Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
The first episode of the Netflix mini-documentary series The Roshans was undoubtedly the most immersive and fascinating for me, as it tells the story of Roshan Lal Nagrath – a music director, father to renowned brothers Rakesh and Rajesh Roshan, and grandfather of Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan. Roshan Lal Nagrath was only 50 when he passed away in 1976, but before that, he delivered several hits songs in Bollywood classics that remain immortal. So for Bollywood fans like me, who didn’t know much about Roshan Lal Nagrath, the documentary certainly offers an interesting slice of film history, told through the interviews of not just surviving members of the Roshan family, but also industry bigwigs, including music stalwart Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma, part of the Bollywood composer duo ‘Laxmikant-Pyarelal’, who composed music for over 700 movies.
Four episodes long, the documentary is divided into four clear chapters, exploring the bollywood family’s journey through generations. The first, titled Rahen Na Rahen Hum, explores how the now-famous Bollywood family traces its roots back to Roshan Lal Nagrath’s journey into the music industry in the late 1940s. His first break as a music director came with the 1949 film Neki Aur Badi, starring Madhubala, Geeta Bali, and Kidar Sharma.
The documentary opens with Hrithik Roshan, dressed in a crisp blue shirt, sitting with a cassette player as he reminisces about the grandfather he never met – the music maestro who has always been a part of his life and childhood memories. He fondly recalls growing up listening to Roshan Lal Nagrath’s compositions alongside other Bollywood legends, including artists like Asha Bhosle and Pyarelal, who had worked with his grandfather.
Episodes two and three chart the professional journeys of brothers Rajesh Roshan and Rakesh Roshan in the film industry. While Rajesh followed in his father’s footsteps, Rakesh Roshan – the better-looking of the two – initially pursued acting before ultimately stepping behind the camera as a director. And the last episode focuses on Hrithik Roshan’s career trajectory as an actor, before which, he would often assist his father on the sets. From his memorable debut in ‘Kaho Na Pyaar Hai’, to working with his father again in ‘Koi Mil Gaya’, Hrithik and several others – from Sanjay Leela Bhansali to Zoya Akhtar – recall the kind of lasting impact his first film had. I mean, I was barely 10 when it came out and remember the film being a huge hit among my peer group (including me). We hadn’t seen any Bollywood actor dance like Hrithik on the big screen and loved mimicking the iconic hook step from Ek Pal Ka Jeena at parties and gatherings.
Episode 3 is likely the most packed with interesting and forgotten tidbits about Bollywood movies – especially for millennial and Gen Z viewers. One such revelation is how Shah Rukh Khan initially backed out of Karan Arjun (the 1995 blockbuster), directed by Rakesh Roshan, because he wanted to play Karan, not Arjun. However, after Rakesh Roshan cast Aamir Khan as Arjun, SRK had a change of heart and asked to play Arjun, the role that was originally his to take. Shah Rukh Khan is also part of the interviewees in ‘The Roshans’, and recalls how he didn’t really understand Rakesh Roshan’s vision for the film and didn’t expect it to become such a big hit.
The biggest takeaway from The Roshans might be just how tightly knit Bollywood families are and the unwavering support insiders receive. The Roshan brothers reflect on the hardships they faced after losing their father at a young age while still in their teens. However, with the Roshan name as their calling card, doors easily opened for them.
Of course, since this documentary series is produced by the Roshan family, it leans toward being slightly over-indulgent, painting an entirely positive picture of the Roshans. There’s no mention of the plagiarism allegations against Rajesh Roshan, who has been accused of lifting several songs. Nor is there any reference to the plagiarism charges surrounding Rakesh Roshan’s blockbuster Koi Mil Gaya, which starred Hrithik Roshan and faced accusations from foreign critics of being heavily inspired by Steven Spielberg’s E.T. Anyway, plagiarists or not, I have to admit that several songs composed by Rajesh Roshan would easily make it onto my list of favorite Bollywood music – like Dil Kya Kare, sung by Kishore Kumar in the film Julie.
Well, if you’re a big Bollywood fan, or just a devoted Hrithik Roshan admirer, The Roshans is an entertaining, feel-good mini-series that chronicles the legacy and rise of one of Bollywood’s most prominent families.
Watch ‘The Roshan’ on Netflix.
Read Next: The Mehta Boys: Boman Irani Plays Usual Shade of Grumpy in Dad-Son Drama
Also Read: Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 Review – Near Immaculate! (Audio version below)