WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Are you ready to lose someone forever? We are created to love, to experience a level of attachment, of connection that ensures a bond between us that cannot easily be shaken or forgotten, even when circumstances might take us apart. Yet, there are the moments when the separation is known ahead of time to be beyond just physical distance, but rather something permanent that we never wish to desire or accept. Sometimes, though, life just doesn’t give us any other choice than to find a path through. It is New Delhi 2015, and one couple, Aditi and Niren Chaudhary (Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Farhan Akhtar) find themselves in the wake of such a challenge with the loss of their daughter Aisha (Zaira Wasim) and the ghosts of the past that haunt them already.
But, a look back shows when an unexpected pregnancy offers the chance for healing, Aditi’s hope-filled demeanor conflicts with Niren’s doubts about the child’s well-being due to their past circumstance. Yet, Aisha is born, though a medical condition threatens her from the start. Making it through this, and as a teenager, a new illness springs from the solution to the old, and soon Aisha, Niren, Aditi, and her elder brother Ishaan (Rohit Suresh Saraf) all finds themselves on an unforeseen journey that will take each and every one of their relationships to the brink and back, with the past colliding with the present and an inescapable future for Aisha, where denial, acceptance, unbreakable love, and ultimate inspiration await.
Next, my Mind:
The undeniable, beautifully orchestrated, emotionally affecting, dynamically wide-ranging, utterly relatable human factors at play in writer/director Shonali Bose, writer Nilesh Maniyar, and producers Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Siddharth Roy Kapur, and Ronnie Screwvala’s epic 163-minute feature film potently illustrate and strongly accompany the equally far-spanning thematic elements that encompass facets of culture, religion, tradition, society, familial bonds, abiding love, the influence of a unified community, the fullness yet fragility of life, the reality of death, dealing with the past, facing the present, moving forward into the future, and holding tightly to the legacy those who have passed leave within our hearts, minds, and spirits along with that of others they’ve impacted, all of it wrapped in a shell that is part comedic, part dramatic, and fully necessary in telling the tale of one young girl’s battle with inevitability and how it effects the lives of all around her. In short, the style of narrative is precisely why this critic fell in love with both independent cinema and then more specifically South Asian efforts, as it truly feels like there’s a deeper level of personal investment, commitment, purposefulness, and dedication to the scope of events depicted that goes well beyond mere entertainment, rather drawing the viewer into a story that is weighty and bittersweet as much as it is heartwarming and inspirational, augmented with the always smartly placed utilization of songs and/or background music score to put that final impassioned punch to a myriad of scenes as the unfolding events are told via both present and flashback sequences.
Now, it is also a fact this particular narrative is based on true events, which is also one the project’s biggest plusses in that there’s often nothing more stirring than real life, or at least it should honestly be that way. The character development presented allows us to wholly engage with the Chaudhary family genuinely and with no ulterior motive other than to showcase just how powerful the mediums of love, understanding, acceptance of circumstances, and embracing life via relishing each and every moment we’re provided without it all feeling like its delivered just to elicit “token” reactions from the viewer or cause overt melodramatics. This is a family’s pain, their struggle, their experience of making every attempt to both adamantly contest yet reluctantly concede to what is to transpire with their daughter, and it is deftly laid out over the span of twenty-five years the couple has been together, ultimately told from the daughter’s perspective, but in a highly effective way that sticks with you the entire time and only ups the film’s well-written moments of both tenderhearted laughs and tear-jerking sorrow, therefore making the story indisputably captivating. Also, it’s the awareness this effort raises when it comes to SCID and Pulmonary Fibrosis that I personally believe makes the film the needed medium it is, and I really do wish that it spurs ongoing research in the medical community as well as encouraging the public at large to simply be willing to come together as fellow people when those in need require assistance so we could see more of what is shown here as an example of what this current world needs a LOT more of-compassion, understanding, support.
I have been waiting to see Chopra Jonas back in South Asian film for a spell now, and it was a fantastic return immersion into her energetic, magnetic acting style thanks to this role as Aditi, a confident, strong-willed, unrelentingly doting mother to her children and dedicated, loving spouse to her beau Niren. But, haunted by a past incident and time period she cannot let go of, we clearly watch as it threatens to undermine her joy once again when finding out she’s unexpectedly pregnant. Unwed at that time, she grasps onto her newly discovered faith while deflecting the doubts Niren has about the child’s future. What comes about upon Aisha’s birth is a multi-year journey for Aditi filled with euphoric highs and devastating lows once the diagnosis she never wished to hear comes about and the supposed solution to that only leads to another complication for her precious Aisha that causes Aditi to slowly spiral and enter into initially unshakable disaffirmation. But through it all, Aditi still finds the realization, mainly thanks to Aisha’s uncannily positive attitude towards her condition and its end, that allows her to cherish and create many amazing times with Aisha and the family, though still fights internally with the unpreventable truths she cannot change. It’s a tour de force of complete emotional roller coastering which Chopra Jonas navigates with a tangible ferocity that endears you to her from the start. It paints the ideal image of the realities Aditi faces, and with everything from humor, to anger, to happiness, to sadness, and all in between, Chopra Jonas embodies it with absolute commitment and believability start to finish.
It had also happened to have been quite a lengthy amount of time in managing to see a film featuring/co-starring Akhtar, and as with Chopra Jonas, it was not just a refreshing re-introduction, but one wholehearted, passionate, at times magnificently understated turn by the actor in his role as Niren, a common man with a heart of gold and often playful demeanor who also seems to find himself at the mercy of his resolute wife Aditi. Seeing his bending to her will, despite his notions about it, when Aditi is pregnant again is both worrisome yet sweet, as his desire to please and support her is evident, even when she is being stubborn or chastising him for being a little too, well, him. But once Aisha is born and the medical tests indicate what they do, his attitude and drive increases to do whatever he can to get the family financially, emotionally, and matrimonially stable. Unlike Aditi, however, he has been more blatantly holding in the pain from the couple’s past complications, and even as he traverses the ups and downs of the situation with Aisha, he maintains this guarded state until the state of affairs comes to the point where it finally sinks in and he releases his inward agony while also trying to suddenly stand up more firmly for what his wishes are, though whether he gets what he seeks often stays in question. There’s never a doubt, though, how much Aisha means to him, and Akhtar exhibits a vulnerability with the character that is truly touching and grounded, filled with the aforementioned muted delivery that still radiates an intensity that pulls you into the character’s personal battles with full vigor and intent, a credit to Akhtar’s skills.
But, let is not remotely give any less credit to hugely talented, up and coming young actress Wasim, whom this critic had already greatly enjoyed in her roles from “Dangal” and “Secret Superstar”, and the unreservedly wonderful turn she now presents as the teenaged Aisha, a brave, innocently sassy, wears-her-heart-on-her-sleeve girl who has already overcome odds most might have crumbled under the pressure of only to then be advised things have not gotten better, but worse, with a finite, severely truncated lifespan attached. Having been advised by her parents what she had been through as a baby, the newest revelation hits right at the point where Aisha’s beginning to finally experience the wonder of life outside of a parentally controlled bubble, complete with school, friends, a crush, and rosier outlook on life thanks to the consistent use of adorably charming pet names she refers to Aditi, Niren, and elder brother Ishaan by, a delving into art as a hobby, and the general teenaged years fun and mischievous interplay with her parents she encounters. But, as the actuality of her situation sinks in more, it becomes a mountaintop-then-valley experience that will both build then conquer her fear of death while inspiring others along the way through her dauntlessness in the face of mortality. But, her journey is far form devoid of moments where the fear of no longer being alive or around for her family strike her, and it makes for such heart-rending instances between them, fully believable and credible thanks to Wasim’s perfectly executed manner and sensitivity that comes out in her performance, compelling and persuasive throughout.
Primary supporting turns mainly come from key characters like Ishaan, played by Saraf, who as Aisha’s elder brother becomes her sounding board and confidant during the most formidable times she faces but also makes for a handy, involuntary pawn in aiding his scheming mother’s plans in trying to provide Aisha with every bit of life happiness possible as time itself becomes more and more a factor. I truly enjoyed the way Saraf portrays Ishaan, as again, there’s a sincerity and plausibility to it that attaches us to him and the feelings Ishaan is having in facing his sister’s plight. Then there is Ishan Jotshi who plays the role of Karan, a schoolmate of Aisha’s who becomes her first crush and love, though whether a little pushed into it by her well-meaning mother or not ultimately remains up to the viewer. Karan’s demeanor towards Aisha certainly takes her down one path, but he also becomes a life lesson as well that Aisha may or may not wish to face given the grander circumstances she faces. Either way, Jotshi plays the character quite well and gets to share some truly hilarious moments with Aditi, Niren, and Aisha as only parents with hormonal teenagers could assuredly relate to. Also, mentions to Gurpal Singh, who plays the London radio D.J. Arjun Gill who gives air time to Niren and his plea that births a miracle, and additional supporting turns from Manas Mittal, Rajshri Deshpande, Lushin Dubey, Sunil Chitkara, Nirupama Verma, Sudhanva Deshpande, Manisha Chudasama, and Paras Rattan Sharda.
There are a wealth of supporting actors here and while I won’t be mentioning them all by name, I always believe they still need to know that their efforts are appreciated and being acknowledged here, because it takes everyone together to make a film what it is, and therefore if any of you read this, please understand you have this critic’s thanks for your work. In total, with its hugely poignant finale, end credits arrangement of images and reminisces from the real life Aisha Chaudhary paired with a highly personal message shared by Bose, “The Sky Is Pink” is a magnificently executed piece of independent artwork that tugs at our emotions as it should, reminds us of all the spectrums of life’s travels we face, inspires us to push beyond pain, loss, and mourning and find the good in what others we treasure have left behind, and allows us who remain to have the opportunity to pay it forward to others who have similar struggles, to be the voices of love, solace, and gentleness this world so deeply needs. May we learn this from Aisha’s example.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
