Dear Zindagi (2016)
Viewing Platform: Netflix
Kaira is a young, single working girl,
busy trying to make a name for herself in cinematography. She has fun
with her friends but seems unable to keep a man in her life –
either from poor communication of her own feelings or from pushing
them away. After the latest relationship failure, Kaira is kicked out
of her apartment through no fault of her own besides being single and
has to move back home to Goa. She treats her parents very rudely and
is evidently unhappy with her life, but her biggest immediate problem
is she can't seem to get a good night's sleep. When she accidentally
overhears a mental health lecture at the local hotel while filming a
small potatoes commercial for a family friend, Kaira decides to seek
therapy for her insomnia. The talented, slightly unconventional
psychologist Dr. Khan starts meeting with Kaira, and her past is
revealed. How does Kaira's relationship with her parents now
interfere with her love life? Will Dr. Khan be able to help Kaira be
free from her fears and sorrows? And what will others in her life
think about her therapy?
*Kaira
is obnoxious in the beginning of the movie, but as the viewer sees
more into her life and hears her story, it's easier to understand
that all of the self-centered behavior and anger towards her parents
were symptoms of her emotional pain. I also saw the film as an
attempt to normalize therapy in a culture that still talks of
counseling and meeting mental health needs as a “hush-hush”
affair – an effort to give a glimpse into what actually goes on in
a therapy session. I'm glad that they handled the affection Kaira
develops for her therapist in a realistic manner, instead of having
them run off together. Shah Rukh Khan did an excellent job in that
role. Overall, it isn't the typical type of movie I watch, but it was
pretty good, and I'd probably watch it again. Oh, and “zindagi”
means “life” so she's saying “dear life” in the end,
reflecting on everything she's learned.*
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