Sanskaari Bollywood Films: 5 Movies Which Overdid This Trope

In the past, Bollywood seemed to have one goal: to demonstrate who lead actors as 'Sanskaari'. Since their parents didn't want them to become 'batameez', or else he/she will become the villain in the film.  All the "ma ka laadlas" and papa ki paris"  would do exactly what their parents advised them to do  including leaving their homes or marrying someone they were not in love with. In short the movies used to revolve around 'how to be sanskaari?'

There is a list of these excessively sankaari films and everything was so outrageous and out of proportion in them that it nearly felt like a parent-produced propaganda film for children worldwide. However, many of them did amazing box office numbers. Let us have a look at some of the films that overdid sanskaari family trope.

Sanskaari Bollywood Films: 5 Times Movies Overdid this trope

1.Baghban

Baghban will always be the first movie that comes to mind when you think of 'sankaars'. We get what the film was attempting to imply, that kids can be rude once they've "left the nest," but because they portrayed such extremes, it almost feels ridiculous. The film portrayed parents who had the worst, most disrespectful children anyone could ever have, and on the other hand, a son who (though not their own flesh and blood) would place his parents' picture in the temple. It is so odd that the behaviour was in extremes with no attempt at balancing.

2. Hum Saath Saath Hain

Another successful film that overdid the sanskaari family trope is Hum Saath Saath Hain. It is a popular Bollywood drama showcasing the virtues of a united family. It shows how parents can have upright, adarsh children who will stop at nothing to keep their parents happy, even if it means acting older than their parents and leaving the house to look out for the family.

The one and only Alok Nath played the father figure who serves as the "head of the family". The film upholds the idea how parents can never be wrong and how a stepmother always is evil and women once married do not need to worry about their careers.

Hum saath saath hain, screengrab

The film had an ensemble cast and stars Mohnish Bahl, Tabu, Salman Khan, Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan and Karisma Kapoor among others.

3. Dilwale Dulhania Le jayenge

This movie is based on how the children are expected to seek permission for every decision they want to make in their lives. The movie appealed to the NRI audiences who left India to settle abroad. The movie revolves around two people who fall in love and struggle to approach their parents for approval before getting married. Here, though, the kids fight for their love they do not get together till after they had their approval.

The superhit movie had Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as Raj and Simran.

A still from DDLJ that remains relevant even today.

4. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Yashvardhan and Nandini Raichand, an affluent couple played by Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, are deeply rooted in family beliefs and customs. Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) and Rohan (Hrithik Roshan), their two sons, get along well with both their parents and each other. But things are not as they seem below the surface.

Rahul, an adopted child, feels inextricably bound to an appreciation for the parents that adopted him as an orphan. Yashvardhan Raichand expresses his extreme disapproval when he falls in love with Anjali (Kajol) However, Nandini's motivation is love. Conflicts disrupt the peaceful ambience, and a grieving Rahul resolves to leave his house.

This movie depicts how children should follow the "standards" laid down by their parents and this should be applicable even when choosing their life partners. The fact that children can't go without their parent's approval is strongly highlighted in the film. It definitely overdid the sanskaari trope.

5. Hum Aapke Hai Koun

Another family saga which remains one of Bollywood's greatest blockbusters. The film had a big fat Indian wedding at the heart of it. It put the spot light on some of the wedding rituals that they still remain in trend. The film had Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit as Prem and Nisha the leading pair. When after falling down from the stairs Nisha's sister and Prem's sister in law Renuka Shahane (Pooja) dies leaving behind an infant the family decides to marry Nisha to Rakesh, Monish Behl brother to prem and husband to Pooja.

Divine intervention via Tuffy the pet dog ensures that the lovers unite because they couldn't utter a word in front of parental will.

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