“Grief is in two parts. The first is loss. The second is the remaking of life.”
-Anne Roiphe
These beautifully penned words precisely summarise the essence of the movie we shall talk about today. Grieving for someone is indeed a distressing and complex process to undergo. Grieving for oneself, even more so! Individuals who undergo diagnosis of a chronic illness and/or terminal illness are known to undergo the stages of grieving for themselves. Experiencing grief affects an individual at many levels and aspects in his or her life. Dasvidaniyaa is a tale of a man diagnosed with stomach cancer at an advanced stage and how he goes through the grieving process to find meaning in life before he bids his final goodbye!
The movie portrays a middle class accounts manager’s mundane life with its hustle and bustle and his daily task of making a ‘TO DO LIST’. His life takes an unexpected turn with the diagnosis and he comes to know he has only 3 months to live. He decides to make his Final ‘To do List’ which includes giving gifts to people who have touched his life.
Journey through the grieving process
Initially, he is seen transitioning from shock to anger and bargaining as he questions why has he been inflicted with this suffering despite being a person of utmost sobriety? He then moves to reflect on what has happened and tries to make sense out of it. This is when he decides to prepare a final ‘to do list’, which is much more meaningful than any of the former ones. An upward turn is then taken and he begins to live more calmly trying to add value to each moment and enjoying the beauty of small things which he never focused on. He moves on to look at more practical solutions and approach towards making sure his mother stays well, he even patches up with his younger brother who stays away from the family.
Note from the psychologist
Going through a loss certainly does invite for grieving, however, how to cope with it and respond to it, is a choice one can make. This is the lesson we as an audience learn from the character as he evolves from someone who is always frustrated and complaining about everything and lives a life as a mere receptor of events, into a person who actively engages in life, expresses his feelings and takes to gratitude in everything. The movie holds an appeal to awaken and live life to the fullest in each day by sending a message about the transient nature of life and the uncertainty it holds.
The movie engages the audience with an emotionally appealing journey of how the character redefines and resolves his personal and social issues and ensures that he leaves behind something precious for everyone before he leaves them.