Ever since I got deeply invested in Indian films, I have come across a hoard of movies that make me marvel at how rich and beautiful our cinematic culture really is. But there are only a few films that have truly resonated with me on a deeper level.
Mukti Bhavan (also known as Hotel Salvation) 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 these 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 to 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.
What I especially loved is that this film showed a man in the role of the primary caregiver, something that we don’t often see in Indian films otherwise.
In doing so, Mukti Bhavan takes a detailed look at what it means for a man to come to terms with both his emotions and his responsibilities in a society where the natural expectation is for them to deal with things on their own.
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.
Please, do yourself a kind deed today and watch this movie.
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, Rajiv starts bonding with his father while confronting harsh realities about their relationship, family, and life and death.
Mukti Bhavan Cast Details
- Adil Hussain: Rajiv
- Lalit Behl: Daya
- Navnindra Behl: Vimla
- Anil K Rastogi: Mishraji
