Cast: Amisha Patel, Jimmy Shergill, Nafisa Ali,
Ehsaan Khan, Gulshan Grover, Diwan, Rajpal Yadav
Director: Tanuja Chandra
Here
comes another film, which is based on a sensitive and
serious issue like rape. Though neither the issue nor
the theme is novel, the filmmakers manage to pursue
it with tenacity, for a change. Based on a true-life
incident, which occurred in Haryana, as reported in
one of the national dailies, the film portrays the trauma
of a victim of rape. Sarina
Dewan is happy with her newfound success as a budding
Indipop star with her debut album Main Kaun Hoon. However,
a news item in Aadarsh Times by Jai, an enthausiastic
reporter, stating that she is not the daughter of business
tycoon Dewan agonises her. Though she sues the newspaper
for Rs. 5 crore initially, she later learns that she
was adopted.
Sarina's
hunt for her parents begins here and she goes to Ooty,
followed by Jai who wants to get her signature on some
documents. Finally, she meets her mother, Sister Namrata,
who cannot stand the sight of the daughter. The reason
comes in a brief flashback. Namrata was raped by a police
inspector when, as asocial worker, she protests his
brutal ways of seeking information about terrorists
from the residents of a small village in Tamil Nadu.
The realization that she is "born out of rape"
traumatizes Sarina so much that she decides to fight
against police commissioner who was responsible for
her birth. Jai, Dewan and Namrata support her in her
cause.
The theme gives enough scope to deal with the issue
in a sensitive manner. However, a few flaws mar an otherwise
good show. Like, the director losing track of time and
age for instance. The heroine is 18 at one time, and
21 after a few reels. Has she been searching for her
mother for three years?
Amisha
,in the role of Sarina Dewan, has climbed yet another
step on the histrionics ladder, except for the fact
that she looks as if she is going to faint the next
minute. Jimmy Shergill as Jai has still a long way to
go. Nafisa Ali gives a commendable performance as Sister
Namrata who hates her daughter but cannot stop loving
her either. Ehsaan Khan makes his debut as the police
commissioner who "can do anything to wipe out crime
in the country". Gulshan Grover as Sarina's father,
Diwan, and Rajpal Yadav as the editor of Aadarsh Times
are good fun to watch.
One
thing is clear from the film. Rape is a pet issue for
most directors who are into serious commercial/parallel
cinema. Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar is a well-made film, barring
the first 30 minutes, which are a bit vexing.
Courtesy:
The Hindu
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