Insight:
Kaira, a young successful cinematographer, goes through heartbreak and returns to Goa to live with her parents. Over there, she meets Dr. Jehangir Khan, a therapist, who helps her to self-explore her world and give meaning to her thoughts and clear her emotional blockage. The movie takes Kaira through a journey of self-exploration, helping her gain new perspectives in her dear zindagi.
“Don’t let the past blackmail your present into ruining a beautiful future”
Buzz:
This is Shahrukh Khan and Alia’s first movie together. Gauri Shinde is known for her debut directorial movie, English Vinglish. The part where SRK and Alia are cycling and Alia falls down has actually been, inspired from a real life incident that occurred on the sets of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
What To Anticipate:
In the movie, we have Shahrukh Khan bringing his old charm, though in a subtle, constructed and gracious manner that suits him perfectly with a hint of grey hair and white beard. The role definitely suits him and brings a sense of clarity to his acting. Something that can be related to his acting style in Kal Ho Na Ho. His dealing of the simplicity is impressive.
There are admirable points in the movie:
- Its idea of de-sensitizing the old beliefs surrounding mental health problems and the shameful association of therapy with lunacy and ‘paagal khanas’.
- The quotes and ideas that have been talked about in the movie, which seems true to a far good.
“Khul ke ro nahi sakoge toh khul ke has kaise paoge?”
“It’s not necessary to punish yourself in order to achieve something, there’s also the easy way.”
“Genius is not someone who has all the answers but someone who has the patience for all the answers”
What’s commendable is Gauri Shinde’s new take on describing life and the on-going things around. The usage of dream element, therapy sessions, the creaking chair – elements that keeps it real and interesting. Unlike, any romantic movie, Khan distancing himself from Kaira and his affection for her portrayed through the chair is brilliant.
But, through all of that, Alia’s acting shines in the movie. If her acting in Highway was good, she takes it up a notch in this movie. One goes through the emotions that Kaira goes through in the movie. Also, to mention is Yashaswini Dayama’s acting as Jackie in the movie. It seems that the director placed Jackie in the movie as a mirror-image to Kaira and it works perfectly. Her quirky, kiddo image is well-placed beside Kaira.
Amit Trivedi’s music is light and breezy and gels well along the story line.
It all falls short because, the movie turns out to be long and slow. Frankly, the role of Ali Zafar seems something that the story line could have done without. The constant bantering of her parents and relatives regarding marriage and a suitable job and life seems forced. The movie could have used certain more elements or should have been short. The story writing could have used some more substance.