Ethan, a magician rendered paralyzed in an accident, sets off a furor when he makes a petition to the court to end his own life.
Ethan Mascarenhas, formerly the world's greatest magician, has been quadriplegic since a performance went wrong 14 years before. For the past 12 years Ethan's health has been relatively stable, largely due to the relentless dedication of his nurse, Mrs Sofia D'Souza. He lives and works at his home, spreading new magic to millions of people with his irrepressible wit and spirit through books he has written and his radio show. But now his internal organs are failing. To avoid permanent hospitalization and machine life-support, Ethan petitions a court to be legally allowed to die. Ethan's request - his 'guzaarish' - shocks everyone in his world, but especially threatens his relationship with Sofia, who is the core of his existence. Will Ethan's petition succeed? How will Sofia respond?—sshogben
Goa-based dancing Magician becomes paralyzed, losing all bodily functions below his neck, and is bed-ridden. He is looked after by Nurse Sofia D'Souza, a victim of spousal abuse; his mother, Isabel; and two servants, Rosy and Maria; in a dilapidated mansion. With this support he becomes a Radio Jockey, and when his health deteriorates after 14 years, asks Devyani Dutta, to file a Petition in Court, seeking permission to end his life. Devyani accordingly does so, and the petition is opposed by Counsel Vipin Patel on behalf of the Government of India. Then Omar Siddique enters his life, wanting to learn the secrets behind his magic tricks, and Sofia's spouse, Nevil, re-enters her life. Thinking about his past, and the accident, Ethan now awaits the Court's verdict, while his Radio fans and others discourage him from euthanasia.—rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)
Ethan Mascarenhas was a top magician of his time. After an accident on his show, he is wheel chaired and can't do anything on his own and aided by nurse Sophia. Ethan is fed up with his suffocating life for depending on others and files a plea for mercy killing.But few politicians action against this by saying he is diverting the youth.—alex.mjacko@gmail.com
The story is set in Goa. Ethan Mascarenhas (Hrithik Roshan) is a former magician who is quadriplegic, paralyzed from neck down. He is now a Radio Jockey & helps people by giving them advice about love & life on his radio show called Radio Zindagi. His show spreads magic, hope, and laughter through his irrepressible wit and humor to every listener and caller, making it difficult to imagine that this is a man who has been immobilized with a spinal injury for the last fourteen years. He is secretly very sad when he hears that others are getting on their lives a lot better than he is with his own.
Sofia D'Souza (Aishwarya Rai) is his nurse and has been so for the past twelve years. Ethan is dependent on Sofia for every small little need in his life. She feeds him, brushes his teeth, gives him a bath, prepares him if he needs to go anywhere in his wheelchair, reads to him, changes his soiled linen, scratches his nose when it itches and so on.
On the fourteenth anniversary of his accident, Ethan decides to file an appeal to the court for euthanasia (mercy killing) with the help of his best friend and lawyer Devyani Dutta (Shernaz Patel).Ethan's physician, Dr. Nayak (Suhel Seth), who has consistently persuaded him to retract his case, finally relents to Ethan's appeal when he realizes that the friend in him is much stronger than the medic. Ethan argues that there is no hope for his recovery, and he does not wish to be kept alive with the aid of machines.Ethan's mother, Isabel Mascarenhas (Nafisa Ali), also supports him in his petition, backing her son's demand.
A young man named Omar Siddiqui (Aditya Roy Kapoor) enters Ethan's life to learn magic from him. Omar enters the house by claiming that he has been sent by the Radio station as the new producer for Etha's show. Omar and Sofia have a mutual disrespect for each other. Omar reveals that he is a magician, and this was the only way for him to get access to Ethan. Omar convinces Ethan that he is like a God to Omar, and that Omar has spent several years making himself worthy of Ethan. He wants to learn magic from Ethan.When questioned by Ethan, Omar says that he would give up his magic for the sake of his love, as he considers love above all else.Ethan hands over his life's work to Omar in their second meeting & suddenly Omar knows all of Ethan's magic secrets. It is not clear whether Omar is genuinely interested in learning magic or is a fake.
Judge Rajhansmoni (Vijay Crishna) dismisses the case immediately when the case is presented in the court. Vipin Patel (Rajit Kapur) is the prosecution lawyer. Vipin argues that the case is simply encouraging more suicide deaths in the country, while Devyani argues that if a citizen has the right to live, then he/she also has the right not to live, under the compelling circumstances.
Devyani asks Ethan to garner public support through a vote on the issue through his radio program, which Ethan names "Project Euthanasia." Sofia is super angry with Ethan and Devyani. She believes she has given her life to keep Ethan alive for 12 years & she is not about to give up now. Devyani argues that she sees Ethan's point of view and cannot see his suffer like this anymore.
The issue comes into limelight through news features in the television and other media. The media labels him as an ordinary coward who wants to run away from his problems in life. The issue is even more complicated as Ethan has been a role model to the Quadriplegics and has always advocated living life with dignity and self-respect.Ethan doesn't get much support at first as all of his listeners are his well-wishers & want him to stay alive. But slowly Ethan is able to present his side of the story and change public opinion in his favor.
An appeal is once again submitted to the court. Ethan travels to the court himself to testify but is refuted by the judge. Sofia speaks with passion in the court to let Ethan testify but is once again reprimanded by the judge. The judge however agrees to hold the next hearing at Ethan's house. Ethan locks the prosecutor away for 60 seconds in a box & he is suffocated & utters profanities to Ethan. Ethan proves his point that Mr Prosecutor Vipin could not stand Ethan's life for even 60 seconds.Meanwhile, Ethan's mother passes away and Sofia is dragged away by her alcoholic husband, Neville D'Souza (Makarand Deshpande), against whom she had filed a divorce case.
It is also revealed that Omar is the son of Yassir Siddique, a rival to Ethan, who had sabotaged Ethan's act, which led to his fall on stage & his paralysis. Ethan knew of this the entire time, yet that didn't come in the way of passing his legacy to Omar.
Finally, the day of verdict comes, and Ethan's plea is rejected by the court, citing that the legal code of the country cannot be violated in any circumstance. A disheartened Ethan spends his time alone in his empty home when Sofia returns. She confesses to Ethan that she got the divorce and tells him that she will help with his mercy-killing, whatever the consequences be as Ethan means more to her. On hearing her words, Ethan realizes how much Sofia loves him. He proposes to her and Sofia agrees.
Ethan throws a farewell party for their friends and guests, where he speaks about everyone who is very dear to him and finally tells everyone about his and Sofia's love. Ethan says that he will be dying a happy man with no regrets and a heart full of Sofia's love and bids all goodbye. At these words, all the guests, come to his couch and hug him, and the shot closes on Ethan laughing heartily.
