SonyLIV (OTTPlay Premium) released a new series titled Zindaginama on World Mental Health Day, October 10. The six episodic series are directed by seven different directors - Sukriti Tyagi, Danny Mamik, Sahaan Hattangadi, Rakhee Sandilya, Aditya Sarpotdar, Mitakshara Kumar, Priya Bapat. Starring Shreyas Talpade, Anjali Patil, Shruti Seth, Sumeet Vyas, Shweta Basu Prasad, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Prajakta Koli, and others, Zindaginama deals with mental health issues such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. The series is an emotional rollercoaster that breaks down social stigmas while the characters aptly resonate with the audience. 

The titles of the six episodes are - Swagatam, Purple Duniya, One Plus One, Bhanwar, Caged, and The Daily Puppet Show.

In the first episode, Swagatam stars Shreyas Talpade as Mukul. He is the person navigating the isolating and confusing world of psychosis. Notably, his dialogue with his wife, played by Anjali Patil, makes the series heartwarming. Anjali as a struggling and supportive wife beautifully highlights the often overlooked role of caregivers in the mental health journey. With this, the episode teaches us the portrayal of schizophrenia with a heartfelt love story. From the storytelling to the characterization, this episode wins from the beginning to the end.

The second episode Purple Duniya focuses on gaming disorder. Tanmay Dhanania as Raag is a young man lost in an ecstatic virtual world. Through this episode, we are introduced to the growing influence of technology on society. However, the craft and storytelling lack rhythm at some point.

The third episode titled One Plus One shows the atypical anorexia nervosa. The episode stars Prajakta Koli and Yashaswini Dayama as Meera and Maya. The story is a take on the profound psychological disorder in family dynamics. 

In the fourth episode, Bhanwar highlights PTSD. The cast stars Shweta Basu Prasad as Namrata. The episode makes you feel at ease and there is no superfluous crafting to portray the trauma of Namrata.

The fifth episode Caged narrates the struggles of gender dysphoria. Starring Mohammad Samad as Raju, He is a boy struggling with his identity in a world that refuses to understand him. On the other hand, Sumeet Vyas’s role as Keith perfectly makes the episode rich while tackling the emotional journey of self-acceptance. I can tell that this episode is my favorite. Anything more would be no more than a spoiler. 

The final episode, The Daily Puppet Show, talks about OCD with a tinge of romance in the story. In the episode, Shivani Raghuvanshi plays Leela. She is suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. On the other hand, Sahil Gupta, a documentary filmmaker portrayed by Sayandeep Sengupta, wants to be part of Leela’s world. The characterizations are amazing in one word while the plot deals with one of the most common issues. 

The title of the six-chapter anthology, Zindaginama aptly suits the stories as it deals with daily and common mental health issues. Released on World Mental Health Day, the series tries to bring mental health topics into mainstream entertainment. However, some plots lack proper craft, and this is a warning for people who are sensitive toward the subject. Otherwise, Zindaginama, a simply effective series, is sincerely written, directed as well as performed. 

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