Saturday, 1 March 2025

The generational gap?

Mehta Boys (Hindi, 2015)
Directed, Written and Produced by Boman Irani

https://www.indiaforums.com/movie/the-mehta-boys_7313


This problem is frequently observed these days. As baby boomers live longer lives and share their experiences, clashes often arise between them and younger generations. The boomers are eager to impart the knowledge that benefited them. In their view, they do not want to be like their fathers, who sat aloof, refusing to engage in conversation with the children. The boomers believed they were doing the younger generation a favour by offering free advice. The problem is they assume that this is the only effective approach. The younger ones see things through a different lens and adopt a more relaxed attitude.

The boomers live with a siege mentality, assuming that the world is hostile and could turn upside down at any moment. They act as if they are facing impending doom. Their sole purpose in life is to save for a rainy day at the expense of enjoying themselves.

Consider, for example, preparing for a flight. The older generation would have packed, weighed, and locked the luggage well in advance—perhaps even a day or two before departure. Meanwhile, the younger ones tend to leave it until the last minute, scrambling to find their passport and visa. The same applies to meeting deadlines. The youngsters believe they perform best under pressure. Do they really?

This likely reflects the generational divide often discussed. The older generation insists that things should be done in a single way, while the younger ones understand that there are numerous approaches to tackling a problem. This dilemma is exacerbated in a patriarchal family.

This is the story of a recent widower with two adult children: a daughter in the US and a young architect struggling with confidence issues, working in the bustling city of Mumbai. The father, the widower, is compelled to relocate to the US by his daughter. Both children reunite at the family home to bid farewell to their father. The father and daughter were supposed to fly together, but due to a mix-up with the tickets, the father was assigned a later travel date. Thus, he must stay with his son for a few days before his departure to the US. The relationship between father and son has never been particularly close. The son's formative years were difficult, as the father was always hovering over him. Nothing the son did ever seemed good enough.

The following days marked a turning point in their relationship. The father met the boy's girlfriend, who got on well with him. Amidst some difficulties, such as the father losing his US visa and passport, they found a compromise.

A heartfelt tale of paternal love, ego, frustration, and reconciliation.


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