First thing reports in sections of the media claiming Yeh Saali Zindagi has 22 kisses are all lies. The film does have some thanda kisses. The number’s far from 22. So if you were planning to buy a ticket to watch a smoochathon, forget it.
Onto the film. Mishra’s penchant at balancing realism and entertainment has made him one of the most exciting crossover filmmakers of our times. He is clearly a sucker for suspense drama and loves to reinvent the genre in various ways. His latest is a delightful reiteration of the fact, though far from perfect.
The film is a gritty thriller that rides a romantic subtext. Essentially, this is Mishra in safe mode. He hasn’t had much of success lately. His last two films — Tera Kya Hoga Johny and Mumbai Cutting — are waiting commercial release despite being completed some time ago. His last release Khoya Khoya Chand, a critically commended romantic drama that opened three years ago, sadly flopped.
So, this time Mishra takes the suspense drama route of Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, the film that catapulted him to the crossover A-list for the first time way back in 1996.
A crisp start to the story unleashes the characters all at once. You have Chitrangada Singh as a club singer, Priti. She is in love with Shyam (newcomer Vipul Gupta) although he is all set to marry a minister’s daughter. Priti is also Arun’s (Irrfan Khan) object of one-way affection.
Arun works as a financial fixer of sorts for a corrupt builder (Saurabh Shukla). Thrown in is a gangster Kuldeep (Arunoday Singh) who is assigned the job of kidnapping Shyam and the minister’s daughter. Kuldeep and his guys botch up, and end up kidnapping Priti along with Shyam. Arun happens to be a witness. It is up to him to save Priti.
Mishra is a deceptively languid storyteller. The narrative looks relaxed but whatever goes on quietly keeps adding the knots to the tale. His trademark black humour adds to the fun.
THE success of this genre of films relies on the maker’s ability to keep you guessing about what the characters are up to. It’s obvious right at the start that none of the players are wholly nice or what they seem. The narrative keeps teasing you with tips on who’s upto what all along. Without giving away what happens, Mishra tries to give the ending an upbeat spin. But the climax comes across as rather tame and hackneyed.
This is a crack cast that normally doesn’t go wrong. Irrfan carries off his antihero act with trademark swagger. No one makes Chitrangada look so gorgeous, act so confident as Mishra does — Yeh Saali Zindagi merely proves what we felt watching Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi. Arunoday Singh proves again he is crossover Bollywood’s find of the season. The guy is here to stay.
Rating : 3 / 5
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