This is by far Bollywood’s most dark film.The movie starts out on a surreal and strange note, as we meet Sanju Baba.It’s made clear from the outset that his character is less than savory.
Nonetheless, ZINDA is Sanjay Dutt’s story, and he has given such an engaging performance that it’s impossible not to be consistently fascinated by the events unfolding onscreen.
In the first reel, Sanjay Dutt is kidnapped by a group of strange ship travellers and taken away to a small room where he is kept prisoner for reasons unknown. Although he is uncertain at first how much time has passed, before long he is passing the years by tattooing his arm with a new mark at each anniversary.
The television that sits before him shows the world events that have taken place during his lost time. He even sees that his wife has been murdered, and he is the prime suspect. Before he can finish at the 14-year mark, though, he is unexpectedly and inexplicably released. And all of this action takes place in the first 20 minutes of the film.
Once Sanjay Dutt is out of his strange prison, his focus naturally becomes revenge against the people who had him placed there. As he rattles off a list of potential perpetrators who might have had reason for wanting to hurt him, it becomes even more apparent that Sanjay Dutt is a man with a checkered and dark past.
Part of ZINDA’s intrigue comes from the fact that we suspect the protagonist is a suffering, but we’re just not quite sure how or why he is that way.
The final hour and 40 minutes of the film are spent unraveling the mystery behind why Sanjay Dutt was imprisoned, who did it, and the means our hero takes to exact his retribution. However, the movie is far more involved than a simple tale of angry vengeance.
At the beginning of the film, the director’s influences become readily apparent. Taking elements from Old Boy, ZINDA sets itself apart as an intensely intelligent and deeply ambitious outing.
Some of the hyper-realistic violence and the ultimately dark subject matter proved uncomfortable for many female audience.
The film primarily relies on the performance of Sanjay Dutt, and he indeed gives one of the finest performances I have seen in some time.His initial scenes in cell are believable and leave a strong impression.
Along with Sanju, John also has a crucial role . Alternately angry, violent, vulnerable and even sexy, John’s range is remarkable and the character is extraordinarily memorable. To reveal much about this character would truly be to spoil the plot of the film, but suffice it to say that he is notable in a cast that is generally quite strong.
Setting off the atmosphere perfectly is a fantastic work from Sanjay Gupta. The music offsets the action that is taking place onscreen, and it does so as a study of contrasts.
In the end, although the movie is certainly intentionally off-putting and in-your-face, it leaves a lasting impact on the emotions.
I’m certain I’ll be pondering the movie’s ideas for some time, and while it shouldn’t be compellingly rewatchable, I find myself thinking that I’ll probably be looking to view it again in the very near future.
I highly recommend ZINDA for those who like smart cinema that is unafraid to take heavy risks.