Review: 'Staying Alive'

Review: Staying Alive (Hindi)
Director: Ananth Mahadevan
Cast: Ananth Mahadevan, Saurabh Shukla, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Navani Parihar, Sunita,
Rating: **

When was the last time you took a long walk with your husband/wife? Talked about the natural beauty you saw around? About young children who'd soon grow up to become responsible individuals? Or just went up to an estranged friend and repented for being a rogue?

Some of you may have, but most others take for granted the little joys hidden in the faces of family and friends. Writer/director Ananth Mahadevan (remember Shah Rukh Khan's timid father in Baazigar?) brings to the table a poignant tale in Staying Alive, that seeks answers to these questions. The uncomfortable questions are only momentary.

Mahadevan casts himself as Aditya Roy, the Assistant Editor of a newspaper who has landed in the hospital after suffering a second heart attack. Next to his bed lies the impatient Shaukat Ali (Saurabh Shukla), a don shot by a rival local gang. Their character traits are distinct; the editor is calm and composed, almost indifferent to his condition while Shaukat has business to finish but this confinement will transform him as person.

In the 22-odd days spent in the hospital, a strange friendship blooms between Shaukat's wife Shireen and Aditya's Leela. As companions in adversity, Shireen and Leela's becomes a parallel story.

The pace of Staying Alive is conducive to send anyone into deep slumber, much like the protagonists' worry while they lay on the hospital bed. It's touching nonetheless. The storyline is painfully predictable, while the dialogue strictly pedestrian. You will almost find yourself finishing sentences uttered by the cast. Mahadevan tries so hard to maintain the conversational element that he trips and falls into a preacher's ward. Ample silent moments give the audience a chance to ponder over their unfinished businesses.

The sympathy wave doesn't last and it gets plain boring after a while. The look and feel of Staying Alive is like that of a television feature, which is another reason one cannot relate to the characters even though they're fairly well-etched out.

Shukla as the don provides much comic relief and entertainment in the otherwise slow and bland Staying Alive. The story is a based on a real-life experience of late screenwriter Sujit Sen (original story and screenplay), but fails to holds attention.

Skip this sappy drama. It's not the best way to spend your weekend.