Dear Zindagi

I admit I'm way too late in writing this review. But I'm just thankful that I'm writing this while the movie is still showing in the theatres. I had almost given up the hope of getting a chance to watch this movie on the big screen, and very sadly so..given my love for Alia Bhatt & SRK, but I made it to the movie finally! Thanks to a friend who, like me, was probably the only one who hadn't seen this movie.



So there I went to see for myself what the fuss was all about! And I must say I did get a little disappointed. After a movie like English Vinglish, I expected more from Gauri Shinde. Sadly, the movie did not live up to, at least, my expectations! 

First, Kaira (played by Alia) was shown to have such a flaky temper that it didn't make me feel any positive emotion for her. On the contrary, I felt bad for the guys she dated and dumped/ditched. I even sided with Raghuvendra (played by Kunal Kapoor) in my heart when Kaira blamed him for being dishonest. So for about half the duration of the movie, I couldn't quite understand why I should care to like Kaira. And then in the second half, after much dilly-dallying I finally got to know why Kaira does what she does! That scene where she narrates her childhood plight to Jehangir (played by SRK) did make me feel a little bad for Kaira. Kudos to Alia for performing that scene so brilliantly. I don't know about others, but I actually felt very bad. So bad that I went into the mode where I get so sad that the only thing I want to do is observe some silence to show some respect to the other person. I don't know if I was able to convey the depth of my emotion in that line clearly. But I hope you get the point - I got very sad. 

But then just when Kaira's story was reaching its finish line, the camera lingered for way too long on her face. Call me crazy, but that just made me feel like Gauri Shinde knows how good an actress Alia Bhatt is and so she decided to focus on her expressions just so she can cash in on those emotions. I did not see the genuineness(or genuinity?) in that shot. Maybe I'm being too picky. But the heart wants what it wants!

Having said all that, the intent behind the movie wasn't wrong. Mental health isn't always given the importance it should get and the people seeking psychiatric/psychological help of any kind are often looked down upon. This needs to change. I, for one, have myself taken a counselor's help in my life once. And I was so ashamed of doing it that I withdrew from my sessions. I think that was partly because I don't open up to random people so easily. But part of it was also because I did not want to tell myself that I'm consulting a counselor. 

It was a movie with a purpose and kudos to Gauri Shinde for venturing into an unchartered territory!

With that, it's time for the word of the day - 

Frisson: It means "a sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill."
a frisson of excitement

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