On Father’s Day, here’s looking at some recent movies that celebrate fatherhood

MERE PAAS PAA HAI

This is a line many contemporary filmmakers love to flaunt. On Father’s Day, here’s looking at some recent movies that celebrate fatherhood

    In 1975, Shashi Kapoor impeccably echoed the importance of a mother in one’s life with just one line, ‘Mere paas maa hai.’ Circa 2013: Tables have turned and filmmakers are now keen to play out the father card in their films. A father’s role has become essential to the film’s plot, be it due to the patriarchal society that we live in or the fact that a father’s character can be painted in diverse shades. From being a condescending dad to a father who steals a sports car in order to fulfill his son’s dream, to a father who breaks into an occasional jig with his daughter or for that matter, a dad who holds himself responsible for the death of his child, films now have a wide variety of father roles to offer. This is definitely a welcome change from a time when dads would only come into the picture if the makers wanted to portray a father-son conflict or provide a motive for the hero to take revenge in the film. HERE’S A LOOK AT RECENT FILMS WHERE FATHERS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE STORYLINE

FAROOQ SHEIKH IN YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI As an understanding father of a boy (Ranbir Kapoor) who lives on his own terms, Farooq Sheikh’s role was pivotal to the hero’s journey of self-realisation.

JACKIE SHROFF IN AURANGZEB Though touted as a tale of two brothers, Jackie Shroff ’s character of a don falling from grace added a lot more gravitas to this 70s-style actionthriller.

PANKAJ KAPUR IN MATRU KI BIJLEE KA MANDOLA Dancing in the company of his daughter, Kapur’s character broke the monotony of conventional father-daughter relationships.

RAM KAPOOR IN MERE DAD KI MARUTI, STUDENT OF THE YEAR In MDKM, Ram Kapoor played a raging Punjabi father while in SOTY, his role of a business tycoon was a catalyst for changing the lead actors’ relations.

AAMIR KHAN IN TALAASH Though a story of a cop, filmmaker Reema Kagti intricately weaved in the father-son relationship that proved crucial to this suspense drama.

SHARMAN JOSHI IN FERRARI KI SAWAARI As a Parsi father, Sharman Joshi was willing to go to any length to fulfil his son’s dream. Father-son relationship was the focal point of this film.

NASEERUDDIN SHAH IN ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA Though present only in one scene, Naseeruddin Shah’s character was responsible for bringing out Farhan Akhtar’s vulnerable side.

    IN FERRARI KI SAWAARI,I BORROWED A LOT FROM MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAD. WHILE MOTHERS, OF COURSE, PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN A CHILD’S LIFE, FATHERS OFTEN GO BEYOND THE PATRIARCHAL IMAGE CREATED BY THE SOCIETY AND FOR THAT REASON, FATHERHOOD NEEDS TO BE CELEBRATED, ESPECIALLY IN OUR FILMS!
    — Rajesh Mapuskar, director, Ferrari Ki Sawaari

    OUR FILMS HAVE ALWAYS EXPLORED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN VERY WELL. IN TALAASH, WE NEEDED A REASON FOR AAMIR’S CHARACTER TO TURN FROM A RATIONALIST TO A BELIEVER OF THE SUPERNATURAL. AS A RESULT, WE BROUGHT IN THE FATHER-SON RELATIONSHIP
    — Reema Kagti, co-writer & director, Talaash