Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Director: Mukesh Chhabra, RealTV.
Art imitates life, at times, as in Indian cinema’s Dil Bechara, which will be considered as the swan song for Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. He died on 14 June 2020, aged 34.
It’s a bittersweet tale of two cancer patients who live their dreams in the short time they have together. Given its poignant premise, Dil Bechara (helpless heart) makes for touching viewing. All the while there is the realisation of an infectious energy even though the underlying message celebrates life despite the inevitable end.
In this adaptation of John Green’s 2012 tragic love story The Fault In Our Stars romance blooms between two youngsters fighting cancer, Kizie Basu (newcomer Sanjana Sanghi) and Immanuel ‘Manny’ Rajkumar Junior (Rajput, Pavitra Rishta, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Kedarnath, Chhichhore). They live life to the fullest, despite the impending tragedy.
Kizie suffers from thyroid cancer, which has now affected her lungs, requiring her to be on oxygen support almost all the time. With rock solid support from her parents, Kizie takes life as it comes, even taking the bleak, daily multiple hospital visits in her stride. However, she craves a normal life like any girl her age.
Then she meets Manny, first in college and later at a cancer support group. Being an introvert, initially she is wary of his high energy, exuberance and cockiness. Manny has survived osteosarcoma and is in remission, but not for long.
The soundtrack, composed by Oscar-winning A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire) and lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya, is interspersed with some whimsical, toe-tapping music.
The chemistry between Kizie and Manny (displaying some affectionate, tender moments) is uplifting to watch, especially in the beautifully shot sequences in Paris by cinematographer Satyajit Pande.
Dil Bechara is Chhabra’s directorial debut. Watch the film, released posthumously, simply to witness Sushant’s last hurrah, which is exceptional!
