Lost in translation

Lion of Gurdaspur. Years ago, Gurcharan had given Dilsher some life-altering advice. But all is far from well because Gurcharan has a snivelling, entitled son Surya, who keeps whining about his father not loving him. He instantly hates Dilsher and calls him ‘Papa’s pet dog’. Gurcharan also has a wife from hell — Mandira, also known as Mandy. Mandy, who carries expensive handbags and smokes, likes to address Gurcharan as Pendu. This is one miserable family. We also have a parallel track about Dilsher’s relationship with music. Sarah Jane Dias plays Amira, a singer who tries to show Dilsher that music is his true calling.

It all starts out well enough. Mozez creates surges of emotion. But the narrative is so disjointed that it dissipates quickly. Though the film is set largely in Delhi and Gurdaspur, the plot doesn’t seem tethered to any known reality. At one point, Amira is mourning a family tragedy by getting stoned in the desert with friends. They are singing and dancing in a truck blazing with fluorescent light. It’s gorgeous to look at but what does any of it mean?

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. Or it’s with Mozez Singh and he hasn’t been able to communicate it.

Zubaan also has 14 songs woven into the narrative, and few feel organic or stick in the memory. For me, the highlight was Vicky’s textured performance. He invests Dilsher with a keen intelligence and a quiet strength. I just wish his character’s journey had had a little more logic consistency