There are a few moments between father and son which feel as if something real is going on – resentment and anger have a way of boiling up to the surface in strange ways between parents and children. But the rest of it is clunky and contrived, and the sudden switch between moods—from dad being foe to friend—feels too hurried.

Director Tanuj Bhramar could have explored gay relationships deeper. But in this film, he is almost content to let it all rest with a son’s acceptance — if willy-nilly — of his father’s sexuality.

Though elegant composed and filled with warm possibilities, Dear Dad stays awfully impersonal communicating only from a distance to tread a tediously linear path. Its all-important disclosure isn’t hard to guess what with Bhramar giving away ample signs along the way.   

Dear Dad deserves a watch simply for the profound point it makes about accepting people for who they are and loving them unconditionally.

Dear Dad touches upon a brave and important subject of acceptance, love and compassion, we wish the film was able to have a wider reach with a better storyline.

Dear Dad misses out on becoming a gem because of its treatment.

Go watch this short, sensitive film that gives out the message that parenthood has nothing to do with one’s sexuality. That all every family needs is a little more love to make the scars heal…

This could have been a better film dealing with a real issue, but sadly, the script and direction did not seem confident enough to deal with it.

Though this is a film about painful revelations Dear Dad is not a sad film. It doesn’t celebrate human frailty. But it tells us it’s okay to be what we are, who we are and never mind why we are what we are.

Swamy, whose Hindi film roles include Bombay (1995) and Raja Ko Rani Se Pyaar Ho Gaya (2000), brings some import to his part, and shares a gentle and believable camaraderie with Sharma. But there’s only so much the actors can do with a script that started off boldly but blinked when it mattered most.

Definitely watch it for it will broaden your mind about homosexuality and how it is not a choice but just a preference people are born with. It will definitely inspire more people in India to come of the closet and embrace their true nature without shame. Do not miss this film!

While this could’ve been a breezy indie mood film that travels to a few festivals, it may face a serious challenge as a commercial release in India. The problem with it is simple — not much happens. And what does, happens at a lethargic pace, which can be unnerving.

The slow and steady passage from love to hatred and pride would have been a profound and poignant journey that the film doesn’t quite embark on. It’s in too much of a hurry to reach nowhere.

The movie wants to say something poignant and profound about the need for sons to accept their father’s decisions, but it doesn’t have the material to do so. Still waters are meant to run deep, but in Dear Dad, they remain still.

In short, here is a drag of a film, called a bittersweet drama, which is, really speaking, much ado about — almost — nothing.