Kapil Sharma-starrer Zwigato – released in theatres on 17 March 2023 – is a moving tale which sheds light upon the survival story of the working class.
Read Full Zwigato Review –
Cast: Kapil Sharma, Shahana Goswami
Director: Nandita Das
Rating: 3/5
Duration: 1 Hour 45 Mins
Storyline:
Set in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Zwigato revolves around the story of a delivery boy Manas (Kapil Sharma). He is an ex-floor manager of a factory who loses his job during the Covid-19 pandemic. After being jobless for 8 months, he is then forced to work as a food delivery rider, grappling with the world of ratings and incentives.
To support the income, his homemaker wife, Pratima (Shahana Goswami) begins to explore different work opportunities, with fear but also excitement of a new found independence. While Manas struggles to make ends meet, Pratima insists on getting a sweeper’s job at a shopping mall.
The film is about the relentlessness of life, but not without their shared moments of joy. It captures the lives of invisible ‘ordinary’ people, hidden in plain sight.
What Do We Think?
First things first, a movie on the life of the food delivery riders – the idea itself is very promising. The film sensitively touches upon the subjects of class discrimination, unemployment, aftermath of the pandemic and the portrayal of the gig economy.
Kapil Sharma ‘delivers’ a convincing performance as Manas. He has played his part well in being a misogynistic husband and a struggling delivery man. Shahana Goswami as Pratima is a revelation. From her body language to her command over her dialect… She is simply brilliant and gives her best to each and every scene.
Director Nandita Das brilliantly captures the hard-hitting reality of the struggling working class and strikes a conversation on the gig economy. She chose a relatable subject and weaved a compelling story without being preachy. Throughout the film, you can’t help but feel empathetic towards a certain section of the society.
The most beautiful part of the movie is its ending. The climax scene will automatically put a smile on a your face. Dialogues like “Woh majdoor hai, isiliye majbooor hai”, and Manas corrects it saying: “Woh majboor hai, isiliye majdoor hai” and “Malik dikhai nahin deta par ghulami poori hai.” – will make you think hard.
However, the movie has its own flaws. The pace and rhythm of Zwigato is too slow. At times, the film appears to be unnecessarily stretched and you might feel restless.
HIT Or MISS?
All said and done! Zwigato is an important movie that tells us about what goes behind the scenes while we wait for our food to arrive and the film is definitely worth a watch. Having said that, it would have been better if the film was released on an OTT platform.