movie review Archives | Foodeva Marsay

Movie Title : DEAR ZINDAGI

Date Released : 25 November 2016

Duration : 150 minutes

Directed by : Gauri Shinde
Produced by : Gauri Khan, Karan Johar and Gauri Shinde
Written by : Gauri Shinde
Screenplay by : Gauri Shinde
Starring : Alia Bhatt, Shah Rukh Khan
Music by : Amit Trivedi

PLOT

Dear Zindagi (Dear LIFE), is a Movie about a 20-something, promising cinematographer, Kaira (Alia Bhatt), and is filmed between the cities of Mumbai and Goa. We watch Kaira having many emotional issues and difficulty committing to relationships in her life, and when all seems to be falling apart for her, after being evicted from her flat in Mumbai by her landlord, and the collapse of what she hoped would be a break through for her in the film industry as a cinematographer, and then boyfriend, Raghuvendra (Kunal Kapoor). Heading back to her parents in Goa, Bhatt is faced with many emotional issues that seem to surface. It’s is with the help of her Therapist, Dr Jahangir Khan(Shah Rukh Khan), that she is able to work through a lot of the emotional stress she has been harbouring. Goa also brings a little love again, to Kaira’s Life, with musician Rumi (Ali Zafar), which also doesn’t last all that long enough. It is after Kaira narrates her story with ‘JUG’ (Dr Jahangir) , that she is then able to bring about some sort of effort in reconciling with her feelings, and working past them. The Movie ends with a happier, carefree Kaira, finally getting her break in doing a full length short film, as well as another prospective love interest.

MY THOUGHTS

If you are looking for the regular Big Budget, Romantic type of Shah Rukh Khan movies, we so love (I’m an SRK DIE-HARD FAN ?), then this one is definitely not it. The Core of Dear Zindagi is all about Kaira (Alia Bhatt). Gauri Shinde, who’s 1st debut movie back in 2012, English Vinglish, has once again based this story along the lines of focussing on stereotype issues on Indian women. A society that tends to suppress the feelings of women, here we get to see how Shinde very casually brings light to the fact that, emotional distress in women is present, whether you a working, modern lady of today, there is going to be emotions that get the better of us, both at the workplace as well as in personal life. The film unfortunately does drag a bit for about an hour, with Kaira and her friends, seemed like it was just another boring young and preppy lives of the younger generation.

It is not until Kaira has to return back to Goa, that the story begins to get a little bit more volume to it. That, and of course the entrance of the “BD” (BRAIN DOCTOR, as a phycologist is referred to as by Kaira and her friends), Khan. Though Khan’s role is a lot more toned down from the usual theatrics we are used to expecting from Bollywood movies, there is a likeable, almost electric, chemistry between the characters of Khan and Bhatt, even though not in the romantic type of way. As Dr JUG, helps Kaira shed each layer of her hardened emotional shell, there are a few dialogues from Khan that remain true to LIFE. One of the dialogues I liked was when Khan tells Bhatt during one of the sessions “don’t let the past blackmail the present, to ruin a beautiful future”. It’s subtle messages like those, that make this movie very true to real life. It’s hats off to Gauri Shinde for highlighting the social issues of women, the old suppressing thoughts that women should hide their feelings well because of what society may think of her, the issues about women being a certain age and not yet married, encouraging women that it is OK to seek help for emotional stress, all these do come through in the movie.

The music was OK, nothing much to rave about, my favourite has to be “TU HI HAI” , which is beautifully crooned in the silky voice of Ali Zafar, sadly you would only hear his voice to this song in the movie, as Ali Zafar music DOES NOT feature in the Films Music Album, due to some boycott issues of Pakistani Actors/Singers in India, The song on the music album is by Arjit Singh.

So, If you are looking for a little bit of Soul Searching, Dear Zindagi, may just be for you. I felt it could have been better, But I do admire the fact that this film is based on a HUGE SLICE OF LIFE, that we tend to sometimes ignore. In our fast paced life these days, it Wouldn’t hurt to once again, re-connect with LIFE, and like Kaira does in the end, Start talking to our “DEAR ZINDAGI (DEAR LIFE)”, a journal for our DEAR LIFE, noting down our feelings, happy and sad, will be to the betterment of our own emotional health.

FOODEVA MARSAY RATING

⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

Have you watched this film? share with me your thoughts on it too, in comments. Until next time…

‘See you at a popcorn stand’, Happy Movie Watching Lovelies?

Movie Title: MS Dhoni – The Untold Story

Date Released : 30 September, 2016
Duration : 190 minutes
Written and Directed by : Neeraj Pandey
Music by : Amaal Mallik

PLOT

A wonderfully portrayed Biopic on the the life of Indian Cricketing Super-Star, MR COOL, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The Untold story, about his Journey to becoming the most successful captain of the Indian Cricket Team. From a young budding cricketer from early childhood, we get to watch how MS Dhoni, makes his way up the cricketing rankings to achieve his success as captain.

The movie starts off in the Indian Cricket Teams’ dressing room at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, the ICC Cricket World Cup Final between India and Sri Lanka is being televised live on screen, and we see MS Dhoni (played by Sushant Singh Rajput) watching the fall of wickets of his team mates. It was at this crucial moment MS Dhoni decides to pad up and go in next to bat. As he enters the stadium amidst the roaring crowds chanting his name, the movie does a flashback to Ranchi, (Bihar), India, set in 7 July 1981.

MY THOUGHTS

I DON’T LIKE CRICKET…. I LOVE IT!!!
So for me to do a rare solo run to the movies, was definitely worth it.

I loved how Sushant Singh Rajput, so effortlessly portrays MS DHONI. Rajput seemed so at ease behind the helmet and on the crease, it doesn’t look like he was just doing an acting scene, he was a natural. With most bollywood Movies these days trying to be more ‘Hollywood Like’ , this movie, finally brings back all the old bollywood vibes. A Storyline based on simple family life and the essential values thought from an early age. We see MS Dhoni’s dad, Pan Singh (Anupam Kher) keeps pushing his son to study and later work as he doesn’t want his son to be stuck in a menial job like he is, but as much as MS Dhoni aka ‘Mahi’ (as he’s affectionately known), had tried to balance his simple job and his passion for cricket, there’s no guess which one wins over the other.

There are 2 female lead roles, one by Disha Patani, as Priyanka Jha, Dhoni’s ex-girlfriend, and the second female lead was played by Kiara Advani as Sakshi Dhoni, Dhoni’s wife. The 2 songs that I enjoyed, one screenplayed on each of the lead actresses, and I’m sure they would be hitting box office ranks to number 1 soon. Being South African, I’m always thrilled to watch movie scenes that showcase our beautiful country, and on the JAB TAK soundtrack sung by young Armaan Mallik, you will notice just that.
(Find the Link to ONE of the music videos, showcasing Cape Town, below)

Neeraj Pandey has made this movie with every detail in mind, the cricket scenes, from the regular practise sessions, selections, right up-to to the actual games being played, everything had a good flow to it. Don’t be annoyed to see Mahi do a couple ad scenes in between the story, after all it shows what his life is all about. The simplicity of the man, his humbleness to all that have stood by his side, coaches, friends and family, is captured superbly. I wouldn’t have chosen another actor other than Sushant Singh Rajput to play the lead. So Whether you love cricket or not, this is one movie worth going to watch. I had gone to Nu-Metro Emperors Palace, in Johannesburg, South Africa, And it isn’t very often I see non-Indians coming out to watch a bollywood movie. But because of this ones storyline based on such a cricketing hero in this day and age, I was glad to have seen a couple of Non Indians also pop in to view this one.

No matter how cliched it always seems with cricket based storylines, this one too ends with a whopping win by the lead MS DHONI. I had always Admired Dhoni as a cricketer, and today my admiration for this human goes up another notch, and the very same For the Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whom many of us may have followed from his early acting days starring on the small screen, in an Indian Soapie serial.

A movie that will teach youth and adult alike, some very worthwhile lessons in life.
So, What are You waiting for, head on over to your nearest movie theatre and grab some popcorn, and settle in to watch the life of MR COOL of Cricket , MS DHONI- the Untold Story

FOODEVA MARSAY RATING

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

this soundtrack above is One that showcases some of Cape Town, South Africa.

… and this is my new present fav from the same movie…ENJOY!!!

Have You Watched the Movie, do share with me your thoughts on it.

Until Next Time…

?SEE YOU AT THE POPCORN STANDS LOVELIES?

Tag: movie review

Movie Review – Dear Zindagi

Movie Review – MS DHONI – THE UNTOLD STORY