Zindagi Tamasha follows the story of a conservative protagonist who composes and recites religious hymns for a living. This, until an event turns his life forever! The story here is beautifully aching and painfully tragic particularly because the event concerned involved dancing, a symbolic form of happiness which is construed as a sign of feminism in the conservative society. I remember while in school, there was a clear distinction of the kids who should be allowed to dance and whom should not. And that itself is another level of conservative thinking of an art form that symbolizes liberty. The screenplay standing at a shade above two hours(this wasn’t the director’s cut) does make for a poignant watch that lingers on long after the film has ended. This section will contain spoilers, so viewers discretion advised!

The drama does open with a glimpse of the protagonist recording one of his religious hymns that itself paints a fair picture of his conservative nature. He is leading a normal happy life with his ailing wife with his daughters for company. The writers do well in further exploring the facade of the society who frowns upon the existence of transgenders who are often reduced to people dancing at the wedding. This is also reflective of the mindset of the protagonist who almost looks down upon them while being a closet dancing waiting to break the shackles too. A moment of liberting a part of him in the art form one night results in dire circumstances after a video involving him goes viral!

The writers present a nuanced take on the brutally conservative nature of the society by highlighting the fact that all is well until we find ourselves on the wrong side of the mayhem. We live in a generation of social media that brings with it, its share of trolls and memes forming a daily dose of our entertainment. Yet, what might seem to be funny to us might be completely shattering for the ‘victim’ involved, and that is what is addressed beautifully in the film. The character development beautifully nurtured especially that of the protagonist who continues to remain grey in terms of his conservative nature while finding support only in the form of his ailing wife. So he continues to look down upon the thought of a transgender resorting to the act of dancing while only briefly empathizing in a moving scene involving him foregoing his rent.

Yet, the challenge for the protagonist in surviving in an even more conservative society is accentuated with the religious elements that begin to creep into the drama. Those set of events ensure that even his livelihood of reciting religious hymns is considered a blasphemy while he soon runs out of work. The twist involving the death of his lone support unleashing a whole new level of depression which is layered painstakingly in the drama. The bouts of anger directed towards his daughter stem from his loneliness while still latching on to the thought of the one person who had always supported him right throughout. The final frame involving him reciting the song on which he had previously danced to represents contrasting emotions – while previously it was of joy and liberation, here it is that of surrendering to his fate of loneliness and depression. It was such an aching end that stays with you long after it has ended! Overall, a wonderfully well written screenplay!