Comfort Films 101 : Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Director : Zoya Akhtar

Writers : Reema Kagti, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Shubham Ghude

Starring : Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin, Ariadna Cabrol, Naseeruddin Shah and many more.

We often term certain movies as our comfort movies, but what does it take for a film to be a comfort film? A compelling storyline or plot points? Perhaps good casting? Or a well-written script? Maybe brilliant direction or cinematography? For me, all these factors and many more combine to make an iconic and unforgettable movie, which becomes a source of comfort for so many of us.

This film by Zoya Akhtar feels nothing less than a warm, cozy hug on a cold dreary day muddled with doubts and fears. I know; I’ve said this earlier but that’s the deal with Zoya and the stories she tells. They connect, they engage and they stay.

The first time I watched “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, I found it rather odd but I have seemingly watched it at multiple stages in my life now. Every time I rewatch this film, it makes a little more sense to my 17 year old brain trying to maneuvre through life. It is a film which has grown on me and slowly made its way to the depths of my heart.

The reason that it is still a cult favourite is because it’s simply brilliant.

For years, this films has been the epitome of “do it for the plot” and with its banger music and funny little pit stops, it genuinely makes my heart full. I fell in love with the way that this film captures the roads of Spain and braids the storyline with so many emotions and memories of the characters. Each dialogue, every movement and emotions were so well thought of.

The movie has all the makings of a wild bachelor trip. After all, it is the reunion of three school friends that was years in the making. Enter : Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar. Of the three, i was most fascinated by Hrithik's performance because this movie was the first time I saw him act as a real human and not some extraordinary superhero. One of his best and most memorable scenes from the movie has to be when he comes out of the water after scuba diving. As he sits on the boat, we see his shoulders relax, his mind absorbing everything that just happened, tears filling his eyes and a small smile on his face as the sun moves down the horizon.

As for Farhan and Abhay, they worked so well together - just two funny and charming people working their way through life. Even though, they have the best comical timings, be it a little look right before they burst into laughter, performing the Diamond biscuit parody, an over the top delivery of a filmy dialogue or a past teacher's way of speaking, both of the characters also have a lot of flaws. Imraan always puts his needs in the front seat while Kabir just throws them in the back seat.

While none of the characters is perfect, the chemistry between them all somehow makes a character sync with the other two. To me, that's the simplest indication of a job well done.

Plus, the unexpected arrival of the wild and free Laila (Katrina Kaif) sets in motion a chain of events that disrupts everything they used to believe in. Additionally, a romance slowly blossoms between Laila and Arjun as well as Imraan and Bagwati—a Hermes Kelly handbag (sorry Laila, Bagwati thi Irfaan ka pehla pyaar). Moreover, Kalki Koechin did a fantastic job portraying Abhay’s borderline paranoid fiance, who sidelined her ambitions for her idea of a ‘perfect’ marriage (girly was so delusional). 

Through the plot, through the acting, through the directing, and through the experience of the movie itself, we feel the change. The change that Arjun goes through after meeting Laila and a dive into nature. The change that Imraan goes through after meeting his biological dad and jumping off a literal plane. The change Kabir goes through after being chased by volatile bulls and finally being able to admit that maybe he’s not ready for marriage after all. The change that they all go through together through the means of adventure and दोस्ती.

One day, I hope me and my closest can be brave enough to take a trip for the sake of our sanity and for the sake of feeling the same emotions we felt while watching this film.

Lastly,

Dilon mein tum apni betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho Toh zinda ho tum Nazar mein khwabon ki Bijliyan leke chal rahe ho Toh zinda ho tum Hawa ke jhokon ke jaise Aazad rehno sikho, Tum ek dariya ke jaise Lehron mein behna sikho Har ek lamhe se tum milo Khole apni bhaayein Har ek pal ek naya samha Dekhen yeh nigahaein Jo apni aankhon mein Hairaniyan leke chal rahe ho Toh zinda ho tum Dilon mein tum apni Betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho Toh zinda ho tum