Yeh Saali Zindagi

About the film

Yeh Saali Zindagi (transl. This damn life) is a 2011 Hindi crime thriller film directed by Sudhir Mishra. The film stars Irrfan Khan, Chitrangada Singh, Arunoday Singh and Aditi Rao Hydari in the lead roles. The film was released on 4 February 2011.

Plot

Arun is a chartered accountant who works for Mr. Mehta and helps him run his illegal business. Arun is in love with Priti, but she falls for Shyam, who was introduced to her by Arun.

After Badey, a gangster of Delhi, falls out of favour of Minister Verma, he is sent to jail and humiliated and beaten daily on orders of the Minister. Satbir is a dishonest police officer who works for Badey and helps him in the jail. Kuldeep, who is also in jail with Badey, is released and goes to his wife Shanti. Badey's brother, Chhotey, and his gang of members, Kuldeep, Tony, Chacha, Guddu, and others, plan Badey's release by kidnapping Verma's to be son-in-law, Shyam, and daughter, Anjali. Things do not go as planned, and they end up kidnapping Shyam and his girlfriend Priti. To ensure Shyam's safety, Priti agrees to liaise between Verma and the gangsters, not knowing that Arun had been following them since the abduction. She meets Anjali, Verma, and Shyam's father, Singhania. However, Mr. Verma, who discovers Shyam's affair with Priti, refuses to negotiate Badey's release. Arun, in the meantime, transfers illegal and hawala money into the bank accounts of Verma's son and threatens him with leaking this information to the media if he does not ensure Badey's release. However, it comes to light that Chhotey wants to get Badey out only to get details of his bank accounts and plans to kill him. Learning of this, Badey gives the details of his foreign bank accounts to Kuldeep.

Upon being rescued from the prison, Chhotey unexpectedly comes from Georgia and meets Badey. In the meantime, police reach the spot, and in the crossfire, Badey escapes from Chhotey and is helped by Kuldeep and his gang. However, he is shot in the back and later kills himself. With Badey dead and Chhotey looking for him, Kuldeep decides to leave the country and asks Shyam's father for a ransom of ₹ 15 crores. Priti, under the guise of calling Mr. Singhania, calls Arun. Arun reaches the spot and tells Priti that he transferred ₹ 170 million into her account, which should be used by her to free Shyam and herself and live a happy life. Priti now realizes that she actually loves Arun.

Reception

The film received positive acclaim from critics. Nikhat Kazmi from the Times of India gave it 4.5/5 saying "Dark, devious and different, Yeh Saali Zindagi is brain-and-brawn drama".

Sukanya Verma from Rediff.com rated it 3.5/5 calling it a "A twisted entertainer" and further stated that "Yeh Saali Zindagi rocks, it's wonderfully unrestrained and entertaining with its mouthful of zingers penned by Mishra and Manu Rishi".

Rajeev Masand from IBNLive gave it 3 out of 5 stating that "Yeh Saali Zindagi surprises you, it takes its time to unfold, but it's a delicious little treat if you muster the patience for it".

Soundtrack

The music has been composed by sitarist Nishat Khan and has lyrics penned by Swanand Kirkire. The Yeh Saali Zindagi song has been composed and sung by Abhishek Ray.

Key details