The Sky is Pink is a warm fuzzy feeling you get when you hug your parents, your kids or your pets.
The film revolves around the true story of Aisha Chaudhary (Zaira Wasim) who survived a rare disorder called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and later developed a condition called pulmonary fibrosis. Though she struggled to cope with life-threatening disorders daily, she celebrated life before breathing her last… and that’s what The Sky is Pink about.
It celebrates life, family, parents, siblings, animals and all the messiness in between.
The Sky is Pink tells the story of Aisha, through the life of her parents Aditi Chaudhary (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) and Niren Chaudhary (Farhan Akhtar). This is a couple who’s madly in love; It’s about their journey navigating through life to make the most of all the unexpected bumps along the way.
Speaking of the screenplay, the chronology of events is established by taking the audience back and forth to critical moments in the lives of the Chaudhary’s.
To set the mood, the story is narrated by chirpy and enthusiastic Aisha … from the dead. Though a tricky treatment for the film, it does help in parts to understand the timelines and their family dynamics. The first frame instantly gives a profound sense of grief and emptiness. Aditi and Niren seem to be coping in their own ways while evidently drifting apart; Just then we’re taken back to a happier time in their lives.
Aditi discusses an unplanned pregnancy and contemplates the birth of the child with her husband. We immediately get a glimpse into their relationship when Niren fears the pregnancy due to certain health risks and past experiences by simply saying “body tumhari hai, decision bhi tumhara hai.” There’s no melodrama.
The crux of the film is about a family rigorously fighting against time to save Aisha – to gain few days of her life so they can stay a family. This is where stellar performances by Chopra Jonas and Akhtar play a huge role in creating impact, and their chemistry as a young slightly-giddy couple in love to committed parents hold the film together.
Chopra Jonas effortlessly slips into the various shades of Aditi, from being a young girl running (in slow motion) on the terrace of a Chandni Chowk bungalow to a complete contrast as a dedicated, stressed and highly perceptive mother of two teenage kids.
Akhtar returns to big screen after two years and shines in every frame. His character arc from a boyfriend to a husband, a young father struggling to protect and provide for his family and then an aged father, makes this his best performance. Towards the second half, Akhtar will remind you of your father who silently holds fort because he can’t afford to be weak in difficult times. He’s an aching father only trying to save his daughter.
Actor Rohit Saraf plays the role of Ishaan Chaudhary, Aisha’s older brother who may seem aloof and tough, but breaks down when his terminally ill sister calls fearing her inevitable death. Though Saraf’s character doesn’t develop as much, he certainly makes a mark with the limited screen-time.
Director Shonali Bose shows a world that is sensitive, real, and even flawed without making it too fluffy.
Sure, there are certain portions of the film that are underwhelming such as the overly-used nicknames of “Moose” “Panda” and “Giraffe,” or Aisha’s progression as a motivational speaker and writer, but none big enough to take away from the core of the film – that pink sky.
You will laugh, you will cry and even weep towards the end. If you have a sudden urge to hug your loved ones after watching the film, it has done its job!
PS. I strongly urge the audience to stick around till the end credits of the film. Everything you experience through the characters of Aditi, Niren, Aisha and Ishaan come alive with personal home videos of the real Chaudhary family. Your emotions come full circle before you leave the theatre.
