Review: ‘Om Ka Hari’: A Tender Exploration of the Father-Son Generation Gap!

In traditional Indian families, the father has often been perceived as the unquestionable authority—the one who knows what is best for everyone. This old-school approach to parenting places greater emphasis on discipline, responsibility, financial security and social respectability than on emotional communication. Fathers are expected to provide and protect, while children are expected to listen and follow. Over time, this creates a generation gap, particularly between fathers and sons, where affection often remains unspoken and differences in aspirations become a source of conflict. Om Ka Hari explores this emotional disconnect with sensitivity, examining what happens when a father’s idea of love is expressed through expectations, advice and control, while the son longs to be accepted for who he is.

Hari Prasad Sharma (Raghubir Yadav), a retired person performs bhajans on request stays with his family in Bhopal. He is a nit picking person and that irks his family, especially his son Om (Anshuman Jha). They don’t see eye to eye and he starts living separately with his wife. Hari develops a medical issue and he determines to spend his remaining days in Kashi, Despite years of feeling belittled and misunderstood by his father, Om decides to accompany him. Their journey gradually becomes much more than a trip to a holy city—it becomes an opportunity to confront years of resentment, unfulfilled expectations and emotions that neither father nor son has been able to express. Hari cannot understand why Om chose to run a salon instead of pursuing a government job, which he considers the safer and more respectable path. Soni Razdan adds another layer to the emotional landscape of the film, while Jha and Yadav anchor the narrative through their complicated yet deeply familiar father-son relationship.

 

Harish Vyas’ direction remains understated and allows the characters to breathe, although the pace occasionally becomes measured. The visual treatment and locations complement the road-trip and spiritual dimensions of the story, while the technical execution largely supports rather than overwhelms the emotional core. Raghubir Yadav is particularly effective as a father whose rigid worldview hides genuine concern for his son, bringing both irritation and vulnerability to the character. Anshuman Jha complements him with a restrained performance, effectively portraying Om’s suppressed frustration, hurt and enduring affection. Soni Razdan resales Asa doting mother and wife with a dash of humour thrown in.

Om Ka Hari ultimately finds its emotional strength in a simple truth: sometimes parents and children do not lack love—they simply lack the language to express it.

Rating: ***
By Keerti Kadam