Filmmaker Gauri Shinde chooses to tell her stories through women. English Vinglish was a story of the relationship she shared with her mother and Sridevi (Shashi Godbole) told it with finesse. It brought Shinde to the limelight, winning her several debut awards that year. This time she’s back with another story, a letter to life and with Alia Bhatt as the medium. Dear Zindagi is the story of an aspiring filmmaker (Alia Bhatt), who’s seeking answers from life.
And with Shah Rukh Khan in the film, this is nothing of the May-December romance it was touted to be, when the cast was initially announced. He’s more of a mentor, a guiding influence in her life.
Although, this song, unveiled at the yesterday’s promotion event (The Leela, Gurgaon), seems to tell otherwise. Interestingly, it isn’t a part of the film, it was announced.
A cover by Arijit Singh, Ae Zindagi Gale Laga Le was also the initial title of the film.
From the teasers out so far, Dear Zindagi looks like a refreshing change from the assembly line templates Bollywood churns out every Friday. Let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint.
We’ll leave you with something interesting we dug out on Youtube. A powerful silent short made by Gauri Shinde in the early days of her career, called Oh Man!
The 5-minute short was selected to be screened at the Berlin film festival.
