Bollywood’s magic often lies in the ability to entertain while subtly addressing societal issues. And Vijay Krishna Acharya’s film, The Great Indian Family, does just that. It features Vicky Kaushal as Ved Vyas Tripathi, aka Bhajan Kumar, and Manushi Chillar as his love interest, Jasmeet. The stellar cast also includes Manoj Pahwa, Alka Amin, and more.
The film not only captivates the audiences with its storyline but also tackles the sensitive topic of religious disparity in India.
Check out the trailer here:
The Great Indian Family: What happened in the film?
At the heart of the film is the Tripathi family, whose livelihood revolves around overseeing religious ceremonies and participating in them. The film takes viewers through their lives, introducing Pandit Siya Ram Tripathi in charge of religious ceremonies. While his son, Ved Vyas Tripathi, is responsible for the bhajan (musical) part of these events.
The Tripathi family is set to oversee the grand marriage of Mr. Malpani’s daughter, Aishwarya, which marks as a prestigious as well as monetary gain. However, the harmony in their lives is disrupted when a competitor, Pandit Jagannath Mishra, attempts to create a clash. He tries to manipulate it by clashing the marriage dates and Siya Ram’s religious trip. This sets The Great Indian Family for a series of conflicts that unravel the family’s deep-rooted secrets.
Soon enough into the film, a bombshell is dropped as a letter arrives. Alleging that Ved Vyas, who has lived as an upper-caste Hindu, is, in fact, Muslim. The family is suddenly thrown into chaos, and the audience is taken on a journey of self-discovery with Ved. The film ingeniously uses Ved’s initial biases and ignorance to highlight the broader issue of religious conflict in India.
As the plot thickens, Ved’s romantic life and the leaked information about him being Muslim intensify the conflict. This jeopardizes his reputation and the Tripathi family’s standing within the community.
What happens to Ved Vyas Tripathi in the end?
The Tripathi family abandons Ved, and he seeks refuge at Abdul’s house, whom he had earlier bullied. Abdul’s family accepts him with their whole heart, and Ved gets deep into understanding his identity. He starts practicing the traditions involved in the religion. The pictures of which further discredits the Tripathi family, leading to Malpani withdrawing the marriage contract.
The Great Indian Family takes an unexpected turn when Siya Ram, the patriarch of the family, returns from his religious trip and drops a revelation, i.e., Ved is indeed Muslim. This revelation is rooted in the December 1992 riots. During this time, a Parsi doctor asked Siya Ram to adopt the newborn child of a Muslim woman to protect him. Otherwise, he could have been subjected to communal violence.
Everyone decides to dupe the DNA test to show Ved is Hindu. However, Siya Ram is visibly not happy with the decision. Watching this, Ved takes the matter into his own hands when it’s time to prove.
He gives a powerful speech challenging societal norms and advocating for a diverse and inclusive society. He confronts discrimination, spreads communal harmony, and calls for the acceptance of different religions and cultures. The Great Indian Family ends with everyone accepting Ved for what he is and start living in communal harmony.
The Great Indian Family is currently streaming Amazon Prime Video.
