday at the Himalayas and only learns of his mother’s passing very late in the film. The dysfunctional family connects with each other during the 13 day mourning rituals. They realise the importance of being there for each other despite their differences. Tara doesn’t believe in rituals but a chance encounter with a pandit (Sunil Grover), makes her see them in a new light. He explains that rituals have a story behind them and in a way remind us that we leave nothing but stories behind when we depart. She gets closer to her father as they share Gayatri’s memories. She’s always been the bond that held the family together and her death further strengthens it.

The film can best be described as a tearjerker with elements of black comedy thrown in. For instance, while being gathered to offer their condolences at the Bhalla’s bungalow, the neighbourhood aunties keep eyeing the chairs as they don’t want to sit on the lawn. They are busy clicking selfies and decide to form a Whatsapp group in the memory of their departed friend. Gone Gayatri Gone, Lonely Harish ji, Harish ji needs us – are some of names they come up with and ultimately settle on Chandigarh Bubblies. When Harish objects to Karan having sex the night of the funeral, he counters saying he was only doing his duty as a son, as her mother’s last wish was to be a grandmother. Daisy casually picks up an apple to eat while the havan is on – and so on.

Juxtaposed to them are moments created to coax you into using your handkerchief. Harish’s encounter with his wife’s father, his monologue at the ghat, or even the simple memory of the family eating gol gappe together pack an emotional punch. The interactions between family members are woven with care into the narrative and infused with warmth and humour. Kudos to the actors for making it seem all real and relatable and for keeping the melodrama to the minimum.

Given the chemistry and camaraderie that Amitabh Bachchan and Neena Gupta have shared in the film, it’s a mystery why no one ever thought of pairing them before. They give off vibes of a happily married couple who have over the years have accepted each other, warts and all. Their scenes together are the best thing about the film. They deserve another movie together, where their portions are bigger. Neena Gupta departs the film too soon and we’d definitely have liked to see more of her. Amitabh Bachchan plays a grouchy patriarch with a heart of gold yet another time in a film and yet manages to bring a novelty to his performance. He’s always made acting look easy and his professionalism seems to have rubbed off on his co-stars as well, as everyone seems to be at their best sharing screen space with him.

National crush Rashmika Mandana has made her Bollywood debut with this film and fits right in into her role of a rebellious daughter. Her scenes with Bachchan, and with Pavail Gulati, the sibling she's closest to, are as natural as can be. She manages to leave an impact even in this non-glamorous debut. Pavail Gulati shines as the elder son who learns he has to take up more responsibilities and Sunil Grover too makes a mark in his short but important role. Elli AvrRam, who’s made a name for herself as a dancer, has proved here that she can act as well.

Last year, we saw films like Pagglait and Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi which dealt with families trying to cope up the loss of a loved one and Goodbye is another addition to the same tradition. While it isn’t saying anything shockingly original, the film does manage to be a feel-good dramedy about dealing with death and loss. Watch it for the inspired acting by the entire cast and don’t forget to take your hanky along…

Trailer : Goodbye