Firstly, let’s talk about Ram Prasad ki Tehrvi’s comparison with Pagglait. Yes, the storylines are similar. But here’s a twist: You keep thinking of Ram Prasad Ki Tehrvi while watching Pagglait but the same cannot be said for Ram Prasad Ki Tehrvi.
Ram Prasad Ki Tehrvi is a mature film, in terms of subject as well as emotions. It’s taking its own time to unfold the story, characters, and their individual journeys. The only problem with the film is, at some places, it is dragged. Why do you want to fast forward a few portions? Because it revolves around death and the rituals after death. Even though death is the only truth, we, human beings, do not like to think or talk about it much. It makes us uncomfortable. So even if the film gives gloom a touch of humour, after a while, you want it to end soon.
Apart from that dragged part of the film when you want it to fast forward the story, it’s a film that I liked. But yes, it’s neither excellent nor bad – somewhere between both these ends.
As I said before, it’s a mature subject which has been handled very well. If you are an Indian surrounded by a crowd of relatives, you would relate to every tiny detail that is covered in the script – from women in the kitchen ganging up against someone to careless men who are simply engrossed in their lives, wherever they go. If you have ever been a part of a big family, you might have also faced problems like communication gap between the family members. As the story moves ahead, the focus of the story also shifts to such problems in the family.
What I liked the most about the film? In the beginning, it looked like the film will teach you to take death lightly. Death being the only truth, it is okay to not grieve for long after an old man, who has lived his life well, passes away. But that wasn’t the case. The story speaks about the emotional gap between parents and children. And how that gap has been conveniently used by the kids, especially when it comes to taking responsibilities. How Indian parents make their kids dependent on them even after they grow up and make it look like it is their duty to look after them, and how this same attitude makes the kids take parents for granted is also shown well. The flawed characters and the flaws in the upbringing, both have been highlighted.
I also loved the end. As the tension builds up and you start worrying about how Amma will take care of the loan that is to be repaid, or about her being lonely after her husband’s death; the story takes a U-turn. This simple twist in the end is what makes Ram Prasad ki Tehrvi memorable. Though I did feel that some of the details about the end should have been made clear, otherwise, it simply looks filmy, but still, anta bhala toh sab bhala.
P.S: A special mention to Sanah Kapur who played young Amma. Girl, you looked drop dead gorgeous!
Streaming On: Netflix
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