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Yeh Saali Zindagi

  • 2011
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011)
Gangsters kidnap the prospective son-in-law of a politician in order to secure the release of an imprisoned gang-member.
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
9 Photos
CrimeDramaThriller

Gangsters kidnap the prospective son-in-law of a politician in order to secure the release of an imprisoned gang-member.Gangsters kidnap the prospective son-in-law of a politician in order to secure the release of an imprisoned gang-member.Gangsters kidnap the prospective son-in-law of a politician in order to secure the release of an imprisoned gang-member.

  • Director
    • Sudhir Mishra
  • Writers
    • Manu Rishi Chadha
    • Sudhir Mishra
  • Stars
    • Irrfan Khan
    • Chitrangda Singh
    • Arunoday Singh
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    4.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sudhir Mishra
    • Writers
      • Manu Rishi Chadha
      • Sudhir Mishra
    • Stars
      • Irrfan Khan
      • Chitrangda Singh
      • Arunoday Singh
    • 26User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 11 nominations total

    Videos1

    Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011) Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011) Trailer

    Photos8

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    Top cast24

    Edit
    Irrfan Khan
    Irrfan Khan
    • Arun
    Chitrangda Singh
    Chitrangda Singh
    • Priti
    Arunoday Singh
    Arunoday Singh
    • Kuldeep
    Aditi Rao Hydari
    Aditi Rao Hydari
    • Shanti
    Saurabh Shukla
    Saurabh Shukla
    • Mehta
    Yashpal Sharma
    Yashpal Sharma
    • Bade
    Sushant Singh
    Sushant Singh
    • Inspector Satbir
    Prashant Narayanan
    Prashant Narayanan
    • Chotte
    Anil Sharma
    • Minister Verma
    Vipin Sharma
    Vipin Sharma
    • Tony
    Nassar Abdulla
    Nassar Abdulla
    • Singhania
    • (as Nasser Abdullah)
    Aditya Bhattacharya
    Aditya Bhattacharya
    • Roger
    Tarun Kumar
    • Guddu Gangster
    Masood Akhtar
    Masood Akhtar
    • Dadda Kidnapper
    Vipul Gupta
    Vipul Gupta
    • Shyam Singhania
    Madhvi Singh
    • Anjali Verma
    Manu Rishi Chadha
    Manu Rishi Chadha
    • Verma's Man
    • (as Manu Rishi)
    Ashok Kumar Beniwal
    Ashok Kumar Beniwal
    • Marwari Money Lender
    • Director
      • Sudhir Mishra
    • Writers
      • Manu Rishi Chadha
      • Sudhir Mishra
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews26

    7.44.8K
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    Featured reviews

    9nagendraiiml

    Awesome

    Another gr8 flick by Sudhir Mishra. The movie has every thing for which any audience can look for. Cast is amazing, Acting is superb and direction is awesome . This movie can be learning for the other directors that how to make comedy without being ridiculous.The plot is gripping throughout the movie except initial context/character building is bit lengthy.The use of flashback is very innovative it will make u to appreciate the artistry the director used.Uses of dialects are superb. YSZ is a testimony of Mishra's craftsmanship as a writer and director. With its many unpredictable twists and twirls and a climax that some might take with a pinch of salt, This movie is a delightfully different film that attempts to break all set formulas and leave you with a smile on the face in the end.Worth watching.
    8ajit2106

    A full paced dark comedy........Satire

    This is the new epoch of cinema and we want something invigorating. YEH SAALI ZINDAG is an illustration of modern society and has each elements of a cult film.

    Sudhir Mishra is one of the finest directors, making effort to augment the magnitude of films. It is an exemplary movie with great performance and script. This is a genre of "stylish" film-making and dark humor, this has both in abundance. This is almost as stylish as it gets: fascinating visuals, odd camera angles and various tricks, sound effects, etc. Most of the characters in this bizarre crime film have colorful nicknames and profoundly profane.

    There are very few movies made where the director obviously did not let one FRAME onto the screen without a reason, and YEH SAALI ZINDAGI is one of them. Nothing happens on screen without it having an effect on the plot.

    I think Guy Ritchie's "Lock Stock and Two smoking barrels", "Snatch" & "Rock N Rolla" are the foundation of YEH SAALI ZINDAGI.

    Irfan is simply outstanding – an actor of very high capability. Arunoday shows potential of a good actor; Chritrangda is ravishingly beautiful and delivers a good performance. Shushat Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Yashpal Sharma, Prashant Narayan and Vipin Sharma are delight to watch. Aditi Rao Hydari is beautiful and talented.

    It is visually stunning, editing is brisk and music is fantastic.

    This is a laugh out loud ride with a lot of expletives, so watch out who you are accompanying.
    8saur-78

    A Gem of a movie

    Well my best movie of the season so far. There was no hype surrounding the movie and i went with a neutral mind. It definitely made me laugh.

    There's something about Irfan Khan. Sometimes i find him one dimensional but no one could have carried this movie but him. His portrayal of a hopeless lover with undying devotion would tickle you. His devotion and unconditional love inspite of knowing the girl is not interested but using him would make you adore him.

    The story is tight and there is not a dull moment. All the hoopla may seem meaningless at times but will keep you glued. I watched it on theater and came out happy.
    7bobbysing

    Sudhir Mishra is back in form with a bright film.

    YEH SAALI ZINDAGI starts off straight away with a bloody sequence which clearly gives you an idea that the veteran film-maker is back. And within next half an hour, you really start feeling the thrill and excitement moving with its great pace and brilliantly edited sequences which are both complex and enjoyable at the same moment. No doubt that at times, it tends to be over crowded or one may also feel like its too much happening on the screen all together.

    But the good thing is that the film keeps on moving so fast on a tight and well written script that one doesn't get enough spare moments to think about it in details.

    Frankly speaking, its Sudhir Mishra's one of the top 3 movies, in which he gets full support both from his script as well as his star cast very effectively. Entangled in more than one stories running simultaneously, YSZ is undoubtedly one of the most complex yet well written scripts presented before the audience in this particular genre. The major part of the film is in flashback, which very slowly and steadily takes the viewers into the life of its various characters and then returns to the reality with a well conceived climax. But what I basically loved the most about YEH SAALI ZINDAGI is that in totality its actually a highly intense love story of a one side lover who even after knowing the fact that he is in love with a real bitch, still goes on to risk his everything for her unconditionally.

    The movie has a brilliant first half which starts making its impact slowly, keeps progressing at a brisk speed and then pulls the viewers completely in before the intermission.

    Apart from its superbly written script and its performances, there are three other things which majorly work in favour of the movie as a whole. One, is its worth noticing Cinematography, showcasing the on-location shoots in Delhi (particularly Old Delhi) which brings in a different kind of charm to its visual appeal. Along with that I would really like to mention the editing of the movie, which doesn't give you time to blink your eyes. Two, is its realistic tone of language and dialogues penned down superbly by the writers, which aptly fit to the theme of the movie and its characters. And three is its well composed and arranged Background Score which perfectly gels with the script and emerges as another character on the screen running in the backdrop (Also the catchy title song). Above all Sudhir Mishra does deserve all his praises this time since its not an easy task to come up with an impressive movie based on such a complex kind of script with several story angles.

    Yet along with the above mentioned merits, I found some weak points too in the film which could have been avoided by the director as it seems. Firstly, I felt that abusive and the foul language used in the movie was a bit over the limit which often looked like being deliberately forced into the dialogues with a purpose (That means you are not supposed to watch it with your family). Secondly, I really missed Irfan Khan in the movie post intermission and somehow felt that he was not there on the screen completely. May be as his fan I really wanted to see him more.

    Thirdly, I do have some problems with the bullet changing direction sequence in the climax. For me it was not something expected in a Sudhir Mishra movie at all. Instead the director simply could have shown anyone bending down and the bullet hitting its target.

    Talking about the great performances in the film, I immensely enjoyed watching Irfan Khan as the lonely lover who even has the guts to watch his girl romancing another rich boy right in front of him. And still he goes on and on to sacrifice his everything for the girl who was just good for nothing. Irfan is truly a great performer, a pride of Bollywood and I did enjoy him a lot after a long gap since "Maqbool". Playing the role of a wicked gorgeous lady, Chitrangda Singh, is not only beautiful but she also has got the talent to compete with any actress of the current times unarguably. The girl sizzles on the screen like fire, looks stunningly inviting.

    Arunoday is conquering new heights with his each new film and I said the same about him in my review of SIKANDER a few years back. He is great in his role of Kuldeep but I couldn't understand why the name Kuldeep was chosen for his character as there is no explanation given for that in the film. Aditi Rao Hydari is also fine and bold too in her revealing scenes. Saurabh Shukla is again seen in the same routine kind of role but Sushant Singh, Yashpal Sharma and Prashant Narayanan put up a brilliant show together. Among these veterans do also watch out for a scene in which a kid very innocently explains the spell of anger in his own amusing way.

    Summing up, YEH SAALI ZINDAGI is a strong and bold movie which moves away from the usual path of a song and dance bollywood film. So, it may get mixed responses from the viewers. But if you are game for something great, conceived with an unconventional style and narration, then do watch YSZ as a must with your friends, as it might give you a big pleasant enjoyable surprise in the end.
    8afsalthodupuzha

    Thumbs Up For Sudhir Mishra!!

    'Yeh Saali Zindagi' is a restless satire of the underskirts of Delhi,full of dilemma and heart With entertaining narration.

    Irfan Khan shows his acting skills once again by effortlessly portraying the emotions and confusions of a witty(at the same time heard-hearted) man with oceanly passion for a girl,whom he consider the women of his life.

    Aditi Rao Hydari (of Delhi 6 fame)introduces us to her sensual and womanly side in this dark movie and is brilliant and eye-catching.

    Arunodoy Singh as a tough,but cool and love-making man showers the taste of aspirations and wrong calculations.

    Chitrangda Singh excels as a fighting temptation and is full of feminine energy.

    Director Sudhir Mishra explores the not-so-smooth side of the north,their culture and enties love n crime into a single entity.

    Film uses a lot of profane language and swear words and has about 7 steamy scenes;the reason the film being rated 'A'.

    Music by Nishat khan(a well renowned sitar player) is quite good and mast.The songs like Dil Dar-Ba-Dar n Ishq Tere Jalwe is quite soothing to the rustic darkness of the movie.

    Verdict:In a whole the film will keep you entertained and will reveal the darker side of this life as in previous films of t director,in a darker way. So, Check out this movie and get entertained.Ma rating:8.5/10

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    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
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    Drama
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    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dil Dar-ba-Dar, was the films original title.
    • Soundtracks
      Dil Dar-Ba-Dar
      Written by Swanand Kirkire

      Composed by Nishat Khan

      Performed by Shilpa Rao and Javed Ali

      Courtesy of Super Cassettes Industries Limited (T-Series)

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 4, 2011 (India)
    • Country of origin
      • India
    • Language
      • Hindi
    • Also known as
      • This Damn Life
    • Filming locations
      • New Delhi, Delhi, India
    • Production companies
      • Cineraas Productions
      • FEAM
      • Mystic Movies
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • ₹100,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,011,887
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 10m(130 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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