The Contemporary Indian Family in Gulmohar: A Semiotic Analysis of Thematic Representations

Abstract

This paper explores the semiotic and pragmatic dimensions of family dynamics as portrayed in the Indian film Gulmohar. By analysing key scenes and dialogues, it investigates how signs, both verbal and non-verbal, reveal underlying emotional tensions, generational conflicts, and evolving definitions of home and identity. Drawing from semiotics and pragmatics, the study examines the symbolic role of everyday settings, such as the dinner table, in expressing unspoken truths and suppressed emotions within Indian families. The paper further interrogates how Gulmohar subverts conventional family narratives by foregrounding voices and identities that have traditionally been marginalized, particularly those related to caste, gender, and queerness. By doing so, the film not only reflects but also critiques and reimagines normative understandings of family and belonging. Ultimately, the analysis highlights how regional and digital cinema are reshaping familial storytelling, offering nuanced reflections on belonging, identity and the silent conversations that define relationships.