I Want To Talk

The language of grief changes and becomes even more incomprehensible when it's for yourself. That accurately summarizes the point of this Shoojit Sircar directed talkie, starring an incredible Abhishek Bachchan. Arjun Sen, is terminally ill. As a marketer, he does not like bullshit because he uses it constantly for his job. So when he finds out he will die, he first grieves and soon notices that while grieving is important wallowing in that sadness accomplishes nothing. At the same time, not giving healing one last shot is also a bad choice because if he'll die anyway, why not hope?

While the true story of Arjun Sen, is infinitely more interesting than the film, I think the way it's told and the moment the writer and director choose to focus on makes this a compelling watch. This could've been a sob story. The pitch could've been melodramatic but they choose to do the opposite. They present Arjun as a flawed character that refuses to submit to his fate. He is an annoying, loudmouth that loves to talk. His ability to express himself is something he prides himself in and when he is threatened with the loss of his voice, he does everything in his power to win it back. So much so that he annoys a doctor that should feel empathy towards him, to the point where he tells him "I enjoy my Sundays and my wines, you have made that impossible. You will die. Accept it, the average surviving rate is not on your side" In any other film, this would've been treated as this big sad moment but in a later scene the writers insert the following dialog as the doctor prepares to perform a surgery.

" An average human has 1.1 testicles,and 0.9 breasts and as per the latest census male population is 50.4%. and female population is 49.2 percent. Going by your thing of "average" do you know anyone woman that has 0.9 breasts or man that has 1.1 testicle?"

To which the doctor slyly responds

"No but often people have left with just one testicle so...yeah"

Brilliant!

That's also another important theme of the film. Why would you go by the average when fighting for survival? It rarely makes sense, especially when you're facing extraordinary situations.

Arjun Sen ended up having more than 20 surgeries and was originally was supposed to live about 3 months after the diagnosis. He is unwilling to just submit to what the doctors say, he consistently talks with everyone and overshares, he is a nuisance to his nurse, his daughter, his friends and almost every doctor he meets. He is the complete opposite of the classic likeable main character but he wins your heart because he is an earnest in his pursuit and on some level, this is relatable.

Anyway, today is Friday and this might not be the cheeriest watch, but it's one that I recommend highly because despite its flaws it provides a realistic blueprint for finding hope. At the end of the day, hope doesn't kill you or sustain you, it's just a thing that's there to remind you that you need to persist because how many women do you know have 0.9 breasts and how many men do you know have 1.1 testicles? It's either 1 or 2.

Highly encourage you to watch this gem of a film, especially if you've fallen victim to the blues of the news.

Side note:

To anyone that has gone through the emotions of finding a cure for your illness or that of your loved one... you are seen and keep fighting the good fight!