‘Arjun will come for my sake!’

Celebrating the legacy of Bollywood’s leading artists, chronicling blockbuster history, exploring rags-to-riches stories and reflecting on the art of iconic stars is truly the flavor of the season. From The Romantics, which highlighted the legacy of Yash Raj Films, to The Angry Men, a ode to the famous duo Salim-Javed, and to Netflix’s Famous: Yo Yo Honey Singh, the trend continues with The Roshans.

The Netflix documentary offers an intimate reflection on one of Hindi cinema’s most talented families, spanning three remarkable generations – composer Roshan Lal Nagrath, his son, composer Rajesh Roshan and film director-actor Rakesh Roshan, and Rakesh’s son, Actor Hrithik Roshan.

Packed with interviews, never-before-seen family photographs and iconic scenes and songs from the Roshan family’s superhit films, The Roshans retells the life stories of these four great men in four fascinating episodes, each titled on a song composed by the family .

This latest documentary by Shashi Ranjan is not a complete revelation, nor does it reveal anything that avid Bollywood fans don’t already know (you may even know more than what is shown). However, for anyone with even the slightest interest in the behind-the-scenes world of Hindi cinema, The Roshans is extremely entertaining.

The episodes follow a traditional format, featuring interviews about the Roshan family with their associates and family, snippets of archival material and clips from their iconic films. As the series progresses, narrating the lives and works of Roshan Lal Nagrath, Rajesh Roshan, Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik Roshan, it successfully caters to every generation, offering something relatable to everyone.

The first episode, based on Nagrath’s evergreen song ‘Rahe Na Rahe Hum’, offers a captivating glimpse into the life and work of the maestro. Highlighting the talent behind timeless classics like Jo Promise Vo Jinnah Padega, Nigehen Milene Ko Jee Chahta Hai and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Sonu Nigam says, “There was a class in his music and orchestration.”

The appreciation for Roshan is evident from the voices of luminaries like late radio presenter Amin Sayani, late Lata Mangeshkar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Asha Bhosle, Kumar Sanu and Sonu Nigam as well as his wife Ira Nagrath. Prophetic words of the music maestro, “People will take lamps and find where Roshan is. (People will take lanterns and search where Roshan is), His sentiments are still deeply attached to many in the industry, reflecting the feeling that his talent has been under-appreciated.

As Javed Akhtar poignantly remarks, “He neither played his own game, nor did anyone else play his game. (He neither played his own bugle, nor did anyone else play for him),” a raga recites. For many millennials, including myself, the Roshan legacy began with Rakesh Roshan, making this all the more enlightening in his history.

Next episode on Rajesh Roshan, who gave great tunes like ‘Yeh Bandhan To Pyar Ka Bandhan Hai’, ‘Bhool gaya sab kuch, yaad nahi ab kuch’ and ‘Pardesiya, Yeh Sach Hai Piya, Sab Kehte’. Hahn’ features a series of interviews, varying in depth and insight.

Amidst the accolades are compelling glimpses into the personal life of the Roshan couple, the challenges they faced, the risks they took and their experiences.

The key point of the series is brothers Rakesh and Rajesh Roshan’s candid admission that their early success was a by-product of their father’s legacy. He openly admits that filmmakers and directors first opened their doors to him because he was the son of the great Roshan.

The episode focused on Rakesh Roshan provides valuable insight into how the actor-turned-director views cinema as a medium to transport audiences to another world: “We take people to a world they might not otherwise see “

Iconic films like Khoon Bhari Maang, Karan Arjun, Koyla, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, Koi… Mil Gaya, and Krrish – all hallmarks of the Rakesh Roshan brand – are appropriately highlighted in the series. However, the filmmaker avoids addressing instances when his creative instincts as a filmmaker faltered. When he confesses, “In show business, one only sees your successes,” the statement sounds rhetorical.

On the other hand, Anupam Kher’s candid comment about Rakesh Roshan as an actor, “He played it safe as an actor, he was neither here nor there,” stands out for its sincerity, Which adds a layer of introspection to the narrative.

The fourth episode, dedicated to Hrithik Roshan and titled Koi… Mil Gaya, focuses on his blockbuster debut with Ameesha Patel, his transformation into India’s first superhero with Krish and his extraordinary performance in Koi… Mil Gaya Fairly concentrated.

However, this obviously, and somewhat conveniently, highlights his frequent flops after Kaho Na… Pyaar Hai and omits any meaningful insight into his personal life.

Instead, we hear Sanjay Leela Bhansali declaring, “Roshans have made their name famous,” And Priyanka Chopra praised the family for providing opportunities to people outside the industry.

The dramatic representation of certain moments of his life seems overly staged and completely unnecessary, which impairs the authenticity of the narrative. People who could have added depth or shared untold stories – Rakesh Roshan’s wife Pinky Roshan, his daughter Sunaina Roshan, Rajesh Roshan’s wife Kanchan Roshan, his daughter Pashmina Roshan, or Hrithik’s sons Rehaan and Hridhaan – were either members of the family. The male members limit their contributions to singing praises for or simply make brief appearances.

Ultimately, The Roshans delivers a heartwarming and nostalgic experience while offering enough appeal for younger audiences unfamiliar with the family’s cinematic legacy. However, for those who grew up watching his films, it is an emotional journey that sometimes feels incomplete.