National Parents' Day: Films That Portray Heartfelt Parent-child Stories

Actor Kate Winslet once said, 'Having children puts the whole world into perspective. Everything else just disappears.' She has often shared in interviews that, beyond all the accomplished roles in her career, her most rewarding role is being a mom to three kids. The bond between parents and children is indeed special and keeps evolving. This everlasting bond, in its many forms, has long been a favourite theme for Indian filmmakers and continues to be, with films like 'Piku' and Marathi movie 'Baap Manus'.

On this National Parents' Day (27 July), explore a list of Indian films that beautifully capture the many facets of parent-child relationships.

An Overview:

Piku

The 2015 film 'Piku' offers a glimpse into the life of a daughter who prioritises caring for her ageing father, Bhaskor Banerjee, over her career and personal life. Bhaskor, who suffers from chronic constipation, is stubborn and demanding, often leading to constant arguments between them. Their story takes an interesting turn when they embark on a road trip from Delhi to Kolkata. When they finally reach the City of Joy, it becomes a moment of realisation for both, uncovering new facets of each other's personalities. Amitabh Bachchan as Bhaskor and Deepika Padukone as Piku deliver commendable performances in this Shoojit Sircar directorial. Produced by N P Singh, Ronnie Lahiri, and Sneha Rajani, the film also stars the late Irrfan Khan and Moushumi Chatterjee.

'Piku' is available for streaming on Sony Liv.

Baap Manus

A poignant tale with a heartwarming feel, Marathi film 'Baap Manus' (2023), unfolds the life of a single father whose wife dies during childbirth. It also reflects his fears and insecurities as he embarks on the journey of raising his daughter. Whether he overcomes the challenges and anxieties of becoming a perfect father forms the crux of this family drama, which was widely appreciated for Pushkar Jog's powerful and emotional portrayal of Shreyas Bapat, the lead character. Director Yogesh Phulpagar explores the emotional landscape of a single father navigating love, loss and parenthood. Shubhangi Gokhale, Anusha Dandekar, and Kushal Badrike also play major roles in the film. Keya Ingle, who portrays Cookie, the child, earned praise for her innocent and charming performance.

Produced by Anand Pandit, Roopa Pandit, Pushkar Jog, Vaishal Shah, and Rahul Dubey, 'Baap Manus' is available on Prime Video.

The Mehta Boys

'The Mehta Boys' (2025) explores a complex father-son bond with realism and subtlety. The story follows Amay Mehta, a workaholic bachelor living in Mumbai. Following his mother's death, he visits his hometown and struggles to get along with his father, Shiv Mehta, who is planning to move to the US with his daughter. After reaching his son's house, their arguments intensify. How the tensions gradually ease in their strained relationship forms the crux of this film, making it a refreshing watch. While Boman Irani impresses both as director and as Shiv Mehta, Avinash Tiwary shines as Amay Mehta. Shreya Chaudhry, Puja Sarup, and Siddhartha Basu also feature in supporting roles.

'The Mehta Boys', produced by Irani Movietone and Chalkboard Entertainment, is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Taare Zameen Par

When we talk about the best Hindi films post-2000 that simply can't be missed, 'Taare Zameen Par' (2007) easily finds a place on the list. When Aamir Khan, known as the 'perfectionist', made his directorial debut, the result was a truly 'perfect' film. Written by Amole Gupte, the story follows Ishaan (Darsheel Safary), an eight-year-old boy struggling in school due to undiagnosed dyslexia, who is often misunderstood as lazy and rebellious. His father, unaware of his artistic talent, sends him to a boarding school. It's there that Ram Shankar Nikumbh, an empathetic and insightful art teacher (Aamir Khan), enters his life. Through Ram's support and special teaching methods, Ishaan regains his confidence, improves academically, and rebuilds his connection with his family. Produced by Aamir Khan, the film also features Tisca Chopra, Vipin Sharma, and Tanay Chheda in key roles.

'Taare Zameen Par' is available on Netflix.