Relationship story? Rom-com? Love saga? There's more to Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan's Dear Zindagi...
So the day has come! Dear Zindagi has released and everyone's going gaga over Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt in Gauri Shinde's Dear Zindagi. I have to admit that I am a huge fan of Gauri's vision. She's one of those rare filmmakers who believes in carving moments and not just scenes in her films. Not that she has done too many films but both English Vinglish and Dear Zindagi left me thinking about the hows, the whens and whys of my personal life.
Let's talk about Dear Zindagi only now! In simple words, it's a unique take on urban relationships and modern day definition of dating and love. But is it just a relationship saga? A rom-com? A feel good slice of life film? Or there's more to it! The answer is clear. Dear Zindagi is not just a relationship tale. Neither is it a thesis on how to cure depression or get away from it. It's a brilliant gender-bender story in today's times.
Remember how people touted R Balki's Ki and Ka that released earlier this year as the ultimate gender bender film in B-Town? Well, wife Gauri Shinde hits it out of the ballpark with her take on love and life. You may ask why I call it a gender bender film. So here it goes.
In modern day society, the common perception is that women are honest and loyal while the men are cheating, conniving and almost always have a philandering side to them. Gauri turns tables on women and explores the same instances from a woman's point of view.
Take One:
Doesn't a woman cheat while being in a relationship or in marriage? Is it a taboo to talk about? Majority of women may not be cheaters but that cannot discount the fact completely that women also cheat. Gauri hits out at common perceptions and shows Alia as a woman who's cheated while being in a relationship with someone. But in the next scene immediately, Gauri proves that this isn't women bashing as well. Strong woman Kaira admits to having slept with another man the very next time she meets her then boyfriend. A scene that deserves an applause!
Take Two:
Men are commitment phobic. Bollywood ho ya real life, usually men are the ones who shy, or should I say, run away from commitment. That again, is an age old perception from the book. Director Gauri puts Alia in those big boots and brings out a rather negative trait in her wonderfully well. Alia's Kaira doesn't conform to one relationship. When Kunal proposes her and wants to take their relationship to the next level, she doesn't have an answer. There's a huge change in her body language and her mannerisms which is beautifully captured by Gauri and enacted by Alia in the film. Another scene-stealer for sure!
Take Three:
Have you ever been to a bachelor's pad? Very rarely would you find it nicely done up with things in place. Unless, the guys' mom or his girlfriend's parents are visiting him! On the contrary, people do believe that women like perfection. Keeping the place clean, putting things in the right place - it all comes naturally to them. Kaira's different. She loves imperfections. She loves it when things are out of place. While the other two are striking elements which definitely prove the point I'm trying to make, being a man and living alone, I know how my room looks. Friends and family pass it off saying, "This is such a guy's room, yaar!" So for me, this small detailing in her character mattered too and how!
Take Four:
Now, this is the most important and interesting part. Arresting , to say the least! There's a multitude of emotions that Alia's Kaira goes through in the two and hour runtime of the film. From heartbreak and pain to happiness and anger, Gauri has explored all the facets of human expression through Kaira. But the wonderful part about her narrative is that it doesn't matter if you are a guy or a girl, you would still relate to her. It's not her but the emotions and the situations she faces that makes the film all the more practical relatable. Throughout the film, I had several questions running on my mind. Some lines brought back past memories as I choked with emotions while the others reminded me that one can't let their 'past blackmail the present and ruin a beautiful future.' And life moved on... even after the film! And for me, when a filmmaker can get a guy relate to what her female protagonist is going through in her film, that's a victory. And Gauri has hit it for a home-run!
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 "Dear Zindagi")
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