‘Goldfish’ is a delicate story of family bonds, focusing on challenging circumstances which exaggerated by a strained relationship within the family. Sadhana (Deepti Naval) is grappling with memory loss, and her daughter Anamika (Kalki Koechlin) returns home to care for her despite harbouring resentment towards her mother. Both Deepti Naval and Kalki Koechlin, bring the nuances of their characters’ struggles and complex relationships to life, in an aggressive yet compassionate way. Their struggle is evident from the start, but it is handled well with the unfolding of engaging conversations between the two, which is devoid of melodrama. It takes a special kind of talent to create such an inclusive cinematic experience, depicting the inner world of someone with mental health issues and those around her. The manner in which director Pushan Kripalani, who has co-written the screenplay with Arghya Lahiri, navigates through different moments in Sadhana and Anamika’s lives is what makes the film stand out. The film grips you through the finely written conversations between the two, and the beautiful interplay of emotions and dialogues in those moments is what makes you empathise with the characters. Additionally, Tapas Relia's background music, which combines classical melodies, blends well and adds to the drama's impact. The tension and bickering between the mother and daughter stem from their shared history. The film highlights the complexities that can exist in parent and child and how with time roles and responsibilities are reversed. Eventually, whether Sadhana should be placed in a care home (for senior citizens) becomes the central source of drama, echoing themes seen in some Hollywood films like ‘The Father,’ ‘Away From Her,’ and others. The film’s setting, mainly confined to Sadhana’s house in London and the close-knit Indian community there, creates an intimate atmosphere that effectively contributes to the storytelling. Anamika’s interactions with those around her, nurse Laxmi (Bharti Patel) and grocery shop owner Ashwin (Rajit Kapur) add further depth to the story. The use of occasional cuts to Anamika’s monologue is used as an interesting tool to add a different dimension to the film’s narrative. But in some places, it interrupts your emotional connection with the protagonists. The film’s heart lies in Kalki Koechlin and Deepti Naval’s powerful performances. Amidst the sharp conversations between mother and daughter, there is a tender scene in which Anamika helps Sadhana drape a sari. They do not exchange dialogues, but this moment of connection is profound. Other scenes, such as when she is reading her mother’s diary and seeing photos of herself and others with name tags, are equally moving and memorable. Bharti Patel stands out as Laxmi, but Rajit Kapur is underutilised, and his relationship with Sadhana isn’t fully explored. ‘Goldfish’ offers more than a simple narrative; it lets you delve into the complex realities of its characters. This film beautifully conveys the challenges faced by caregivers and the sacrifices they make for their loved ones, making it a poignant and emotionally charged watch.Read more

Dysfunctional family films are not new to cinema, but director Pushan Kripalani’s novelty lies in his ability to weave a beautiful story about estranged relationships and loss. ‘Goldfish’ is about a dementia-suffering mother, Sadhana Tripathi and her daughter, Anamika Fields aka Miku. The mother-daughter duo's distant relationship with each other is mutual. But there’s more to this. Sadhana (Deepti)’s dementia worsens, forcing her neighbour Laxmi (Bharti Patel) to ring her daughter Ana (Kalki) to return in desperate need. Ana has been away from home for years now. She grovels as she enters the home with a suitcase. The frustration is real, from both sides. “Tea at four?” Ana asks her mother almost condescendingly, giving us a glimpse of their conflicted relationship. Ana is supposed to leave in two days after putting her mother into a care home, but life gives the mother-daughter duo a second chance. On the surface level, the film deals with relationship dynamics between a mother and daughter. Pushan dabbles sensitively and threads sincerely around the subtext of their conflicted relationship. There is a lot of angst, feelings of loss, resentment and childhood trauma at the core of it. ‘Goldfish’ isn’t about two perfect women! It is about a perfectly imperfect mother, who perhaps did not even want to be a mother. Through the course of the movie, you only hope she has some redemption. What works the best in ‘Goldfish’ is that it never for once takes anyone’s side. This is a story of two different women, from different generations, owning their individuality. Kalki is as usual terrific as Miku, who has suppressed resentment against her mother. On the other hand, Deepti is not new to bringing a nuanced performance to the table when given a solid script. Together, they showcase their most vulnerable side onscreen and the honesty in their performances is palpable. The film does offer some light moments with dry humour. In a scene, Sadhana tells Miku how she had to learn to hit her without leaving marks in London. Pushan never passes the burden of the complexity of their relationship towards the audience. Instead, he makes you witness it as an outsider. Rajit Kapur as Ashwin Raina, a friend of Sadhana, is a nice addition to the story. Music plays a very central role in the story. Sadhana is shown as a veteran radio jockey, hence the music of the 80s in the background blends well and elevates your experience of watching the film. There is a certain disconnect one might feel in the beginning with blank screens being used with Kalki's voiceover implicating her letters to 'Baba', but as the film progresses it ties the loose ends well. As Miku is forced to make a choice and grapple with more important issues at hand, including whether or not to send her now-old mother to a care home, you empathise with her. ‘Goldfish’ explores all of these themes beautifully, leaving you with a bittersweet feeling by the end. 'Kasam Se!'Read more