ZinDA : Different and Impactful!. Review on Zinda

With Kaante and Musafir, Sanjay Gupta continues making non-masala flicks with Sanjay Dutt in prominent roles. Compared with the previous two, ''Zinda'' has some similarities but is a different fare altogether.

Story

I'll only give a brief synopsis here. Sanjay Dutt is a software engineer who lives in Bangkok with his wife Celina Jaitley and has Mahesh Manjrekar as his best friend. He gets abducted and is kept locked up in a room for 14 years for unknown reasons. He has a tv and a bed in his room and is fed with fried wantons day and night. When 14 years are up, he is suddenly released from captivity and then with nothing else to do in life, he goes in pursuit for his captor. John Abraham is the captor as you wouldve already guessed. The story behind Sanjay's confinement is revealed step by step in the second half. Lara Dutta plays a taxi driver who helps Sanjay Dutt. The whole movie is based in Bangkok from start to end.

Why should you watch it?

I think in bollywood, with the bombardment of routine masala flicks, you should always go and watch when a 'different' movie such as this one appears. Direction is very similar to Musafir and Kaante but the movie is almost devoid of any colors and is set in dark tones. Right from the start of the film, the viewer slowly gets immersed in the going-ons. The director has done a very good job of unfolding the story slowly and at the right times. John Abraham himself makes his appearance around the interval point, at which you simply can't wait for the second half to start. Watching Sanjay Dutt suffer and go through hell during those 14 years makes you wonder why would someone inflict such a big punishment on somebody? The movie is basically a revenge saga but there are enough twists and turns in the second half to keep you guessing. Climax is extremely important in a movie as it sums up your overall impression of the movie. Unlike most of the movies which end in anti-climax, this one leaves you satisfied and also makes you think about the details later on. There are also no songs in the movie. There are two tracks which are only played for a short while in the background.

Memorable Scenes

• Sequences showing Sanjay Dutt in confinement and his desperation to escape.

  
  




• Sanjay Dutt's first step in trying to find out about his captor.

  
  




• Sanjay's confrontation with the ''hotel'' operator.

  
  




• The final sequences between John and Sanjay.

  
  

Watch out for..

The movie gets gory at times. There are sequences like a drill machine going through a person's shoulder, Sanjay Dutt uses a hammer to take out teeth from a person's jaw and this is shown in detail, coarse language is used in some parts of the movie, there is a love making sequence between Sanjay and Lara ( which may not appeal to families). Overall, it is not at all a lovey-dovey affair, it's gory and it's gritty.

Music and Performances

The music album of the movie is superb with ''Kahani'' by Strings standing out. Shabani Kashyup impresses with her songs as well. Sanjay Dutt steals the show with a brilliant performance and it is hard to imagine anyone other than him in that role. The sequences where he shows his desperation and breaks down are excellent. John Abraham gives quite a good performance as a business tycoon with negative shades. Celina Jaitley is hardly there for a few scenes and Lara Dutta is good in her role. Mahesh Manjrekar is as usual and there are lots of Bangkok locals in the movie.

Final Verdict

This movie cannot be categorized as a family movie but that does not mean it is not good. A movie with such a storyline simply can't be made a family movie. It's a gripping storyline which has been effectively told by Sanjay Gupta. If you like mushy feel-good bollywood movies, this might not be your cup of tea otherwise, I recommend it to all other people. Definitely worth your money!