The Heartfelt Journey of Piku

• Simple issues screened very well in the film
• Amitabh, Irfan and Deepika excelled acting

Piku is a charming and insightful story about the relationship between a father, Bhasker Banerjee (Amitabh Bachchan), and his daughter, Piku (Deepika Padukone). Piku, whose mother has passed away, has put her own life including marriage on hold to care for her demanding, elderly father. Bhasker has a persistent and consuming problem: chronic constipation. This issue dictates much of their daily life and fuels their frequent, yet interesting, arguments. The primary reason for their journey is Bhasker’s wish to visit Kolkata to sell their ancestral family home. Piku decides to book a taxi for the long road trip, feeling it’s the only convenient option given her father’s health. She hires the services of Rana Chaudhary (Irrfan Khan), who provides taxis for her office.

The journey to Kolkata forms the core of the film, providing many amusing and emotional moments as they navigate Bhasker’s health needs and the tension between father and daughter, with Rana caught in the middle. The interactions and conversations between the three characters are captivating.

Once in Kolkata, Bhasker unexpectedly takes a bicycle ride to familiar places, causing panic among the family. The film takes a quiet, reflective turn when Bhasker passes away peacefully in his sleep shortly after. His absence is deeply felt by everyone.

The film, released on May 8, 2015, was praised for its simple yet powerful storytelling. Shoojit Sircar’s direction masterfully handles the subject. The script, written by Juhi Chaturvedi, was highly acclaimed. It features strong performances from the lead cast: Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Irrfan Khan. Key supporting roles were played by Mousumi Chatterji, Jisshu Sengupta, and Raghubir Yadav. Piku was a commercial success, made on a budget of Rs 42 crore and earning Rs141 crore at the box office. The film’s greatest strength is its ability to find humor and heart in the everyday struggles of family life, particularly the unique dynamic created by Bhasker’s obsession with his “free motion” and his arguments with Piku. The story of Piku is a wonderful example of a simple plot leading to a deeply emotional and successful film.

Vidyasagar Chaturvedula

Principal Correspondent, Prime Post

Vidya Sagar Chaturvedula is a passionate film enthusiast whose four-decade career spans multiple sectors, including media and industry. Fluent in Telugu, Hindi, and English, he has a deep appreciation for cinema, particularly films in those three languages. His passion goes beyond simple viewing; he enjoys analyzing directional skill, the emotional depth of actors’ performances, and the profound meaning embedded in dialogue. Mr. Sagar is known for his ability to clearly articulate and narrate his insightful film analyses after watching a movie.