Life is unpredictable, with twists and turns from the very beginning, arguably ending with the most unpredictable moment of all: death. What a cheery thought. It’s safe to assume that most of us would feel ignorance, in this case, is bliss, with no desire to know the time or date of our passing if we can at all avoid it.
For the rare few that feel certain that their time is coming to an end in the short term, however, death is an event that must be prepared for in one way or another. Such is the case for Dayanad Kumar (Lalit Behl), the father of protagonist, Rajiv (Adil Hussain) in director Shubhashish Bhutiani’s debut film Hotel Salvation, although it has to be said that whether Daya actually knows when he is going to die is up for debate.
After the declaration to his family that it should be some time in the coming weeks, citing a recurring dream as evidence, a seemingly able-bodied Daya insists that he must visit the holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River to achieve salvation before it is too late.
Rajiv, along with his wife, Lata (Geetanjali Kulkarni) and soon to be married daughter, Sunita (Palomi Ghosh) are sceptical of the urgency of this request, but Daya is determined to make the journey even if he has to do it alone. Despite his family’s pleas that the timing is less than ideal and the accuracy of the dream is questionable, he refuses to compromise, so they are forced to relent.
Daya (Lalit Behl) in ‘Hotel Salvation’. Source: Distributor
Rajiv agrees to accompany his father which, given the relatable tension that defines their relationship, is admirable to say the least; but then again, he can’t be sure that his father’s claims are entirely baseless. There’s a comical bent to the whole process of their chaotic departure, complete with cake, camcorder and unexpected jubilation. It’s got all the trappings of a classic family birthday celebration but this is very much a one-time thing.
When the pair finally reach their destination after a challenging journey, Rajiv and Daya are informed that there is a fifteen-day limit on their stay at the hotel. The whole policy really does give new meaning to the term ‘deadline’ but the two must find a way to co-exist peacefully and take each day as it comes. Rajiv struggles with what he sees, unable to reconcile the images around him with what will likely happen should his father’s predictions be correct. For a person who is staring the realities of death and grief in the face, however, there’s a peace that accompanies Daya’s acceptance, and an understanding of the inevitability of death that allows him to make space for everyday frustrations and hilarities despite its imminence.
Old resentments are laid bare, and it’s a rare a chance for father and son to have frank conversations that most never get the chance to have. “I never let you bloom,” Daya confesses to Rajiv in a moment of vulnerability, an admission that sees Rajiv recognise his inability to allow his daughter Sunita to forge her own path. There’s an honesty in death that allows truth to take centre stage in exchanges that are moving, amusing and real.
Daya (Lalit Behl) and Rajiv (Adil Hussain) in ‘Hotel Salvation’. Source: Distributor
Take, for example, the food situation in the hotel. If you know your time is running out, you could be forgiven for refusing to settle for bad food in your final days. Unfortunately for his father, Rajiv is culinarily challenged, serving up some delectable disasters that see Daya resigned to preparing his own meals or relying on the kindness of other guests to get by. “You call this food?” is definitely one phrase you never want to hear uttered around a dinner table! If you want to avoid similar criticism, opt for a crowd pleaser like , essentially an elevated version of mashed potato that makes a foolproof inclusion to any table, with a spicy chilli kick and fresh burst of flavour thanks to plentiful coriander and red onion. It really is a heavenly addition to any Indian-inspired feast.
Although the journey to Varanasi proves to be significant for both father and son, this is ultimately a quest for salvation that must be undertaken alone. Though Rajiv resists the idea of leaving his father to face the burden of mortality, as with everything else, Daya brings a clarity to even the most unknowable concepts. “The soul thinks it’s a wave, but suddenly it is set free and realises it is an ocean,” he tells his son. “That is salvation.” For Daya, it’s obvious that this journey does not end with his death, but instead death is the beginning of a new journey, and there’s something altogether beautiful about the lasting connection it creates, amidst the sadness, between generations of family.
Make aloo pitika
Watch ‘Hotel Salvation’
3.30pm Monday 13 February on SBS World Movies and streaming now at SBS On Demand.
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