Dia (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Dia is set in two major Indian cities: Bengaluru, where Dia is from and studies biotechnology, and Mumbai, where she meets Rohit and Adi. The contrast between Bengaluru's quieter, tech-hub atmosphere and Mumbai's fast-paced urban environment drives the characters' emotional journeys.

• bengaluru
• mumbai
• setting
• locations
• india

Dia is set in present-day contemporary India, following the characters from their college years through early adulthood. The story spans several years as the characters navigate love, heartbreak, and personal growth.

• present day
• contemporary
• time period
• india

Dia explores three major themes: love in its many forms, from romantic longing to complex relationships; mental health, particularly depression and grief after loss; and guilt, which drives characters' decisions and emotional turmoil. These themes intertwine to create a poignant story of healing and heartbreak.

• themes
• love
• mental health
• depression
• guilt

Dia Swaroop is the protagonist, an introverted biotechnology student from Bengaluru. She is secretly in love with her college crush Rohit and struggles to express her feelings. After experiencing profound loss, she battles depression and must navigate a complicated emotional journey toward healing.

• dia
• protagonist
• main character
• introverted

Rohit is Dia's college crush who moves abroad after their college days. He becomes central to Dia's emotional journey when an accident leaves him brain dead, setting off a chain of events that deeply impact Dia's mental health and future relationships.

• rohit
• love interest
• crush
• brain dead

Adi is Dia's friend who helps her recover from depression after Rohit's presumed death. He becomes her love interest but carries heavy guilt over his mother's death. His character arc explores themes of sacrifice and emotional burden.

• adi
• friend
• love interest
• guilt

Mental health is central to Dia, portraying Dia's depression and grief after Rohit's presumed death with sensitivity. The film shows how social isolation affects her wellbeing and how friendship becomes crucial to her recovery, while also exploring the consequences of hidden truths on emotional health.

• depression
• mental health
• grief
• therapy

Dia maintains a consistently melancholic and emotionally heavy tone throughout. The film begins as an introspective romance and evolves into profound tragedy, with themes of depression and suicide dominating the narrative. The ending is unequivocally sad, creating a tragic sense of fate and despair.

• tone
• mood
• melancholic
• emotional
• tragic

The two cities represent different emotional landscapes. Bengaluru represents Dia's familiar, quieter world of studies and personal life, while Mumbai serves as the romantic backdrop where significant relationships develop. This geographical shift mirrors the characters' emotional transitions between stability and upheaval.

• bengaluru
• mumbai
• city contrast
• setting

Guilt is a driving force in Dia, primarily through Adi's actions. He carries overwhelming guilt over his mother's death and believes he does not deserve happiness with Dia. This guilt leads him to make drastic choices, while Rohit's deception at the hospital also creates a sense of responsibility and mercy that weighs on the characters.

• guilt
• sacrifice
• responsibility
• choices

Dia's romantic journey involves evolving feelings across multiple relationships, her initial crush on Rohit, a healing bond formed with Adi during her depression, and the emotional aftermath when Rohit's situation changes. The film explores how love can be uplifting, disruptive, or tragic depending on truth, timing, and choice.

• love triangle
• relationships
• romance
• choice