Dear Zindagi is a good effort, given the hectic lives most of us lead, our eyes maneuvering their way from one screen to another.
We need movies around such subjects, especially in a world where interaction with things is greater than interaction with people.
With mental health taking a hit for quite a few people, this is a sensible movie, though therapy is a lot more than dramatic oneliners.
Alia Bhatt appeared to be too confident and her vulnerability was reflected only through dialogues but not her body language sometimes.
SRK, as a coach brings freshness on screen though some analogies(chairs and partners) can be difficult to digest.
In every movie with female protagonists such as Queen, Highway, etc, one can sense a strong urge to overpower or shame a certain section of people- dominant males/ nagging relatives/ insensitive parents.
One is aware that stereotyped roles in societies continue and need to be addressed, albeit an approach with a dialogue rather than aggressive badgering may achieve a lot more.
If directors can show restraint and make these conflicts less caricature-like, results would be better.
SRK is wonderfully subdued, restrained and comfortable and at ease. After Swades and Chak De, this is one performance that shows that the passionate actor from Delhi is capable of depth in emotions even as he plays to the gallery in routine Bollywood fare.
Alia goes slightly overboard, but for most part does justice to her character.
Having said that, new-age cinema or meaningful cinema risks being templatized.
Female protagonist- check
Nagging relatives- check
Accommodating breakups- check
Parent-children conflict-check
The movie could also have been made with a male protagonist as even males can have issues with mental health. The tendency to only make such movies with a female protagonist seems a safe bet.
The director Gauri Shinde’s earlier movie’English Vinglish’ was also with a female protagonist.
All in all, a refreshing movie with a few tears here and there. One left the cinema hall, eager to befriend life and embrace’Dear Zindagi’.