Banner: Dharma Productions, Red Chillies Entertainment & Hope Productions
Producer: Gauri Shinde, Gauri Khan & Karan Johar
Director: Gauri Shinde
Star Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, Kunal Kapoor, Angad Bedi, Ira Dubey, Aditya Roy Kapur & Ali Zafar
Music: Amit Trivedi
Director Gauri Shinde’s 1st directorial claim to fame was the Sridevi starrer film English Vinglish. But sadly enough her 2nd outing in Dear Zindagi really sucks. In spite of the writing prowess of Gauri Shinde Dear Zindagi literally fails to hold the viewers interest.
The scripted scenario of the film kick starts with the “on – the – sets” introduction of the extremely talented cinematographer Kaayra (Alia Bhatt), for whom work perfection towers above everything else in life. Not the one to make any kind of compromise in her work, she also harbours a heartfelt dream of directing her full – fledged feature film some day. One day, she gets a dream offer from Raghavendra (Kunal Kapoor), for co -directing a prestigious feature film on the foreign shores. Since Kaayra is in love with Raghavendra & vice versa, Kaayra becomes extremely happy thinking that she would be able to combine work with pleasure. Even before the feeling of her dream coming true sinks in, she gets a shock of her life when she gets to know that, Raghavendra has got engaged to his ex – girlfriend on the foreign shores. This news totally shatters the visibly distorted Kaayra. That’s when she happens to meet the renowned psychiatrist Dr. Jehangir Khan aka Jag (Shah Rukh Khan). Thereafter starts her therapy sessions with Jag. It is through these sessions that Jag gets to know that Kaayra has been silently suffering from many issues caused during her tender childhood. Gradually during the therapy sessions, a strong bond develops between Kaayra & Jag, so much so that she openly confides all about her past & her present day happenings to Jag. While doing so, Kaayra realises that she has actually fallen for Jag.
Director Gauri Shinde seriously errs in her 2nd outing Dear Zindagi. She has succeeded in extracting a superb performance from her entire star cast. But if only she had concentrated more on the other technical arena too. But Alas! Its too late now to rectify the mistakes she has made. No issues better luck in your hat trick outing.
Performance wise both Shah Rukh Khan & Alia Bhatt deserve a standing ovation for their intense, remarkable & sentive portrayal of their respective roles. In fact both, SRK as a psychiatrist & Alia Bhatt as a cinematographer, are so endearing that you instantly feel like giving them a warm hug. Another well – deserving act comes from SRK after Chak De! India and from Alia Bhatt after Udtaa Punjab. While Kunal Kapoor is superb, Angad Bedi is surprising, Ira Dubey is 1st rate, Aditya Roy Kapur is perfect & Ali Jafar is simply oustanding in their respective roles.
Tail Piece: Dear Zindagi maybe a multiplex audiences glass of wine, but it is certainly not a single screen audiences cup of tea. The film may win laurels & accolades in the Global Film Festival circuit. But at the Indian Box office turnstiles its chances are nil.
