Zwigato – A Struggle Lost in Execution

Director: Nandita Das

Writers: Nandita Das, Samir Patil

Cast: Kapil Sharma, Shahana Goswami

Rating – 2

 

Zwigato, directed by Nandita Das, attempts to be an Indian counterpart to Ken Loach's Sorry We Missed You, portraying the struggles of a Jharkhandi family in Bhubaneswar amidst a pandemic-hit job market. The film centers around Manas (Kapil Sharma), an ex-floor manager turned gig economy worker, delivering food for the app Zwigato, and his wife Pratima (Shahana Goswami), who juggles home-making with part-time jobs. While the film aims to shed light on the harsh realities faced by the working class, it falls short in execution.

 

On paper, Zwigato seems to have the elements of socially critical cinema, using the family's experiences to provide snapshots of a nation filled with contradictions. The film takes viewers through different vignettes of survivalist culture, showcasing the challenges faced by the protagonists in a system designed to make them invisible. The non-linear narrative, capturing a day in the life of the characters, presents a no-frills rhythm that lies in the eyes of the beholder.

 

Kapil Sharma delivers an uncharacteristically muted performance, portraying the journey of a migrant who experiences a downward shift in social status. Shahana Goswami disappears into her role as Pratima, effectively conveying the nuances of a woman torn between her roles as nurturer and provider. The imperfections of the characters contribute to the film's portrayal of the tragic perfections of prejudice.

 

However, Zwigato falls prey to the same issues as Nandita Das's previous films. The film's ideas, driven by a desire to make a broader statement, hijack the internal language of storytelling. Sequences work better than scenes, and the protagonists often feel like background elements in their own settings. The film's execution feels rushed, with staged situations appearing awkward and forced. The couple seems belatedly inserted into moments that already exist, hindering the film's ability to humanize itself.

 

While the film touches on various sociopolitical issues, it lacks emotional engagement. The attempts at understatement result in the film being underwhelming and distant, preventing the audience from detecting the emotional integrity within the sociopolitical context. Zwigato misses the mark in bridging the gap between the social texture and the intimacy of its characters, making it a difficult watch that falls short of its potential.

 

In the end, Zwigato provides lessons about life in India but offers very little learning about Indian living. The film's execution leaves it one coat of paint away from being impactful, resulting in a missed opportunity to create a more resonant cinematic experience.

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