Ghich Pich is a coming-of-age film set in 1990s Chandigarh, India, presenting three seemingly provocative storylines about the relationships between middle-class Indian fathers and their sons, who are all close friends since childhood.
Offering insight into a changing, worldly mindset and what might be happening in India, including understanding tradition, insecurities, rebellion, and acceptance, Ghich Pich is fundamentally a story about change. These young men, who haven’t left their childish ways behind as they begin to understand what it means to be an adult, show that regardless of culture, becoming an adult involves new awareness, harsh realities, and discovering what love might be, whether for another person or a passion in life.
As a Sikh, Gurpreet Singh (Kabir Nanda) wants to cut his hair, something so sacred that it tears his family apart, even though his reasons are fleeting—his love for another girl who has no interest in him. When Gaurav Arora (Shhivam Kakar) discovers his father with another man, he must find the courage within himself to accept and understand a life he knows nothing about. And Anurag Bansal (Aryan Singh Rana), perhaps the most traditional member of the trio, endures abuse from his father, who knows no other way, in forcing him to pursue an elite education.
Director Ankur Singla’s vision for Ghich Pich, which in Hindi means cramped, thick, or confused, is realized through the actors, who take their roles and purpose very seriously, with some comic relief and a hint of a John Hughes influence. A glimpse into the daily life of middle-income India, where a caste system is still prevalent, is reflected in clothing and social standing, despite the film’s central themes being modern and progressive in their acceptance. All three young men share a strong rapport and distinct personalities. Whether they are jokers, lovers, or scholars, they are lifelong friends going through these changes together.
A young boy experiences a vision test, symbolizing clarity and self-discovery in Ghich Pich.
“…Gaurav Arora discovers his father with another man, [and] must find the courage within himself to accept and understand a life he knows nothing about.”
Perhaps the most fascinating explanation of what’s happening in Ghich Pich is when Anurag’s father describes the future as orbiting through rings, which he sketches with his finger in whiskey on the table. As he explains, you need to orbit through several rings, and he may have only done so through one. Isn’t that life, in general, no matter who, what, where, and when?
Whether it’s understanding “two men sex,” religion, or intelligence, the most important message that came barreling through Ghich Pich is a sense of family, and physically, family is everywhere within rooms, businesses, and at school, paired up or sharing. Life in India is everywhere in Singla’s direction and depiction of this corner of the universe — busy, noisy, crowded, dusty, and hot.
An inviting soundtrack of traditional and modern Indian music flows naturally as the story unfolds through its various storylines, ending with a grand wedding scene where classic dance moves and celebration take place, including the proper wearing of a turban. It’s a fitting conclusion that demonstrates how everyone has evolved from their initial state.
Some of the storylines lack depth, and there is some shallow character design, but on the whole, Ghich Pich proves itself to be an indie production with legs.
"…fascinating..."
