Chalti Rahe Zindagi Film Review: A Pandemic Portrait of Poignant Lives and Unplanned Detours

🤔🤔🤔🤔 (4/5)

Well, hello there, lovelies! It’s your favourite cynic, Review Rani, back with another dose of Bollywood banter. This time, my sarcasm-laced lens is focused on ‘Chalti Rahe Zindagi’, a drama that unfurls in the gloomy era of the Covid-19 pandemic. Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride of emotions, served with a generous side of reality.

Now, before I spill the tea, let’s set the stage. Picture a housing complex, three families, a lockdown, and a local bread supplier named Krishna (played by Siddhant Kapoor). Add in a dash of human frailties and a sprinkle of relationship issues, and voila! You have the plot of ‘Chalti Rahe Zindagi’. It’s like a big, spicy pot of biryani, where everyone’s secrets, struggles, and squabbles are all cooked together.

Let’s dive into the meaty stuff, shall we? The story kicks off with a spicy secret affair, serving up the first dose of drama. As the lockdown lingers, we see the characters facing various challenges – mental, physical, financial – you name it! The tension rises like the mercury in an Indian summer, as everyone’s inner demons decide to throw a party.

The lead, Siddhant Kapoor, plays the role of Krishna, the local bread supplier, who seems to be the only one not losing his marbles. He’s the calm amidst the storm, juggling his financial woes while dealing with a demanding Sushma (Flora Jacob), who’s in a hurry to get her loan repaid by him.

Then we have the Seth family, a delightful cocktail of three generations of women, each with their unique set of desires and dilemmas. There’s Leela (Seema Biswas), the grandmother grappling with OCD and virus paranoia, Naina (Manjari Fadnnis) the conflicted daughter-in-law, and Siya (Ananya Shivan), the teenager who’s just trying to survive pandemic puberty.

The film, directed by Aarti S Bagdi, is like a slow-burning candle, gradually illuminating the characters’ lives as the lockdown presses on. Sure, there are some repetitive shots, and the dialogue can make you cringe harder than a Bollywood item number at times, but overall, the film grows on you.

But here’s where the film truly shines – the performances. Siddhant Kapoor wins the day, playing Krishna with a depth and sensitivity that’s as refreshing as a cold lassi on a hot day. Trimala Adhikari, as his wife Champa, delivers an expressive performance that can bring a tear to the most stoic of eyes.

Of course, there are other notable performances. Barkha Sengupta and Indraneil Sengupta deliver solid performances, with Barkha capturing her character’s emotional turmoil with precision. Rohit Khandelwal is decent as Akash, while Flora Jacob lends robust support as Sushma.

‘Rani’s Wrap-Up’: ‘Chalti Rahe Zindagi’ is like a spicy plate of chaat – there’s a little bit of everything, all tossed together. It’s a poignant reminder of our pandemic times and a testament to human resilience, narrated through relatable stories and heartfelt performances. It’s worth a watch – if you can stomach revisiting those challenging lockdown days. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to hunt down my next Bollywood prey. Until next time, darlings! 😉