Lion

The Lion is a 2016 Australian-British epic drama film directed by Garth Davis, based on a true story. The film follows the poignant journey of a five-year-old Indian boy named Saroo Brierley, whose life takes a dramatic turn when he gets separated from his family in the streets of Calcutta. The film begins with a vivid portrayal of Saroo's life in Khandwa, a small town in India. Saroo lives with his family, consisting of his parents, Richard and Sue Brierley, and his sister, Lucy. The family engages in a vibrant narrative that showcases the simplicity and beauty of their rural life. However, a fateful day that would change Saroo's life forever arrives when he boards a train to retrieve a lost train ticket, only to fall asleep and wake up in Calcutta, thousands of kilometers away from his home. Panicked and disoriented, Saroo tries everything to find his way back to his family. He encounters numerous challenges, including scrounging for scraps in the streets, taking refuge in an orphanage, and forming a bond with an affectionate local street kid named Kaloo. Despite his best efforts, Saroo is unable to find his family, and he is eventually adopted by an Australian couple, John and Sue Brierley. The couple, who already have a daughter, Lucy, take Saroo in and raise him as their own. Twenty-five years pass, and Saroo grows up in a loving but unfamiliar environment in Adelaide, Australia. He struggles to reconcile his Indian heritage with his adoptive upbringing. Despite his success in school and his thriving career, Saroo feels an unshakeable void that he attributes to the memories of his birth family. His adoptive sister, Lucy, senses his discomfort and the two grow closer as they navigate the complexities of family dynamics. As Saroo reaches adulthood, he becomes increasingly consumed by the desire to find his biological family. He enlists the help of Google Earth, which he uses to painstakingly scour the rooftops and streets of his native India in the hopes of finding his village. His search becomes an all-consuming passion, forcing him to confront the painful reality of his past and the relationships he's formed with his adoptive family. Saroo's journey leads him to the town of Ganesh Talai, a rural village in Madhya Pradesh, where he finally finds a glimmer of hope. He reconnects with some familiar faces from his childhood, including Kallu, the street kid who became like a brother to him. The emotions that have been building up inside Saroo finally come flooding out as he begins to uncover more about his family's history and the circumstances surrounding his separation from them. The film culminates in an emotionally charged reunion between Saroo and his biological family. The reunion is bittersweet, filled with tears of joy and heartbreak as the family members struggle to come to terms with their decades-long separation. Through this reunion, Saroo finds a sense of closure and finally feels complete, grateful for the family that raised him while at the same time embracing his heritage and reconnecting with the roots that shaped him. The Lion is a poignant and visually stunning film that seamlessly blends elements of drama, adventure, and family. Aamir Khan, who did not star in this film but another adaptation the 'Lion" in Hindi, or the real life story the "Ponyo", gives Saroo Brierley's character a depth and nuance that resonates with audiences worldwide. The film serves as a testament to the transformative power of family and the enduring bonds that can exist between people from different cultures and backgrounds.