Uunchai Review: Beautiful adventure drama of aged friends that will touch your heart for sure
Uunchai Movie Rating: 4 Stars
Finally watched Uunchai movie on Zee5 Premium. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Denzongpa, Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta and Sarika.
Director: Sooraj Barjatya
Release Date: 11th November 2022 in Cinemas & digital premiere from 6th January 2023 on Zee5 Premium
Story: Movie revolves around Bhupen (Danny Denzongpa), Amit (Amitabh Bachchan), Om (Anupam Kher) and Javed (Boman Irani) have been friends for close to fifty years. Bhupen who was born in Nepal has the dream of trekking to the Himalayas with his friends. But they keep pushing the idea for future citing their old age and health issues.
Sadly, Bhupen passes away the next day after the friends have celebrated his birthday together. The distraught friends decide to go on a trek to the Mount Everest Base Camp in memory of their deceased friend because it had been his ardent desire for many years to take his friends to Mount Everest. Along the way, they are joined by Mala (Sarika) whom they later come to know, also has a connection of sorts with Bhupen. The friends, along with Javed’s wife Shabina (Neena Gupta) undertake a road journey from Delhi to Kathmandu which further cements their bond.
They also learn some home truths when they surprise visit to Javed’s and Shabina’s daughter’s Heeba (Sheen Dass) home turns sour as they come at a point when her husband was throwing a surprise birthday party for his wife. Another detour, to Om’s ancestral home, too goes off the mark as he finds he is no longer welcome in the family he’d left 20 years ago. The alienation of the elders by their progeny, the disintegration of the joint family set up gets commented upon here.
Of course, age is not on their side, but their resolve keeps them going. The trekking instructor is Shraddha (Parineeti Chopra) and except for the four oldies her group consists of youngsters. Will they able to complete their friend dream and what challenges they faced next is all about this movie.
Positives
1. Excellent Performances
2. Story
3. Screenplay
4. Direction
5. Climax
6. Cinematography
Negatives
1. Music
2. Length
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie on digital premiere because due to some unavoidable circumstances missed to watch this movie in cinemas.
Three aged friends- Amit, Om and Javed take a trek to the Everest Base Camp, to fulfil their fourth friend Bhupen’s last wish. They’re joined by Mala along the way, who happens to be the long-lost love of Bhupen and regrets having not fought for their love. A simple trek turns out to be a personal, emotional and spiritual journey as they battle their physical limitations and discover the true meaning of freedom.
Uunchai story about aged friends undertaking an extremely difficult and an almost impossible mission in the memory of their dear friend is very heartwarming. It is fresh not only because one doesn’t see such stories in too many films but also because it is about four old friends. The individual back stories of the four friends come as a bonus because most of the stories are revealed much later in the drama and are least expected. Screenplay is fantastic and milks the story of all the emotions one can think of. The drama woven around the individual stories of the four friends is so emotional that many among the audiences would weep and sob. Even those who can control their tears would feel a lump in the throat at several points. The best part of the screenplay is that there are so many layers and, therefore, so many turns and twists that it keeps the viewers engaged and engrossed, especially in the second half.
The second half, at times, gets boring because of too many scenes of trekking under difficult weather conditions. The scenes of trekking should’ve been shorter and fewer. Also, music is mediocre since not any song you will remember after finishing this movie. Sooraj Barjatya’s direction is masterly. Sincerity, honesty and integrity get a new meaning as the drama unfolds. His conviction in the drama is evident in every single frame of the film. Performances from all the lead actors are excellent and supporting cast also lends their good support. Overall, movie scales new heights in terms of storytelling and concept. The film is not solely about older people and even with its flaws there’s a certain relatability to the characters and the story. It is simple, emotional, family film with top-notch performances by the lead cast. My view on this movie Highly Recommended
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