Baghban
Introduction
Bollywood which is the Indian film industry is the second largest film industry in the world next to Hollywood. The industry has already gained undeniable success not only in India but worldwide. One of the distinctive features of a Bollywood film is the presence of songs and dances in the sequences of the movie. This is the main reason why Bollywood films are gaining popularity in the international film industry. The songs and dances have been an important part in a movie and it started from the early days of Bollywood. Every film must contain at least four or more songs and dances. This paper will discuss the Bollywood film “Baghban” and how the music has affected the mood and the plot of the story.
Baghban Synopsis
The movie is about a family that is headed by Raj Malhotra and his wife Pooja. They have four sons namely and they also adopted an orphan named Alok who they treated as their own. Over the years, the parents gave everything that they can for their children even at their own expense. They also provided Alok with money and education and Alok treated them with love and affection in return. Raj had a thriving job, but once he retires, he was unable to support their needs. With that, they needed to leave the house their family shared for years and decided to live with their now grown children. Their children on the other hand did not want to take care of their parents. So the sons decided that they would separate their parents, each of them living with different sons every six months. Their parents reluctantly accepted the offer but Raj and Pooja had to endure their separation and also the horrible treatment from their children and their families. Saddened by this, Raj decided to write all his feelings down to pass the time. They found love and affection from their grandchildren.
After six months Raj and Pooja spends time together and suddenly met Alok who takes them to his home and gives them love and affection unlike their real children. Raj then founds out that his writing became a published book and it became a big hit. He then received enough money for him and his wife to live comfortably. Their sons knew about this and tried to ask for forgiveness but then their parents could not find it in themselves to forgive their children for what they did and decided to disown them ("Baghban (2003) - Synopsis").
Importance of Music in Bollywood Films
Music and dances in Bollywood films express emotion of the character or the mood of a certain situation in the film. These also play an important role in gaining the attention of the audience. Every song in the film raises different themes and emotions like love, anger and sadness. These emotions are represented in a song. The music present in Indian films is not really conceived as an autonomous entity within itself, but it is important that it is connected to the storyline or plot of the film. Each song in the film was created in accordance with these requirements. Each song must be woven in the different situations or sequences in the film (Mohita).
Baghban Analysis: Content and Music
In the first 50 minutes of the film, it shows a picture of a regular and conservative family. There are also a lot of romantic scenes between Raj and Pooja which is accompanies but romantic music. It is also in this time that the film springs to the first plot twist when Raj asks his sons and their families to their home to celebrate his retirement. The party is accompanied with musical numbers to show the festivity of the scene. The joyful dance number shows how happy the atmosphere in the scene is and how happy are the people who are celebrating the thriving life of their father.
But the festivities did not last long after Raj announced his retirement to his children and asked if one of them would take care of him and their mother. This is the time when the music starts to calm down into a sad mood. It was then revealed that Raj spent his last money in raising his sons and to pay the debt he owed when his second son asked him for a car. The music in this sequence is the opposite of the festivities that happened earlier as the parents were shocked that none of the children would want to take care of them. It also shocked them that they want to split their parents up who has been together for the last 40 years.
After six months, Raj and Pooja slowly found their sense of independence and decided to meet after a long time of being separated. The music incorporates the happiness of seeing your loved one once again and the relief that the longing they felt for each other has finally ended. Things took a positive turn from then on after meeting their adoptive son Alok and finding out that Raj’s writings became a published book that has sold millions. The music in these sequences turned from sad to relief as Raj and Pooja earned enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. But despite the success, they could not find it in themselves to forgive the children who hurt them. The dramatic ending of the movie was accompanied by the dramatic background music which let the audience feel the anger and pain of the parents because of what their children did to them despite giving everything they have just to raise them.
Conclusion
In any films, music is very important in order to add appeal to the viewers. Adding music is very common in order to enhance the experience of the audience. In Bollywood films, adding dance sequences and music to the film has already been a tradition and it is the number one reason why Bollywood films are gaining popularity in a world wide scale. The songs and the dance numbers in the film show the festivities that are also related to the Indian culture which is very colorful and creative.
Other songs also show emotions like love, anger and sorrow. Just like in the film, the music then shifts from a festive mood to a sad melody when Raj and Pooja became separated from one another. Adding sad music to the sequences will let the audience feel the intense pain that they are experiencing. The music also supports the bad and selfish qualities of their children showing their real and ungrateful personalities. Overall, the music can influence how the audience sees a certain character in the film.
Lastly, the music adds to the overall experience of the film helping the audience feel how a certain situation in the movie feels. The music can influence the audience to be happy when there is a joyful occasion and it can also influence to empathize with the characters when they are going through a hard time. Music is another way to express one’s emotions and this is very apparent in Bollywood films like this.
Works Cited
"Baghban (2003) - Synopsis." IMDb. N.p., 2003. Web. 5 May 2016.
Mohita, Negi. "Essay on Importance of Music in Hindi Films (Bollywood)." The Next Generation Library. YourArticleLibrary.com, 2015. Web. 5 May 2016.
