Yes. For sure, Zinda is India’s darkest film ever as it may seem. The whole setting is gloomy. All the characters behave as if they have not laughed all their life. The scenes have all been shot with a blue tint. Even the screenplay is grainy so as to complete the dark look of the film. The slow music also contributes to the dark outline of the film.But the film definitely creates a strong impression on its viewers. There is something about this film that you will like. Be it its highly graphic violence or Sanju baba. Zinda is a film you would definitely not want to miss. And Sanjay Gupta makes sure you don’t.
The Plot: Bala(Sanjay Dutt) is a software engg.(although, he is miles away from that software guy look, he does pull it off quite well). The company he is working for wants him to work in Bangkok. Life is good for him. A beautiful wife(Celina), a comfy job, a good friend (Mahesh Manjrekar), and just everything else.
So far so good, one fine day he gets kidnapped from his house and thrown in a room.
For months together he is kept in solitary confinement , quarantined from the outside world, fed only fried wontons twice a day. There is only a television for his company, his window to the outside world. Then , one day he watches on TV that his wife has been murdered and that he has been named the prime suspect. From then onwards for fourteen long years he is kept in that room with no human contact in is conciousness whatsoever. The scenes where he asks his foodgetter for mercy, his suicide attempt, and the subsequent ones that show him in the room are gripping.
Then one day he is let off(after fourteen years that is). It is now upto him to find out as to why he had been captured for so many years and the person behind this.
The Performances:
Sanjay Dutt- He continues to enthrall us post Munnabhai... with another superb performance.
John Abraham- Models can really act, it seems. One more step up the ladder for him.
Mahesh Manjrekar- He seems to be there just because of friends Sanju and Sanjay Gupta.
Raj Zutshi- He deserves a mention. He is good, as always.
Lara Dutta- She is there just to drive Sanju around the city and entertain him at times. Useless role.
Celina Jaitley- Hardly there.
Well, here is Zinda. A well crafted film but with some flaws. It seriously isn’t for the weak hearted. Some scenes are highly graphic and get you a lump in the throat. But this in-the-face effort from the guys will pay-off well.The most brilliant scene in the movie is the one where Sanju takes on a dozen guys. The whole scene has been shot in a single frame which is simply superb. Although the climax of the film is’nt as gripping as the other parts, but for once Zinda will definitely go down in the history books as one of India’s darkest films.