StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Lucia Ayala It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

morrison-dylan-fan Shortly after I had started to get excited over the highly acclaimed Bollywood Neo-Noir Johnny Gaddaar finally arriving in the post,I was happy to discover an exciting-looking Gangster Neo-Noir Bollywood film being sold for a surprisingly cheap price at my local CEX!.With the delivery date for Johnny Gaddaar still being a few days away,I decided to take a look at the "Dammed (lives) Life" of this cleverly made film.The plot:As the blood from a bullet wound in his back starts to drip out,Arun begins to think about the events which have led to his current situation,whilst the girl who he is secretly attractive to (Priti) attempts to keep him conscious. A few days earlier:Being told by a gangster (Metha) who he had spent several months helping to make some pretty shady "business" deals succeed,that he was going back on his promise and not giving him a penny from any of the deals that they had made together.Arun decides that he needs to get the most attention possible over Metha's backstabbing.This leads Arun to hanging on a ledge,and almost accidentally killing himself!,until a group of friends arrive in the nick of time,and stop him from becoming a piece of road kill.Giving in to Arun's display of insanity,Metha sets up a meeting where he tells Arun again that he will not give him a single penny.With the meeting crumbling right before his eyes,Arun beings to think about the first ever time he had experienced "love at first sight",when he had seen a singer called Priti perform during a night on the town from long ago with Metha.Impressivly pulling back the meeting from breaking point and making it into a successful stalemate,Arun decides to celebrate his achievement by giving his lover-in waiting a call.Expecting to hear excitement over his surprise phone call,Arun is angered to discover that Priti seems to have become romantically involved with a man called Shyam Singhania (whose secretly seeing,(and is engaged) to a daughter of a powerful politician.)Deciding to pay a surprise visit,Arun heads for Shyam's house to show that he wont give up without a fight to win Priti's heart.Getting himself all prepared to open his car door,walk up and finally knock on Singhania's door.Arun,is stopped dead in his tracks,when a rag-tag group of gangsters, (who do not know of Priti's presence in the house) suddenly break into Shyam's house,to kidnap Singhania,and the politician's daughter in order to demand a potentially damaging ransom… View on the film:From the opening credits that would make Saul Bass loudly applaud,co- writer/ (along with Manu Rishi Chadha and Swanand Kirkire) director Sudhir Mishra displays a stunning level of skill,which makes each of the (originally separate) plot lines ones that can be enjoyed separately,and also as a whole.Mishra cleverly interlocks the plot lines into a terrific Neo-Noir style Thriller,from the first scenes in the film featuring Arun (played by a brilliantly smart and sneaky Irrfan Khan) having a meeting with Metha, (the enjoyably moody Saurabh Shukla)the first thing which completely grabbed my attention was the writers fantastically gritty dialogue that mixes wonderfully sharp moments of swearing,with a grim Film Noir narration and a terrific group of "outlaw" gangsters.During my viewing of this excellent movie,I originally started to get a bit fearful that this (potentially) great film may be about to fall apart at any moment!,due to Mishra introducing each of the characters in an extremely fast pace that only allows a broad outline to be initially made.Impressivly,Mishra makes sure that the film's thread's never become too tangled,with the after effect of the kidnapping allowing the writers to show the full desperation and confusion that all of the characters are experiencing as a result of the kidnapping and hidden desires.Along with the terrific twisting & turning screenplay,Mishra's brilliant,creatively stylised directing, (with highlights being scenes such as the gangsters tense invasion of Shyam's house,and a weirdly funny "missed bullet".)helps to create an amazing setting for his wonderfully intense and disturbed characters.

Vikas SS By calling itself 'Yeh Saali Zindagi', the film projects itself as a new age bollywood flick with an attitude. Its masala is heartily delivered to you through its well written dialog. As it manages to trap you and times confound you with its myriad twists, its likable characters mouthing smart-but-raw lines engages you. The songs too are decent and complement the film. The film has multiple plots crisscrossing each other. One is about Arun (Irfan Khan) an accounting whiz who is hopelessly in love with a Priti (Chitrangada Singh) who sings in hotels for a livelihood. But she is in love with Shyam who is set to be married to the daughter of a Minister. On the other hand, there is Kuldeep (Arunoday Singh) who seeks domestic bliss from wife Shati (Aditi Rao Hydari) but can't part ways with a well paying life of crime.Things get complicated when a jailed former henchman of the Minister arranges a kidnap that goes wrong. The story then gets into a spiral of deceit and corruption. What puts you off is its motley of characters each of whom is introduced with a narrative. Contrived as its characters and twists may seem, you give up trying to make sense of it and enjoy the flow.Despite it having a good amount of bloodshed, the film is not violent. Though dealing with goons, the movie can be funny! The good thing about it is that it doesn't give you a heavy head and you may as well enjoy it again, for its dialog, if telecast on TV anytime in future. Shot around Delhi, it is nice to see that movie makers in the recent years have shed the Mumbai obsession in their films, especially if it had anything to do with goons, guns and money. The new flavor that these films carry is surely ringing in the moolah.Among its leads, Irfan Khan steals the show as the despondent lover, ready to give up all for a woman who doesn't love him! And he does it willingly! Chitrangada, well, all her roles seem the same! Abhimanyu Singh who made his mark in Aisha and Mirch was probably too sophisticated to play a goon. Still, it's good work! Pretty Aditi Rao Hydari had little else to do except slap Kuldeep and be served with his lip-smacking recipe to tranquilize her! Gangsters, corrupt politicians, financiers with shades of grey aren't usually a fertile ground for a new story. It is where directors like Sudhir Mishra make up for it by bringing in too many characters, especially quirky ones, forced twists and raw dialog. But made on a modest budget, 'Yeh Saali Zindagi' is watchable and would make a decent choice for some weekend fun.

Abhi Superb movie, far better the SRK's love Fictions, having no base and all non realistic, irrelevant Bakwas. its adult movie but lot to learn from it. Actual words used which we hear in normal life, with Irfan khan at his best. Sudhir Mishra's Yeh Saali Zindagi initially made waves for its cast, then its slightly derogative title and lastly its 22 kisses. As the director fought tooth and nail for each of the above issues, he eventually managed to wriggle of them. Chitrangda Singh looks and plays the part exceedingly well. On screen she brings life to her role with her fiery attitude and feisty persona. Now only if the industry would utilize her more! Arunodhay Singh displays immense talent and shows much promise. The rest of the cast provides great support too.

chirag_shah775 I pay money to have fun, not to think...Why would any Indian want to watch a film like this when we love singing, dancing, commercial masala films. This film is too confusing and not very fun to watch. Too many twists and turns. Only acting by Irfaan Khan is good and the acress is sexy, but that's it. What are these new so called "realistic" films coming out of bollywood these days? Udaan, Peepli Live, Dhobi Ghat, Love Sex Dokha...All these are so boooring. Yeh Saali Zindagi is another one that tries to be all Hollywood in style and story. Watch this film only if you are the so called "intellectual type" but most of the audience won't accept this film. It's a flop show. I and most of us bollywood fans enjoy Dabanng, Yamla Pagala Deewana and WANTED type films. Not these boring types.