Zwigato: Time for Kapil Sharma to Switch Professions
Zwigato Review – What does survival look like in today’s gig economy? Is it freedom to work on your terms or a modern-day trap dressed as flexibility? Zwigato, directed by Nandita Das, doesn’t just ask these questions—it takes you straight into the lives of those navigating this uncertain world. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t shout for attention, but it makes you think, quietly and profoundly.
The film, set in the heart of India’s growing gig economy, follows Manas Singh Mahto (Kapil Sharma), a food delivery driver, and his wife Pratima (Sahana Goswami), a blue-collar worker trying to help support their family. Together, they navigate the relentless grind of survival, balancing dignity, familial love, and societal expectations.
Zwigato isn’t here to entertain in the conventional sense—it’s here to hold a mirror to reality. And while it doesn’t always succeed in keeping you hooked, its honesty and the brilliance of its performances leave a mark.
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The Performances That Speak Volumes
Kapil Sharma as Manas is a revelation. Known as the king of stand-up comedy, Sharma trades his comic timing for a quiet, understated performance. And it works. He doesn’t overplay Manas’s struggles but instead embodies the frustration, exhaustion, and flickers of hope of a man carrying the weight of his family’s survival. Watching him, you might find yourself wondering: is it time for Kapil Sharma to hang up his comedian hat and fully explore the actor within him? There’s real potential here.
But the true standout is Sahana Goswami, who delivers a career-best performance as Pratima. Goswami makes Pratima more than just a wife or a supporting character—she’s a fully realized individual. Nandita Das’s direction deserves credit for creating a female character with such depth and agency.
Pratima is rooted in traditional values—refusing to massage a male client because she doesn’t touch men other than her husband—yet she doesn’t shy away from making practical decisions, like taking up a cleaner’s job at a mall, when her family needs it. She’s resilient, quietly determined, and deeply relatable—a testament to how well-written female characters shine when conceptualized by a female filmmaker.
A Grounded Lens on the Gig Economy
Where Zwigato truly stands out is in its portrayal of the gig economy—a world many of us interact with but rarely stop to think about. Manas’s struggles as a food delivery driver highlight the dehumanizing aspects of the gig economy: a constant battle for ratings, impossible targets, and the humiliation of being at the mercy of an algorithm. Yet, the film refrains from taking the easy route of turning into a sob story. Instead, it presents these harsh realities with a sense of grounded optimism, showing how families like the Mahtos adapt and find strength in each other.
The movie also raises a subtle but important question: Is the gig economy a prison disguised as freedom? For workers like Manas, it promises flexibility but delivers instability. These are hard truths, and Zwigato doesn’t shy away from them.
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Where It Stumbles
As earnest as Zwigato is, it struggles with pacing and structure. The narrative lacks momentum after a point, and the slice-of-life approach, while realistic, could have used more layers to keep the audience fully engaged. The film’s simplicity is both its strength and its weakness—while its honesty is refreshing, a tighter script and more dynamic storytelling could have elevated it further.
A Quietly Powerful Experience
Despite its flaws, Zwigato leaves you with plenty to think about. It’s a story about survival, dignity, and quiet resilience in the face of life’s challenges. The film’s greatest triumph lies in its refusal to preach or sensationalize. Instead, it asks us to pause and see the humanity in those who often go unnoticed—people who work tirelessly to deliver our food, clean our malls, and keep their families afloat.
Zwigato isn’t a film for everyone, but for those willing to engage with its unhurried storytelling, it’s a poignant and necessary reflection on the changing landscape of work and family in modern India.
Zwigato is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video
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