Uunchai Review: A classic Sooraj Barjatya film that tugs at your heartstrings

By Shachi Chaturvedi

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan as Amit Shrivastav, Anupam Kher as Om Sharma, Boman Irani as Javed Siddiqui, Parineeti Chopra as Shraddha Gupta, Neena Gupta as Shabina Siddiqui, Sarika as Mala Trivedi, Danny Denzongpa as Bhupen, Nafisa Ali Sodhi as Sumitra Shrivastav and ensembles

Director: Sooraj Barjatya

Runtime: 2h 49m

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis

Three friends leave their comfortable lives behind to climb Mount Everest for their friends.

Review

Is there a movie that explains friendship without including any offensive scenes? Yes, Uunchai. A film that makes you laugh while also leaving you teary-eyed.

Uunchai is the story of three friends, all over 70, who decide to climb Everest for their fourth friend’s “Asti Visarjan.” Seems implausible? Sooraj Barjatya’s direction comes into play here. The story is so well-crafted that you don’t find it unrealistic. Although, the movie has problems in putting facts when it comes to delivering the values everything just fits perfectly.

The film begins with Big B summarising what is going on in the current scene and then takes you back two months. Danny’s character Bhupen is celebrating his birthday with three other friends, and he expresses his desire to climb Everest one day. At this point, tragedy strikes the “Yaari,” and Bhupen dies of a heart attack.

It is now that all three friends have decided to climb Everest Base Camp.

When it comes to special moments in this film, there are many. The chemistry between Boman Irani and Neena Gupta is unrivalled and a joy to watch. This film confronts you with difficult facts in a subtle but emotional manner. The way Amit put Bhupen’s hat next to his ashes to Om asking Amit, why life is so hard. Each of these scenes has an ocean of emotions delivered in buckets, one after the other.

In terms of star performance, Amitabh Bachchan’s character is the heart of the film, even though each character is important in helping to build the film. Big B’s character is the rope that is holding everything together, and he pulls it the best way he can.

Anupam Kher’s character is portrayed as a middle-class man who values his identity and is unwilling to adapt to change. Anupam Kher is a master of his craft, and there is no doubt that he gave his all in the film.

Put Boman Irani in any situation, and he will excel, especially when it comes to comedy. Boman Irani portrays a friend in a group who is lazy, foodie, funny, and the group’s soul.

Speaking of Sarika and Neena Gupta’s roles. Both ladies are stunning in their own right. However, it appears that Sarika tries to stop herself, which is a letdown. When it comes to Neena Gupta, she is an angel who can make you smile just by her expressions.

Nafeesa Ali’s cameo in the film as Amitabh Bachchan’s wife is a pleasant surprise. Parineeti’s presence is felt, and she has done an excellent job.

Sooraj Barjatya’s films never disappoint when it comes to the soundtrack. The film’s first song, Keti Ko, explains the rest of the songs and background score. The music was so captivating that it assisted you in eliciting the appropriate emotions. Zindagi ko Haan Karde and Pahadi si Ladki deserve special mention because they are the heart and soul of the film.

Concerning the technical aspects, the film is shot well, and the beauty of the Himalayas can be seen in almost all of the frames. The lengthy runtime is disappointing. It appears that with a little more editing, this film can be a masterpiece.

It is a beautiful film, but to highlight a few flaws, this film has far too many subplots and problems. Although it is a nice message that life is difficult, it requires some filtering. Also, while it is not a major blunder, a patient not carrying enough medicines after a doctor’s reminder is difficult to believe.

Conclusion

It’s a nice film with minor flaws. It clearly speaks for itself, and it is worth watching with friends.