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Zindaginama Is A Timely & Relevant PSA On The Complexities Of Mental Health Struggles

Presenting mental health complexities like OCD, schizophrenia and eating disorders among others, <em>Zindaginama</em> is authentically written, easy to watch and will definitely make you teary-eyed.

Swetha+Ramakrishnan

Oct 19, 2024

Promo poster for Zindaginama.

ZINDAGINAMA a limited series by Applause Entertainment began streaming on SonyLIV, on World Mental Health Day, and rightfully so, because it’s a show that champions the complexities of mental health struggles.

Explored through six vignettes, the series is necessary and timely, even if a little preachy and on the nose. Presenting mental health complexities like OCD, schizophrenia, eating disorders and body dysmorphia among others, one of the most impressive aspects of Zindaginama is its depiction of the characters who are struggling. There is no black and white, neither is there a glorification of the isolation these characters feel. There are no forcible “happy endings” either. Zindaginama is authentically written (with insights from a medical team), easy to watch and will definitely make you teary-eyed.

The series is very starkly divided: three episodes that skillfully and creatively deal with difficult conversations around mental health and absorb you into their storytelling. The remaining three have interesting ideas on paper but fall short of execution. Swagatam starring Shreyas Talpade and Anjali Patil is my absolute favourite of the lot because not only does it present a nuanced and deeply personal picture of living with schizophrenia, but it also dedicates enough screen time to focus on the life of a caregiver. Mukul (Talpade) and Malti (Patil) are a young couple struggling to make ends meet after Mukul loses his job because of his schizophrenia diagnosis. While we witness how his mind works, and his irrational fears, we also learn how Malati juggles her job, maintains her home and takes care of Mukul. This is a refreshing change from previous stories about mental health where the spotlight is almost always on the victim.

Brace yourself for Bhanwar the third episode in the series, starring Shweta Basu Prasad. Exploring post-traumatic stress disorder, this episode is a punch to the gut. Namrata (Prasad) is facing troubles in her new marriage because she has a knee-jerk reaction to physical touch or sudden movements. Her father enlists the help of his boss who is a clinical psychologist, and they realise that she’s suffering from PTSD. How the episode unravels to reveal the source and baggage of her stress is altogether emotional, political and heartbreaking. Subsequently, Purple Duniya starring Tanmay Dhanania and Shruti Seth has a creative tone through the series — it’s neither too serious nor dismissive of the gravity of mental health. Exploring gaming addiction in adults, the episode is crafted visually and sucks you into the inner workings of a seemingly functional adult who is struggling with loneliness and validation.

The remaining three episodes went by in a whiff, and seemed like they were written with a set template in mind. Caged which explores body dysmorphia in a young boy who transitions into a trans woman, boasts of camera-favourite Sumeet Vyas but fails to make an emotional mark because the writing comes across as quite generic. I wonder if the story would have been different if written by a trans person. Then there’s Daily Puppet Show, starring Shalini Raghuvanshi who plays a young woman struggling with OCD and anxiety. Shalini is a delight to watch on camera but the writing lets her down. The episode is too generic and doesn’t offer anything new. This was my issue with the first episode of the series too, One Plus One, starring Prajakta Koli, Yashasvini Dayama and Lillete Dubey. All three women performed their roles very well, but the formulaic treatment of a topic like eating disorders lets them down.

The issue here goes beyond writing and execution. These three videos suffer from the Taare Zameen Par problem. When a piece of art has the right intent but uses emotional manipulation to get the audience to a certain vulnerable place. You may tear up and feel for these characters, but the stories seem forced and crafted to “idiot-proof” these illnesses that deserve a more nuanced and creative treatment.

Yet, a show like Zindaginama deserves to exist because it’s a timely reminder that not all content out there exists to serve as pure entertainment for its viewers. Some stories will make you cry, squirm, think for days after you’ve seen them and maybe inspire you to make some changes in your life. Watch Zindaginama so its viewership increases and production houses like Applause Entertainment feel inspired to make more TV shows about topics that really matter.

Zindaginama is currently streaming on Sony LIV.