Sardar Ka Grandson

Sardar Ka Grandson is a heartwarming 2021 Indian Hindi-language family drama, revolving around the unique and adorably poignant relationship between a grandmother and her grandson. The movie comes to life with a stellar and ensemble cast that includes Rakul Preet Singh, John Abraham, and Aditi Rao Hydari, and is directed by debutant director Kaashvie Nair.

At the very center of the story stands Amreek Singh, a dedicated but somewhat bumbling and unsuccessful owner of a movers and packers company in Los Angeles, played by Arjun Kapoor. After a number of unfortunate failures in his business and a breakup with his long-term girlfriend, Radha, played by Rakul Preet Singh, Amreek, disappointed and heartbroken, decides to return to his hometown.

Once he reaches there, he reconnects with his sprightly and feisty 90-year-old grandmother, Sardar Kaur, played with gusto by Neena Gupta. Sardard Kaur, a strong and incredible matriarch is a woman with a singular and slightly unusual last wish. She wants to revisit her ancestral home in Lahore, Pakistan, a place she was displaced from during the 1947 partition, for one last time before she passes.

Unfortunately, due to political hassles and her deteriorating health, fulfilling her wish becomes a seemingly impossible task. That’s where Amreek steps in with a crazy yet loving plan to bring his Sardar's home to her if he can't take her to her home. He promises Sardar that he will move their house across the border so that she can celebrate her last rites in her own ancestral home.

The movie comprises some of the aspects of Indian history, particularly the unhealed wound of Partition, but at its heart, it stays true to its narrative of the unflinching, blossoming relationships, evoking the theme of unbreakable binds within an eccentric and chaotic Punjabi family.

John Abraham and Aditi Rao Hydari skilfully present the younger version of Sardar and her husband, Gursher, and provide us with multiple emotionally gripping moments that tell the tale of a pre-partition love story. Their performances transport the viewers to a different time, making people feel the profound loss and longing of the couple separated by the tragedy of partition.

The character portrayals are exceptional, and the movie excels in humor, drama, sentimentality and showcases the poignant reality of partition along with the ordinary but extraordinary bond of love between family members. The chemistry between Rakul Preet Singh and Arjun Kapoor is equally charming, adding another layer to the movie's unique narrative.

The screenplay by Anuja Chauhan and Kaashvie Nair swings between the past and the present, gradually revealing the traumatic past of Sardar and weaving it into the narrative of present-day relationships and events. They depict the diverse and genuine emotions in a very touching manner and give a raw and authentic appeal to the film.

Sardar Ka Grandson is not just about the partition, or about the India-Pakistan relations. It shines brilliantly as a rare film that champions the voice of the elderly and cherishes the bond between a grandmother and her grandson. It emphasizes that, sometimes, the most unreasonable wishes mean the world to someone, and fulfilling them becomes a journey of resilience, determination, and love.

The music complements the spirit of the movie, with each song fitting in perfectly with the evolving narrative. The cinematography is laudable and helps in transporting the audience to the contrasting worlds of contemporary India, traditional Punjab, and partition-era Lahore.

The film commendably fulfills its aim to amuse and pull at the heartstrings of families. With its vibrant colors, humor, blended with romance, nostalgia, and an underlying, resonant message of unity and love defeatin all barriers of distance, nationalities, and history, the film is engaging and heartwarming from the start to the finish.

In conclusion, Sardar Ka Grandson is an emotional film that tells an important story about migration, separation, loss, but mainly love and devotion.