Directed by Shonali Bose and produced by Priyanka Chopra, Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur, ‘The Sky Is Pink’ is based on a true story of Aisha Chaudhary who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.
Directed by- Shonali Bose
Produced by- Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Priyanka Chopra
Star Cast- Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Suresh Saraf
Plot
The Sky Is Pink is an inspired film from the real life of Chaudhary family. Aditi played by Priyanka Chopra and Niren played by Farhan Akhtar finds out that Aditi is expecting their third baby played by Zaira Wasim. After a short blame game, the decision would recur throughout the film. Aditi wants to keep the baby, but Niren counters. Why? They once had a girl child, who died of immune-deficiency disorder right after birth. Regardless, they decides to keep the baby but soon finds out she had severe combined immunodeficiency.
Analysis
The film is extremely refreshing in its narrative technique. It is the voice of Aisha who recites the adversity of her family as a result of her death – from her grave. And the entire narration goes back and forth to give us a sense of Aditi and Niren’s romance, who are later expected to deal with impending death of a terminally ill child.
Aisha, who is shown to be 18 is not the catastrophized sufferer of a terminal disease. Rather, she is flippant and spunky, dealing with what is to come like a regular teenage girl. The character is well portrayed by the Dangal girl, Zaira Wasim. She is beautiful and natural and convince you to commiserate.
However, the focus of the film is not on the sick but with the caregiver. What happens to the person who passes away? The tragedy remains not with the person who die but with those who are left behind. It is a film of Aisha’s parents and their relationship, who are constantly dickering with their own courtship, a son (luckily healthy) and a teenage daughter who is on the way out.
Bose‘s previously directed film ‘Margharita with Straw’ also talks about a bi-sexual girl with cerebral palsy. And the resemblance of both the indisposed characters is how they look at life regardless of the challenge they face in order to live it.
Akhtar and Chopra as “Panda” and “Mousse” did a commendable job. In one hand where Akhtar has the ability to melt in any character without being clamorous, Priyanka put forth her acting prowess as her spade.
Besides, before hitting the theater, you pretty much know what to expect from the film as it has been inspired by a real life girl. Hence, the narrative shouts out loud to establish film’s own identity by using a linear narrative which often looks inessential and disorienting.
However, Bose‘s proficiency over her craft overshadows the downside of the film to a great extent. Especially in the little details she has worked on. There is a scene where Aditi clean the top of Tanya’s grave as if she is still breathing beneath – as she is familiar to their sensitivity towards dust because of Aisha’s similar condition. Beautiful!
All in all, ‘The Sky Is Pink’ deals with the most difficult aspect of human life – death. However, it reminds you to live when you have the life!
