With this slice-of-life, heart-warming and emotional tale of friendship, old-age and resilience, Sooraj Barjatya is back and proves that he still has so much left to offer to today’s Bollywood.

Starring legendary actors who define the word ‘Bollywood’ and directed by the man who has given Bollywood some of its best films, Uunchai is a slice-of-life drama revolving around four friends, three of whom venture on a life changing trek to the Everest Base Camp to fulfil the last wish of their fourth friend who has passed away. On this near to death-taking and impossible journey, everyone learns something about their lives and also give the audience the ‘never too late’ and ‘nothing is impossible’ feelings.

Sooraj Barjatya, the baton holder for family-drama films and the man who is known to bring families together in theatres is back after 8 long years with a film that intends to do the same. However, this time he is out of the theme he always followed – marriages, sweet romance, families getting together and he has also gotten rid of ‘PREM.’ This time, the story is very simple but the director hits on right emotions and nuances of old-age and life. The writers Abhishek Dixit and Sunil Gandhi have done a commendable job. Their writing is detailed. It takes its time to brew but it is worth the wait. The way they have layered every character is detailed. Without going too much in the back-story of every friend yet give you the gist. They capture the little details of what it is to be a senior citizen and their universal behaviour. They have also balanced drama, emotions, adventure and also topped comedy in the right proportions overall making the script very relatable for everyone.

The film is so beautifully shot and the locations are brilliant as well. The whole sequence of the road-trip from Delhi to Kathmandu is so aesthetic and visually appealing. Then the sequence of the trek to the Everest Base Camp is just so serene and pleasing. You would want to get up and go there immediately. The editing is crisp while some scenes could have been tighter reducing the overall length of the film – I didn’t have a problem with it being long either. To make all of this better is Amit Trivedi’s background score and fantastic album. With songs like Keti Ko, Arre Oh Uncle, Haan Kar De, Ladki Pahadi, he adds to the mood, takes you to the mountains and hits you hard emotionally. After Good Bye, this is the second Amitabh Bachchan album composed by Amit Trivedi and it is just so good!

Coming to the performances, the four legendary actors- Amitabh Bachchan, Danny Dengzongpa, Anupam Kher and Boman Irani are masters of their craft. No praise will ever be enough for them. At their age, they could pull of such an adventurous movie on such extreme locations and weather. Alongside the four protagonists, Neena Gupta and Sarika and Parineeti Chopra lend such a commendable support. It is always great to see Neena Gupta bring her peculiar charm to anything that she does. She is responsible for adding humour to the entire road-trip sequence and they way she does physical comedy without a single dialogue is epic. I can see her in every single film!!! Sarika is back and how and Parineeti is like a sweet cherry on the top. No one but Sooraj Barjatya could direct and the bring the best out of such an ensemble. 

On the whole, everyone especially senior citizens and people who have senior people in their lives will resonate a lot with Uunchai. It is that feel-good film that every family should watch together and come out of the theatres with hope, new resolutions and a newfound inspiration to life. Uuchai has great performances, songs, stunning locations and an emotional yet very entertaining plot – meaning, something for everyone! Uunchai is screening in cinemas near you. Don’t miss!

You can watch the trailer here: