102 Not Out Full Story Explained (2018)
Imagine a 102-year-old man who acts like he is 26. That is Dattatraya Vakharia. He lives with his 75-year-old son, Babulal, who thinks life is over. This 2018 Hindi comedy-drama stars Amitabh Bachchan as the energetic father and Rishi Kapoor as his grumpy son. Directed by Umesh Shukla, the film is based on a Gujarati play. It is a story about breaking records, breaking habits, and finding joy in every moment. Dattatraya wants to become the world's oldest living person. To do that, he must keep his son's negativity away. So he gives Babulal a series of crazy conditions. What starts as a game becomes a journey of love, loss, and a shocking secret. This film will make you laugh, cry, and call your parents.
A 102-Year-Old's Wild Plan
Dattatraya Vakharia is 102 years old. But he does not act his age. He dances, jokes, and lives like a young man. His 75-year-old son Babulal is the opposite. Babulal thinks he is old and fragile. He lives a boring, routine life. Dattatraya wants to break the world record for the oldest person. He needs to live 16 more years. But he believes negative people shorten your life. So he tells Babulal he will send him to an old age home. Babulal is terrified. He loves his home. Dattatraya gives him a deal: follow my rules, or pack your bags.
Full Plot
Dattatraya Vakharia is a 102-year-old man who lives life with joy. His 75-year-old son Babulal is his complete opposite. Babulal thinks he is too old to enjoy anything. He lives a dull, routine life. Dattatraya wants to break the world record for the oldest living person. He needs to live 16 more years. He believes negative people shorten your life. So he threatens to send Babulal to an old age home. Babulal is terrified. Dattatraya gives him a deal: follow my rules, or go to the home. Babulal agrees.
The first condition is to write a love letter to his dead wife Chandrika. Babulal hesitates but writes it. Dattatraya laughs and enjoys it. The second condition is to stop visiting the doctor daily. Babulal agrees. The third condition is to cut holes in his childhood blanket. Babulal initially refuses. Dattatraya sends Babulal and their friend Dhiru on a trip around Mumbai. They visit Juhu Garden and St. Sebastian's Church. Babulal cries at both places. The garden reminds him of his childhood with his father. The church reminds him of his estranged son Amol. Amol lives in the USA and rarely calls.
On Babulal's birthday, Amol calls. Dattatraya hides the call and the flowers. Babulal finds out and is angry. Amol says he is coming to India next month. Dattatraya knows Amol only wants the property. He gives Babulal a final condition: kick Amol out. Babulal refuses. They have a big fight. Babulal decides to give his property to Amol. He signs an affidavit. Dattatraya then reveals his secret. He has a brain tumour. He does not have much time left. The old age home and the record were all a trick. He just wanted to change Babulal's negative attitude.
Babulal finally understands. When Amol arrives at the airport, Babulal insults him and sends him back. Dattatraya is satisfied. He tells Babulal to accept Dhiru as a son. Dattatraya dies peacefully. Babulal blows a whistle to celebrate his father's life. Dhiru plays a recorded message from Dattatraya. In it, Dattatraya says Babulal will break the record in 43 years. Babulal smiles. He is ready to live life fully.
Act Breakdown
Setting the Rules
We meet Dattatraya and Babulal. Dattatraya is 102 and full of life. Babulal is 75 and full of negativity. Dattatraya threatens to send Babulal to an old age home. He gives Babulal a series of conditions to follow. Babulal agrees out of fear.
Memories and Tears
Babulal completes the first two conditions. He writes a love letter and stops visiting the doctor. Dattatraya sends him on a trip to Mumbai. Babulal cries at the garden and the church. We learn about his estranged son Amol. The emotional weight builds.
The Son Returns
Amol contacts Babulal on his birthday. Dattatraya hides the calls and flowers. Babulal finds out and is angry. Dattatraya gives the final condition: kick Amol out. Babulal refuses. They have a big fight. Babulal decides to give his property to Amol.
The Truth and the Goodbye
Dattatraya reveals his brain tumour. Babulal realizes his father's love. He humiliates Amol at the airport. Dattatraya dies peacefully. Babulal blows a whistle to celebrate. He listens to Dattatraya's final message. He is ready to live life fully.
Characters
Dattatraya Vakharia
Played by Amitabh Bachchan
Dattatraya is a 102-year-old man with the heart of a 26-year-old. He is lively, funny, and loves life. He wants to break the world record for the oldest living person. He uses a trick to change his son Babulal's negative attitude. He hides a brain tumour from his son. In the end, he dies peacefully, having taught his son to enjoy life.
Babulal Vakharia
Played by Rishi Kapoor
Babulal is Dattatraya's 75-year-old son. He is grumpy, negative, and afraid of everything. He thinks he is too old to enjoy life. He follows his father's rules out of fear of the old age home. He learns to enjoy life again. He finally stands up to his greedy son Amol. He blows a whistle when his father dies, celebrating his life.
Dhiru
Played by Jimit Trivedi
Dhiru works at a nearby pharmacy. He delivers medicines to the Vakharia home. He becomes a close friend to both Dattatraya and Babulal. He accompanies Babulal on his emotional trip around Mumbai. In the end, Dattatraya suggests Babulal accept Dhiru as a son. Dhiru becomes part of the family.
Amol Vakharia
Played by Dharmendra Gohil
Amol is Babulal's son and Dattatraya's grandson. He lives in the USA and rarely contacts his father. He only calls when he wants something. He is greedy and only wants the family property. He does not come to see his dying mother. Babulal humiliates him at the airport and sends him back to the USA.
Scene Highlights
The Love Letter
Dattatraya forces Babulal to write a love letter to his dead wife Chandrika. Babulal hesitates but finally writes it. He pours his heart out. Dattatraya reads it and laughs joyfully. This scene shows Babulal's hidden emotions. It is the first step in his transformation.
The Mumbai Trip
Dattatraya sends Babulal and Dhiru to Juhu Garden and St. Sebastian's Church. Babulal breaks down crying at both places. Dhiru is confused. Later, Dattatraya explains the memories behind each place. This scene reveals Babulal's deep pain about his son Amol.
The Birthday Betrayal
On Babulal's birthday, Amol calls and sends flowers. Dattatraya hides everything. He deletes the call history. The next day, Babulal finds out. He is furious at his father. This scene creates a major conflict between father and son. It sets up the final condition.
The Brain Tumour Reveal
Babulal signs an affidavit to give his property to Amol. Dattatraya then reveals he has a brain tumour. He does not have much time left. He says the old age home and the record were all a trick. Babulal is shocked. This scene changes everything. Babulal finally understands his father's love.
The Airport Humiliation
Amol arrives at the airport expecting a warm welcome. Instead, Babulal insults him in public. He tells Amol to go back to the USA. Amol is shocked and leaves. This scene is Babulal's moment of strength. He finally chooses his father over his greedy son.
Cast & Context
102 Not Out marks the first time Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor played a father-son duo on screen. This is significant because in real life, Rishi Kapoor's father, Raj Kapoor, worked closely with Amitabh Bachchan. The pairing brought a lot of nostalgia for audiences. Both actors are legends of Indian cinema. Amitabh Bachchan brought his iconic energy to the role of Dattatraya. Rishi Kapoor brought his charm and vulnerability to Babulal. Their chemistry made the film special.
Themes
Age is Just a Number
The film shows that age does not define you. Dattatraya is 102 but acts like a young man. Babulal is 75 but acts like he is 100. Dattatraya proves that attitude matters more than age. He dances, jokes, and lives fully. Babulal learns this lesson by the end.
The Power of a Positive Mindset
Dattatraya believes negativity shortens your life. He forces Babulal to change his negative habits. Babulal stops visiting the doctor daily. He writes a love letter. He cuts holes in his blanket. Each step makes him more positive. The film shows that happiness is a choice.
Family and Sacrifice
Dattatraya sacrifices his own comfort to help his son. He hides his brain tumour to focus on Babulal. He tricks Babulal into enjoying life. Babulal sacrifices his property to protect his father's wish. The film shows that true family love means putting others first.
Letting Go of the Past
Babulal is stuck in the past. He holds onto his childhood blanket. He mourns his dead wife. He misses his estranged son. Dattatraya forces him to let go. Babulal writes a letter to his wife. He cuts holes in his blanket. He humiliates his son. Letting go frees him to live again.
Music & Soundtrack
ComposerSalim–Sulaiman
The music of 102 Not Out was composed by Salim-Sulaiman. The song 'Badumbaaa' is a fun, energetic track sung by Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor. It captures the film's joyful spirit. 'Bachche Ki Jaan' sung by Arijit Singh is a playful song about living life fully. The background music by George Joseph adds emotional depth to key scenes.
Similar Films
Both films feature Amitabh Bachchan as a quirky, elderly father with a unique relationship with his child. Both are heartwarming family comedies.
Both films explore family dynamics with elderly parents and estranged children. Both have a mix of humour and emotional drama.
Both films celebrate the energy and wisdom of elderly characters. They show that age is no barrier to living a full life.
Both stories feature an elderly protagonist who goes on a journey to fulfil a dream. Both are about letting go of the past and embracing new adventures.
Ending Explained
The ending of 102 Not Out is both sad and joyful. Dattatraya dies peacefully at home. Before his death, he told Babulal to blow a whistle when he dies. Babulal does exactly that. He celebrates his father's 102 years of life instead of crying. Then Dhiru gives Babulal a recorded tape. Dattatraya recorded it two days before his death. In the message, Dattatraya says he is sitting on a cloud with the Chinese man who holds the world record. He tells the man that Babulal will break the record in 43 years. This means Babulal will live to be 118 years old. The message is full of Dattatraya's humour and love. Babulal smiles. He is no longer the sad, negative man he was. He has learned to enjoy life. The film ends with Babulal ready to live fully. The message is clear: life is short, so celebrate every moment.
102 Not Out is a sweet, heartfelt film that will make you smile. It is not a perfect movie. The pacing is slow in parts. Some characters like Amol are not fully developed. But the performances of Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor are pure gold. Their chemistry carries the film. If you love family dramas with a message, watch this. It is perfect for a weekend watch with your parents. The film's heart is in the right place. It reminds you to enjoy every moment of life. A solid 3 out of 5 stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 102 Not Out is not based on a true story. It is adapted from a Gujarati play of the same name. The play was written and directed by Saumya Joshi. The film uses the play's story about a father and son.
Dattatraya wants to break the world record for the oldest living person on Earth. A Chinese man currently holds the record. Dattatraya needs to live for 16 more years to beat it. He uses this goal as a reason to change his son's life.
Dattatraya threatens to send Babulal to an old age home to force him to change. He believes Babulal's negative attitude is harmful. The threat is a trick. Dattatraya actually has a brain tumour and wants to fix his son before he dies.
Amol comes to India expecting to get the family property. But Babulal humiliates him at the airport. Babulal tells him to go back to the USA. Amol is shocked and leaves. He does not get the property or his father's love.
The title is a cricket reference. 'Not out' means a batsman is still playing. Dattatraya is 102 and 'not out' because he is still alive and active. At the end, he dies, so he becomes '102 out'. The title celebrates his long, joyful life.