‘Mukti Bhavan’ (2016) Review

Ever since I got deeply invested in Indian films, I have come across a horde of movies that make me marvel at how rich and beautiful our cinematic culture really is. Still, there are only a few films that have truly resonated with me.

Mukti Bhavan is the newest addition to that lineup.

I mean, wow.

What. A. Film.

Mukti Bhavan — Review at a Glance

Story: 5/5 (I’d rate it even higher if mathematical norms did not bind me)
Acting: 4.5/5
Direction: 4.5/5

Must-Watch: YES! YES! A 100000% Yes!

Mukti Bhavan Review — A Deep Dive

Some movies render you speechless, and others make you want to scream from the bottom of your lungs so everyone can hear you. Somehow, Mukti Bhavan makes me want to do both.

It is such an intricate and beautiful film, especially because of how effortlessly it tackles themes that could make a grown man cry. It is a uniquely authentic and genius Indian film that champions the culture while also fostering an honest yet intelligent dialogue.

I really didn’t know what I had signed up for before I clicked “play,” but I am really happy to have discovered this gem of a movie. In fact, I was expecting a nice yet relatively generic story about death, but I was so wrong.

There is so much depth and complexity in the story, and it manages to leave such a profound impact on the audience in an hour and a half because of how many themes and motifs it juggles simultaneously.

From a strained father-son relationship to how faith and religion can contribute to community building and the unpredictable nature of death, Mukti Bhavan has it all.

The best part is that the film handles these emotionally heavy discussions with the nuance and maturity they require. There is a very clear focus on character development as well, and the grace with which it dissects the family’s generational trauma is no small feat.

Another facet of the story that is worth appreciating is that the experiences and challenges of each of its characters are not invalidated by poor rhetorical choices. Mukti Bhavan looks at the plight of the elderly and the harshness of youth with the same level of sensitivity towards both groups, allowing multiple narratives to co-exist without clashing or negating each other.

Mukti Bhavan needs to be everyone’s watchlist.

I simply cannot praise this movie enough.

Mukti Bhavan Plot Synopsis

Rajiv reluctantly accompanies his 77-year-old father, Daya, to the Mukti Bhawan guesthouse in Varanasi, where residents check in to spend their final days preparing for death to attain moksha. Initially sceptical of the idea, the father-son duo start bonding and confronting harsh realities about their relationship, family, and life and death.