Reviews

A stunner of a movie.

Do not start watching unless you can ensure no one will disturb for the next 105 minutes.

It exposes politicians but that's nothing new in Bollywood. It is the devastating indictment of the electronic media - specifically the news channels - that makes it such a stirring watch.

There is no attempt to make 'heroes' out of the main characters- not for most of the movie. Everyone is exposed and that is refreshing as nothing one has seen before.

Yes it is based on a Korean story/movie but that does not take anything away from its execution, script, direction and acting.

An absolute MUST WATCH.

Enough said.

I have always wondered why we have, coming from Pakistan, such amazing dramas with stunningly effective expressions of human relationships through simple real-life situations. We saw this in some amazing TV serials in the 70's and 80's and now we have some more shown to us, thankfully, by an Indian channel. Zindagi Gulzar Hai, along with Humsafar, is one such.

I guess it is because the top writers and directors of Pakistan are not enamoured by the props (both visual and aural) which my countrymen tend to make over-liberal use of. There is much for Indian industry to learn from the where the heart of Pakistani drama lies.

If there is a better presentation of a love story based on the South Asian culture . . . I haven't seen it - I am 66 and have been watching them for over half a century.

The beautifully written dialogue, superbly rendered by the two protagonists are the stand out feature of this romantic drama. The background score is amazing in its subtle and subdued presentation. One tends to see this play and snippets from it again and again and the beauty of the background score starts glowing brightly once one has started hearing other things besides the luminous dialogue.

The acting of all the actors is flawless but Fawad and Sanam Saeed steel your heart.

This is one for the ages.

I do not accompany my wife on her visits to the cinema to watch most new Hindi movies. There is a rash of silly comedies (supposed to be) with one or more from Akshay Kumar, the Deshmukh kid, Fardeen Khan, Sunil Shetty, Govinda in his terrible new avatar and others of their ilk. Or there are the Shahrukh Khan types with his ever increasing hamming that people continue to love in this country after half a century (in my life time) of watching. I wait and wait for a great review or for one of the few friends whose judgment I trust to tell me here is a you must see before I go to watch a Bollywood film. So when my good friend Sandhya Divecha told my wife to ask me to see this one I went.

And it was good.

Yes it could have been better (almost every movie can be and most Hindi movies can be MUCH better) but it was enjoyable. It was my first time watching Ranbir Kapoor and he is pretty good. This kid needs time (and better luck than his father) and he could be a real star. Everyone know how good an actress Konkana is but he more than holds his own and thats a big compliment.

The first half is a bit patchy but gets better as the movie gets going and the second one is a breeze. Anupam Kher does an ordinary job as he does more and more frequently of late and the highly talented Supriya Pathak is given yet another role which makes her mouth silly broken English. Friends tell me that it suits the role but that doesn't convince me. But both Kher and Pathak have minor roles. Its is Ranbir and Konkana all the way and you go with them and their emotions all the way.

Go watch it, as someone said in another review, with someone you love or intend to.