Indian cinema has come a long way in terms of conceptualisation, and execution of thought-provoking ideas and processes. With time it has improved and progressed for the better, to get accustomed to one particular generation. Speaking of which, a topic like mental health was raised in
Gauri Shinde’s ‘
Dear Zindagi
’. The movie focused on the situations and the daily struggles the youth goes through, but is unable to process and be vocal about their feelings. For a country like India, mental health has been a vulnerable topic of discussion amongst today’s youth. Issues like depression and anxiety have become so prevalent due to work pressure and the fast-moving life, that more often than not, youngsters find it difficult to pave themselves and find their inner calling, due to the fear of uncertainty.
'Dear Zindagi’ is a story of a young girl named ‘Kaira' (
Alia Bhatt) - a character very relatable to today’s youth, whose heart and mind are at constant war while making decisions concerning her relationships. She reaches out to a therapist, Dr Jug (
Shah Rukh Khan), who eventually gives her a new perspective towards life. It’s an undeniable fact that seeing her go to therapy and talk about things which bothered her, eventually allowed us to connect with her, and embrace the ‘Kaira’ inside us.
Both Kaira and Dr Jug emphasise on the importance of reaching out and asking for help, thus normalising a mood disorder called depression and as well as the concept of therapy. Indeed, Dr Jug certainly won our hearts with his charm, wit and sensibility. The movie denoted him as a free-spirited psychologist who helps ‘Kaira’ to understand her feelings while she learns to mend the broken relationship with herself and realises the importance of self-love.
While we observe ‘World Mental Health Day’, here’s to revisiting and realising some important life lessons given by our very own Dr Jug.
“Kabhi kabhi hum mushkil raasta sirf isliye chunte hain kyunki humein lagta hai important cheezein paane ke liye humein mushkil raaste apnana chahiye. But why? Asaan raaste kyun nai chun sakte? Kya burai hai usme? Khas kar ki jab us mushkil ka saamna karne ke liye hum taiyaar hi nahi hain”
It’s not necessary to punish ourselves and struggle to reach towards success.
“Ek kursi choose karne se pehle agar hum itni saari kursiyan dekhte hain, toh ek life partner choose karne se pehle humein options nahi dekhne chahiye kya!”
There is no such things called a ‘perfect partner’. It’s okay to keep looking and exploring as long as you find someone to connect with.
“Genius is not someone who has all the answers, but someone who has the patience for all the answers”
Everything in life cannot happen in a jiffy. It requires tremendous patience and understanding from your inner self.
“Jab hum khud ko samajh lete hain na, tab aur koi humare baare mein kya sochta hai farak nahi padta”
The moment you understand yourself completely, no one holds the power to make you feel bad about yourself.
“Albert Einstein ne kaha tha: Pagal wo hai jo roz roz same kaam karta hai aur chahta hai ki nateeja alag ho”
Sometimes, it’s okay to break patterns and change your approach towards dealing with a situation, as long as it helps you to grow.
“Rona, gussa, nafrat kuch bhi khul kar express nahi karne diya, ab pyaar kaise express karein?”
It’s so painful to see that today we are asked to keep it together, even when we are falling part. We are conditioned to believing that crying makes us weak, and anger makes us less of a person. Hence, we fail to express love.
“Khul ke ro nahi sakogi toh khul kar has kaise paogi ?”
It’s okay to let out, allow yourself to feel things that hurt you. It’s okay to feel this way. Until and unless we don’t learn to cry it out, we cannot fully be happy and content with ourselves.
“Zindagi ek jigsaw puzzle ki tarah hai. People like me can just help you find the pieces, but only you can complete the puzzle!”
The importance of therapy and a therapist is only to understand and process your feelings. In the end it all depends on how we fix our situations, the onus is on us to take the first step to alter things for the good.
“Don’t let the past blackmail your present to ruin a beautiful future”
Give yourself a second chance in life and move on. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about what you were yesterday. You are growing as an individual everyday. Embrace that process.
“Zindagi me jab koi pattern banta hai ya koi aadat banti dikhai de na, toh uske baare me achhi tarah se sochna chahiye. Genius is about knowing when to stop”
Getting used to or habituated to things make you feel comfortable, and not let you explore your own self to the fullest. Do not be dependent on anyone except for yourself.