Zwigato

This is FINALLY on streaming. Not sure what took so long.

Plot - A man works as a food delivery rider, grappling with the world of ratings and incentives. To support the income, his homemaker wife begins to explore different work opportunities, with fear but also excitement of a new found independence.

This too, is one of those slice of life movies that may make you think about a few things in life that we take for granted and may make you be grateful for all things in life. Kapil Sharma plays the lead, I haven't watched much of his content, but I didn't expect him to deliver such a performance along with all the others in the film.

While the story is a bit serious, it's still a good movie to watch with an ending that makes you want to look at life with optimism and hope. If you're in the mood for something like this, I'd recommend Zwigato.

Zwigato delivers a stark and poignant glimpse into the often-overlooked life of a delivery worker, capturing the relentlessness and vulnerability of the job with raw realism. Kapil Sharma, stepping away from his comedic roots, surprises with a nuanced and earnest portrayal that grounds the film's emotional depth. The story itself unfolds with an intentional pace, immersing viewers in the character's daily struggles, minor victories, and quiet despair -hallmarks of impactful art cinema that aim to evoke empathy rather than thrill.

The screenplay complements this storytelling approach, carefully crafting each moment to let audiences experience both the heaviness and fleeting joys of the protagonist' life. This slower rhythm is the film's strength, allowing the narrative to resonate on a deeper level. However, the one noticeable flaw is Sharma's Bhojpuri accent, which seems unnecessary and occasionally detracts from the authenticity of his character.

Shahana Goswami, as his wife, shines throughout with a performance that is as natural as it is compelling, while Nandita Das's direction brings it all together with a restrained yet powerful hand, enhancing the film's realism and emotional gravity. Altogether, Zwigato emerges as a film of profound sensitivity and relevance-a must-watch for those who appreciate cinema that challenges and engages on a human level.

Nandita Das' latest directorial venture, Zwigato, is a movie that tells the story of a man who becomes a delivery boy to make ends meet after losing his job during the pandemic. Kapil Sharma's performance as the protagonist is remarkable, and he does an excellent job of portraying the struggles and hardships of a middle-class delivery boy.

The movie is a tribute to the working-class people who bear the burden of running our cities while dealing with an ongoing employment crisis, inflation, and social and gender justice. It is a silent recognition and request to respect and empathize with an invisible class of workers.

Shahana Goswami's portrayal of the silent support that women provide as equal pillars of a simple family is noteworthy, adding a layer of subtlety to the movie's message. The film is slow-paced, but it is in those slow mundane moments that we see how a working-class person battles and parallelly lives with complicated overarching issues of religion, class, and caste.

Zwigato is a movie that dwells on the positive side of contemporary cinema, and the performances by the cast are exceptional. Kapil Sharma's performance is praiseworthy, and it is entirely different from his typical persona as a comedian. The emotions that he portrays are authentic and will leave a lasting impression on the viewer.

The beauty of this movie lies in its cinematography. The frames are raw in nature and showcase a realistic depiction of a delivery boy's life. The background music is melodic and could have been used more significantly.

However, the screenplay is the real culprit that cuts the score of the movie. It does not seem like a long story but many anecdotes joint together to serve an episodic type of content. Nevertheless, the subtle humor that is spread in these joints contributes the most in saving the flaws.

Overall, Zwigato is an emotional movie that touches the heart and soul of the viewer. It is a message in itself and will make the viewers realize how often they are rude and inhumane with these delivery persons who work hard but do not earn much. It is a must-watch for those who want to understand the life of a delivery boy and respect them for their hard work. I would rate this movie 7 out of 10, and I recommend it to everyone.

Respect for delivery persons after watching this movie. Nandita Das has done incredible job just by thinking of a movie like this. Rest of the work has been done with pure class by Kapil . I was a great fan of his comedy but had never imagined that he can also act so well. What an all rounder he is... I mean singing,standup, acting everything. Inhuman at his level.

Direction is also great. The depiction of life of a common man from lower class is exact and incredible. Nothing in this movie is off. You are definitely going to get emotional after watching this movie. Also you will never disrespect any delivery boy ever.

Nandita Das stunned me via Zwigato with two things. One, the beautiful way she has weaved topics of caste, unemployment, poor handling od pandemic in India, the gig economy, class, family, and patriarchy. Two, the amateur filmmaking and production value of the entire setup. Going in to the movie - especially with how the central app is designed or the attention to details - you almost wonder why not much thought was gone into it and it's working. It's a bit satirical but more than anything Zwigato gives you a new perspective about online food delivery. As a mere consumer, Zwigato surprised me and think will make me a bit more patient and considerate while ordering food online. The jibe at Zomato and Swiggy is immense here to the tune of lawsuit vulnerability.

(Watched at the 2022 International Film Festival of Kerala at Trivandrum.)