We Are Family (2010)

[Gladys Anick]

WeAre Family is a 2010 family drama film directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra and produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and Karan Johar under Dharma Productions, with Sony Pictures Entertainment and UTV Motion Pictures handling the distribution rights.[1] The film is a co-production between India and the United States and it features Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal in the lead roles. It is also an official Indian adaptation of the American film Stepmom (1998), starring Susan Sarandon, Julia Roberts and Ed Harris.[1]

We Are Family was originally scheduled for release on 10 September 2010, but was rescheduled to release on 3 September to avoid clashing with the Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg.[2] It proved to be an underwhelming success at the box office. However, it received positive reviews from critics upon release, with particular praise directed towards Kajol and Kapoor's performances.

Maya is a former book publisher and a perfect mother whose life revolves around her three children, Aaliya, Ankush, and Anjali. Despite being divorced from Aman, Maya has ensured that they remain a happy family unit. However, things take an unexpected turn when Aman's girlfriend, Shreya Arora, a career-oriented fashion designer with a lot to learn about children, joins the family.

When Aman introduces Shreya at Anjali's birthday party, she accidentally drops Anjali's birthday cake, which leads the children to perceive her as evil. One day, Aman asks Shreya to look after them as he is busy with a meeting. Anjali goes missing when Shreya goes to get ice cream for the kids. At the police station, Anjali is found and Shreya cannot go near the children without Maya's permission after Maya threatens to file a lawsuit.

When Shreya and the children visit Maya at the hospital, the two women have a private conversation. Maya bequeaths guardianship of the children to Shreya and confesses a mistake she made that almost killed Anjali years ago due to recklessness. She explains that not every mother is perfect but they need to keep trying. Maya wants to return home for Diwali as the last chance to see her house before she dies. During the festival, the children hold a special event for her, replaying the memories they had together. When they take a family photograph, Maya asks Shreya to join, as she is now family. Soon after, Maya dies. Aman has married Shreya, and she became the children's stepmother.

Ten years later, it is Aaliya's wedding. Shreya gifts her a bracelet that belonged to Maya. During the marriage, Shreya recalls Maya saying she had the children's yesterday while Shreya has their tomorrow, and smiles.

Karan Johar decided to adapt Stepmom for the Indian audience with a working title Love You Maa. Although he initially intended to buy the rights to the film, he eventually opted to co-produce it with Sony Pictures.[5]

The film was shot in Sydney, Australia[6] and Mumbai from November 2009 to April 2010. According to Siddharth Malhotra, several scenes involving racial prejudice against the children were cut to avoid the appearance of using the controversy over violence against Indians in Australia to promote the film.[7]

Upon release, We Are Family received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise directed towards Kajol and Kapoor's performances.[10] IANS rated the film 4 out of 5 saying, "We Are Family is equally appealing from the outside and at the heart".[11][12][13][14][15] The Hindustan Times gave it two out of five stars. India Today's reviewer glibly stated, "Kajol cries, Kareena cries, the kids cry, and even Rampal sheds an artful tear. We weep for the loss of two hours."

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