An enDEARing tale

Dear Zindagi, Gauri Shinde’s sophomore effort at direction, following the sleeper success of her debut English Vinglish is a sort of coming-of-age study of a 20 something brattish young woman. Kaira (Alia Bhatt)’s attempts to come to terms with her own idiosyncrasies, with some help from her two friends Fatima (Ira Dubey), Jackie (Yashaswini Dayama) and a rule-breaking psychologist-cum-‘Life’ guru Dr. Jehangir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), forms the basis of this story.  

The first half is engaging and keeps you in splits- with the relationship fracas (break-up with Sid, played by Angad Bedi and subsequent betrayal by Raghuvendra essayed by Kunal Kapoor) taking centre-stage and the scenes of female bonding between the trio of friends lounging in the background. It’s light and frothy enough to hold your attention. But the second half tries hard to make it all look meaningful and deep and comes across as an obvious attempt to play dress-up. 

Shah Rukh Khan’s entry as the rule-breaking psychologist whose unconventional methods of therapy attract Kaira’s attention, long enough for her to decide to seek help (from him that is), is basically the key that turns the narrative around. But the one-sided representation of Dr Khan’s rule breaking philosophy and the all-too-easy turnaround from his irrationally brash and annoyingly self-centered young client makes it all look too fake, and stage-managed to suit the Khan’s branding requirements. 

Even Kaira’s admission of love at the end comes across as an after thought, as if the director felt the need to clear the air surrounding the therapist-client bonding. Shah Rukh Khan basically impersonates Amitabh Bachchan in this performance. Thankfully, he is playing someone who is mature enough to be a mentor, philosopher and guide. Alia’s range is certainly broadening.

She holds your attention and keeps you engrossed in her foibles even when they seem so trivial and meaningless. But for a few irritating ticks, this might well have been a luminous performance from this young and supremely talented artist. Kunal Kapoor has an arresting presence, Angad Bedi makes a mark with his aggrieved look while Ali Zafar looks lost in the song and romance of it. 

As for Gauri Shinde’s story and direction- It certainly doesn’t have the depth and dimensions of her ‘English Vinglish’ but even so it’s still fairly engaging thanks to the trio of friends (that includes the wonderfully talented Ira Dubey and Yashaswini Dayama)and the realistic camaraderie they share on screen.