Talented Gauri Shinde made her directorial debut with
English Vinglish, a movie that marked the comeback vehicle for veteran actress
Sridevi and won our hearts with its emotional connect. After dealing the issues
and emotions of a housewife and a mother, now, Gauri Shinde explores the psyche
of a 20-something teenage stylish girl in Dear Zindagi.
The story spins around the lead character Kaira (Alia Bhatt),
who is a brilliant cinematographer and lives on her own in Mumbai but dreads
the thought of visiting her parents in Goa. Kaira also has a messed up love
life, as she is commitment-phobic. When Kaira undergoes a heartbreak and also
has to vacate her rented house because the owner doesn't want 'single women' as
tenants anymore, she shifts to Goa to be with her parents and bumps into Dr.
Jehangir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), a weird therapist.
Over heart-to-heart sessions, Khan soon realises that
Kaira's present is being dictated by her past and gradually starts unravelling
it with humour and prudent observations. How Jehangir's therapy benefits Kaira
forms the rest of the plot.
The gifted director Gauri Shinde comes up with a fresh idea to
explore in this movie. How does one find Mr. Right? How can you be sure he is
Mr. Right once you find him? What if there are other Mr. Rights? What then?
The vivacious actress Alia Bhatt, who trusts in
experimenting with her roles, has done a good act in the movie and absolutely astonishes
you in some scenes, while coming across as ordinary in others. Shah Rukh Khan says
goodbye to romantic image from this film and is like a breath of fresh air as
Dr. Jehangir Khan with his dimpled smile and his warm brown eyes as he helps
Kaira through humorous stories, life lessons and other 'gyaan'. Truly, the movie
picks up and starts making sense once Khan enters the picture. The megastar is
dignified and funny at the same time and manages to strike the seamless balance
between seriousness and light-heartedness. But, Khan's real talent lies in his
knowing when to sit back and let Kaira lead the scene. Angad Bedi, Kunal Kapoor
and Ali Zafar have small roles as the men in Kaira's life at different points
of time.
Gauri Shinde earns a praise for efficiently and perfectly depicting
the 'Tinder' generation and driving home the point that a person's present is
often the result of his or her past. Kaira may come across as irksome and insincere
in the first half but as you gradually realise that there is more to the issue,
your view about the character undergoes a complete change and you may find
yourself feeling warm towards her. But, it is the first half that meanders and
makes you edgy while the second half, though long, starts making sense.
But, while Gauri Shinde could have stuck to a point and mildly
hammered it home, she takes up an array of problems to discuss quickly via this
movie as single women not getting places on rent, the attitude of parents
regarding the career choices and lifestyle of their children, the stigma
attached to seeking professional help for mental issues et al. A bit of a focus
with regards to the plot and narrative would not have harmed the movie at all,
we feel. Some of the points made in the movie make quite an impact and the
scene where Kaira breaks down in front of Jehangir, may assuredly bring a lump
to your throat.
At large, Dear Zindagi is a worthy to watch once for some
fresh concept about the teenager and act of SRK as an eccentric therapist.
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