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Yeh Saali Zindagi backdrop
4 February 2011Hindi134 min

Yeh Saali Zindagi

5.111 reviews
CriticsMixed

Bayesian avg · 11 critic reviews

7.5+ Exceptional · 6.5 Recommended · 5.0 Mixed

8.01 ratings
Users

User Score · avg of 1 ratings

8.0+ Exceptional · 7.0 Recommended · 5.5 Mixed

Sudhir Mishra DirectorNishat Khan MusicSachin Kumar Krishnan Cinematography

A quirky love story in the guise of a thriller. It's an obtuse take on how far both the heroes go to get the women they love and how sometimes one screw-up can set everything right!

Critic Consensus

Critical reception for Yeh Saali Zindagi is mixed, with most reviewers landing in the average-to-decent range. The ensemble performances, particularly from Irrfan Khan, Saurabh Shukla, and supporting cast, are the most consistently highlighted strength across reviews. The film's primary weakness, noted by multiple critics, is its bloated runtime and a sprawling, jumbled narrative with too many characters and subplots that strain coherence. A few critics found enough entertainment value to recommend it cautiously, while others felt the script ultimately undermined the material.

11 reviews · 7 positive · 1 mixed · 2 negative

Praised: strong ensemble cast performancesCriticised: overlong, cluttered narrative structure

AI-generated summary of 11 critic reviews · may contain errors

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Critic Reviews (11)

Nikhat KazmiTop Critic· Times Of India
7.0
"Dark, devious and different, Yeh Saali Zindagi is brain-and-brawn drama. Wish the Censor hadn't beeped so much."
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Anupama ChopraTop Critic· NDTV
6.0
"Yeh Saali Zindagi needed to be shorter and less flabby. I also wish that Arunoday and Chitrangda were more forceful actors - thankfully Irrfan Khan, Saurabh Shukla, Sushant Singh and a host of other strong performers ably prop them up. Eventually then, Yeh Saali Zindagi doesn't hit all the high marks it sets for itself but it provides enough crackle to keep you entertained. Check it out."
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Rajeev MasandTop Critic· IBNLive
6.0
"Yeh Saali Zindagi takes its time to unfold, but it's a delicious little treat if you muster the patience for it. Under its rough exterior of criminals and gunshots, is a tale of slow-burning passion and unconditional love."
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Shubhra GuptaTop Critic· Indian Express
3.0
"The title instantly conjures up a welcome robustness. That phrase is not so much invective as part of the slangy, easy-speak DNA of so many-- an affectionate, ironic, all-encompassing metaphor for life and how it's such a bitch."
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Pankaj Sabnani· Glamsham
7.0
"YEH SAALI ZINDAGI is a racy entertainer which blends the right amount of romance, comedy and thrill. You will regret throughout your zindagi for missing this one!"
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Sukanya Verma· Rediff
7.0
"The idea is to project mess and chaos. Indeed surplus characters and subplots often make YSZ an overwhelming experience to endure. But if you are up for the challenge to explore Delhi's shifty facet, it's rewarding too. What's most fascinating is how everyone has a sense of humour about their situation, which is inevitably on the sticky side. Saali or sane, this Zindagi rocks."
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Blessy Chettiar· DNA India
6.0
"With a bit of patience, however, YSZ isn't a bad choice for this weekend. If patience isn't one of your virtues, however, wait for the television premiere."
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Mayank Shekhar· Hindustan Times
6.0
"It's fairly simple. The film appears jumbled in parts, merely because no character holds a moral centre. No character, in particular, holds the plot together either. The picture goes all over the place to arrive at an end, even beyond the intended end. You leave for home with an exhilarating ride, still reeling in your head -- though not quite the heart. The actors (each one of them inspiringly cast, stunningly moulded) help you get there. The movie seems infinitely better than the sum of its script. That's usually true for fun thrillers. This is definitely one of them."
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Roshni Mulchandani· Bollyspice
4.0
"Set in Delhi, Yeh Saali Zindagi depicts Arun (Irrfan Khan) and Mehta (Saurabh Shukla) work together in a business which is unstated."
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Komal Nahta· KoiMoi
2.0
"On the whole, Yeh Saali Zindagi is an average entertainer which will suffer at the box-office on account of a complicated script. Its bold dialogues and the performances of its cast members are its biggest plus points."
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Komal Nahta· KoiMoi
2.0
"Yeh Saali Zindagi is an average entertainer which will suffer at the box-office on account of a complicated script. Its bold dialogues and the performances of its cast members are its biggest plus points."
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Cast & Crew

Cast

Details

Release Date
4 February 2011
Runtime
134 min
Language
Hindi

User Ratings & Reviews

Users8.01 rating

1 rating from the community

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