Zindaginama review: A tremendous effort on mental health awareness
Zindagnaama, released on World Mental Health Day, is an anthology of six chapters exploring mental illness. Although it attempts to break down stigmas and start conversations, some stories fall short in execution.
Today, October 10, on World Mental Health Day, SonyLiv released Zindagnaama, an anthology of six chapters focusing on mental illness. Starring Sumeet Vyas, Prajakta Koli and Shreyas Talpade among others, the series delves into the struggles faced by individuals battling mental health conditions. Its aim is to break down the prevailing stigmas and taboos associated with these sensitive issues by opening up conversations about them. The show also highlights the vital role of caregivers and the importance of a support system for people going through challenging times.
The first story, ‘Swagtam’, explores schizophrenia and stars Shreyas Talpade and Anjali Patil in the lead roles. Written by Sukriti Tyagi, Ishaan Rai and Rahul Hota and directed by Tyagi himself, the story sensitively addresses the stigma surrounding the disease. On the one hand, the patient struggles with irrational fears, on the other hand, the people around him are horrified by his condition. The story also shows how a small gesture, perhaps from a child, can help someone regain their lost confidence. Tyagi has creatively included a homegrown superhero to drive home his message.
The next ‘One Plus One’ starring Prajakta Koli, Yashaswini Dayama and Lillete Dubey talks about anorexia and food and body issues. It explains how sarcastic comments about a child’s weight can leave a lasting impression. To highlight the constant comparisons most women face even at home, director Mitakshara Kumar takes a set of twins (written by Malika Kumar) to tell her story.
‘Purple Duniya’ written by Sahan Hattangadi and Danny Mamik is probably one of the most interesting shorts of the show. Led by Tanmay Dhanania and Shruti Seth, it starts to feel like the story of a man with a broken heart. However, soon you become immersed in the world of video games and how their addiction takes over every other sense.
Shweta Basu Prasad and Priya Bapat’s ‘Bhanwar’ is closest to reality and deals with one of the most common issues. From gender bias, depression and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) to parenting issues, it plays a role in showing how trauma can leave lasting effects. While director Aditya Sarpotdar shines with its linear form of storytelling (written by Venkatesh A.V.), it also tries not to show the world in black and white. ‘Bhanwar’ shows how getting timely medical care or trust in the people around you can work wonders.
Written and directed by Danny Mamik and Sahan Hattangadi, ‘Caged’ focuses on the LGBTQIA community. It uses the relationship between a guru (Sumeet Vyas) and a young boy (Mohammed Samad) to explore the theme of gender dysphoria. Transgender actor Ivanka Das also plays a notable role, showing how truly liberating there is in accepting one’s reality.
The last one ‘The Daily Puppet Show’ has been written by Malika Kumar, while Rakhi Sandilya has directed it. Shivani Raghuvanshi and Sayandeep Sengupta lead the story on OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Order). Many people often feel that illness is related to cleanliness, but in reality, it is about fighting negative thoughts, which completely overwhelm the person. As the protagonist mentions, these intrusive thoughts will make him feel like a puppet. However, having a friend or partner who understands their fears and knows how to calm them can help them live a normal and fulfilling life.
Although fictional, these stories are relatable and may remind viewers of something familiar. Although the shorts are instructive and thoughtful, some of them fail on an execution level. Fortunately, Zindaginama isn’t preachy, but some of the stories also feel a bit superficial and predictable. The stories fail to delve into the complex emotions and pains and end up being just a cinematic experience. The production quality is top notch, and the 35-40 minute length works best for a compilation like this. The makers have also adopted an upbeat tone to the narrative rather than making it negative and cynical.
Actors like Shreyas Talpade, Sumeet Vyas and Yashaswini Dayama are quite impressive. While Talpade conveys the pain of a man suffering from constant fear, Sumeet as Guru and Yashaswini as he sets out to save his sister make you feel for them. On the other hand, Mohammed Samad, Shweta Basu Prasad and Shivani Raghuvanshi also gave honest performances.
Social media star Prajakta Koli’s portrayal of a woman struggling with body image issues sometimes feels emotionally muted and her character’s internal struggles are given less importance, making it difficult to fully connect with her struggles . The otherwise talented Sayandeep Sengupta also fails to make an impact with his performance as he gets stuck in the clichés of a hero. Some of the supporting cast, including actors like Swarupa Ghosh, Ivanka Das, Alka Amin, Veena Nair and Dayashankar Pandey, are brilliant in their parts, and elevate the entire story with their performances.
Zindagnaama is a commendable attempt to bring mental health topics into mainstream entertainment. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, if not impeccable, take on dealing with mental illness, this show might be worth a watch. However, a warning for those who are sensitive to this topic as it may be triggering.
