Staying
Alive,
directed
by
Ananth
Narayan
Mahadevan
is
a
dark
comedy
and
without
doubt
makes
an
attempt
to
say
something
new.
Though
Staying
Alive
boasts
of
an
original
and
authentic
plot,
it
would
have
best
suited
for
a
good
novel
reading.
The
limitations
in
the
plot
bring
in
a
sort
of
monotony
in
the
narrative.
Most
part
of
the
film
is
shot
inside
the
Intensive
Cardiac
Care
Unit
(ICU).
Only
flashbacks
here
and
there,
which
take
the
audience
away
from
the
room.
Certain
sequences
have
been
handled
by
Ananth
extremely
well.
However,
the
film
gets
monotonous
as
it
keeps
moving
from
the
past
and
the
present.
The
second
part
in
particular
is
particularly
slow.
Story
Staying
Alive
is
a
story
about
two
men
from
two
different
walk
of
life
who
share
the
same
hospital
room
(ICU).
Aditya
(Ananth
Mahadevan)
is
a
newspaper
editor,
who
has
already
survived
two
strokes
in
the
past
and
has
learnt
to
overcome
the
crisis.
Saurabh
Shuka
plays
the
role
of
Shaukat
Ali,
who
is
an
underworld
don.
He
has
been
witness
to
many
deaths
and
is
quite
paranoid
about
his
first
heart
attack.
The
narrative
progresses
at
a
snails
pace
as
it
reveals
their
interactions
and
exchange
of
ideas
in
the
ICU
room.
The
camaraderie
between
the
two
helps
change
the
perception
of
Shaukat
Ali.
Both
wives
of
the
two
characters
are
shown
crying
and
trying
to
console
each
other
outside
the
ICU.
Performances
Saurabh
Shukla
is
fantastic
and
so
is
Amanth
Mahadevan.
All
actors
have
no
doubt
given
a
natural
performance.
Saurabh
brings
in
the
fun
element
in
the
otherwise
very
serious
film.
Staying
Alive
is
unlikely
to
do
great
at
the
box
office.
Overall,
an
average
film!
Director:
Ananth
Narayan
Mahadevan
Cast:
Saurabh
Shukla,
Ananth
Narayan
Mahadevan
Story first published: Saturday, February 4, 2012, 11:26 [IST]