Category: Hindi Webseries Reviews

Posted on

Made In Heaven Season 2: A Gripping Critique On Social Issues

Despite a few editing lapses, the directors explore different topics and deliver a solid show, once again.

A worthy follow-up!
Made In Heaven Season 2 (Hindi)
  • Cast: Sobhita Dhulipala, Arjun Mathur, Vijay Raaz, Mona Singh, Shashank Arora, Mrunal Thakur, Pulkit Samrat, Radhika Apte, and Anurag Kashyap
  • Directors: Zoya Akhtar, Alankrita Srivastava, Neeraj Ghaywan, and Nitya Mehra
  • Producers: Excel Media & Entertainment and Tiger Baby
  • Music: Sagar Desai, Dub Sharma, Balkrishan Sharma, and Sherry Mathews
  • No. of episodes: 9
  • OTT platform: Amazon Prime Video

The first season of Made in Heaven created by Zoya Akhtar, Nitya Mehra, Reema Kagti, Prashant Nair, Alankrita Shrivastava, and Neeraj Ghaywan was a gripping take on the affluent society of South Delhi.

In the web series, the directors looked at the hypocrisies beneath all the glitter and glamour.

At the heart of Made in Heaven are the two wedding planners Tara Khanna (Sobhita Dhulipala) and Karan (Arjun Mathur). Tara was born into a typical middle-class family but her luck changes when she gets married into a rich South Delhi family.

Karan, on the other hand, is a gay who has unattached hookups.

Through each wedding, the directors explore different topics along with the upheavals that Tara and Karan face, both professionally and personally.

Synopsis

The second season of the web show, Made in Heaven Season 2, starts with Tara and Arjun trying to reconstruct their business which is facing financial issues.

As a result, they set up their office in an old dilapidated house with a new business partner Jauharji (Vijay Raaz) reprising his role from the first part.

In order to have tight control over the financés he brings in his wife Bulbal Jauhar (Mona Singh).

Apart from her, another new addition to the team is Meher (Trinetra Haldar).

Shashank Arora and Shivani Raghuvanshi continue their parts of Kabir and Jaspreet respectively.

Much like the first season, this time too, the creators push the envelope in exposing the double standards and hypocrisies that dwell in our society through different weddings.

For example, one of the episodes is about a successful author and Professor Pallavi Menke (Radhika Apte) who asserts her Dalit identity at every step. She insists on having a Dalit Buddhist wedding in addition to a traditional ceremony.

What is also similar is the various complexities playing out in the individual lives of Tara and Arjun.

The best part of Made in Heaven Season 2 is how the directors integrated the different social aspects of our society in an engaging manner.

Yes, there are times when the viewers feel the length of the episodes could have been trimmed. However, the impact doesn’t diminish.

Each episode ends with Shashank Arora’s social commentary. He raises uncomfortable yet important questions.

The Dalit episode definitely packs a bigger punch, thanks to Neeraj Ghaywan’s direction in addition to Radhika’s fiery performance.

Other episodes also make a strong impact.

A good example of this is the one centred on Kriti Malhotra and Gulshan Raina (Neelam Kothari and Samir Soni respectively).

This episode has also been directed by Neeraj Ghaywan. Kriti and Gulshan were lovers once upon a time in college. Now in their 50s, they are having an extra-martial affair behind the backs of their respective spouses.

The episode ends with Kriti taking a bold decision that doesn’t go down well with her children.

Effortless performances

Made in Heaven Season 2 also does a good job in the way it portrays a transgender character. There is certain sensitivity both in the writing and execution of the transgender person (Trinetra Haldar) who delivers a confident performance.

Special mention must also be made of Mona Singh. Her character Bulbal comes across as a tough woman in the office. But at the same time, there is also a vulnerability in the scenes with her rebellious teenage son.

Mona Singh does a fantastic job of portraying these shades.

One of my favourite characters apart from Radhika Apte is the one played by Mrunal Thakur. She plays a beauty queen struggling in an abusive relationship. The actress does a wonderful job, particularly in the emotional bits.

Sobhita and Arjun Mathur take off effortlessly from where they left in the first season.

In the second season, Sobhita as Tara has to literally restart her life after the separation from her husband Adil (Jim Sarbh).

Tara is someone who is both vulnerable and manipulative. The actress does a good job of bringing out these shades.

Arjun Mathur is in impressive form with his arresting performance.

Final Take

To sum it up, the title “Made in Heaven” actually feels like a paradox because of the way most of the marriages in this series end up. However, it’s a worthy follow-up to the first season.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

Posted on

The Trial: A Gripping Drama That Goes Much Beyond The Courtroom

The real-life references that director Supan Verma brings in make Kajol’s web series debut interesting to watch.

A worthy remake!
The Trial (Hindi)
  • Cast: Kajol, Jisshu Sengupta, Sheeba Chaddha, Gaurav Pandey, Alyy Khan, and Kubbra Sait
  • Director: Supan Verma
  • Producers: Ajay Devgan and Rajesh Chadha
  • Music: Sangeet-Siddharth
  • No. of episodes: 8
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Director Supan Verma’s The Trial is centred on a woman named Nayonika Sengupta (Kajol).

It is a remake of The Good Wife (English, 2009) and deals with many relevant topics like corruption, politics, media trials, and fake news. It also marks the web series debut of Kajol.

What happens that brings Nayonika back to work is what The Trial is about.

Synopsis

One day, Nayonika’s husband Rajiv Sengupta (Jisshu Sengupta) is arrested by the police for seeking sexual favours. This incident results in her coming out of her retirement.

With the help of Vishal Chaubey (Alyy Khan), she manages to get a job at a law firm co-founded by him. Vishal and Nayonika have a past which didn’t end happily.

At the law firm, Nayonika faces the brunt of both gossip and the sexual scandal of her husband before she proves herself as a competent lawyer.

In a nutshell, the series focuses on the different cases that Nayonika takes up along with how she bravely takes on the challenges that arise in both her professional and personal life.

Makes references to real-life incidents

One of the things that makes The Trial interesting is the real-life references that director Supan Verma brings in.

For example, one of the cases is about a cricketer who commits suicide and his girlfriend is hounded by the media. A negative campaign is run against her.

This reminds you of the Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s case.

Here, the director makes some valid points about how these media trials have a severe effect on the person who is already battered.

The Trial also has some satirical commentary on the legal system which lands perfectly.

Realistic portrayal of relationships

Supan Verma does a good job of exploring the dynamics between a mother and her two young daughters. It has been treated in a realistic manner.

The two daughters face a lot of humiliation in school because of the father’s sex scandal. In fact, they are forced to mature before age.

Another track that deserves a mention is the one involving Vishal and Nayonika.

Vishal never lets their bad past come in the way of supporting Nayonika. On more than one occasion, we feel that Nayonika should have ended up with Vishal and not Rajiv.

Further, the back story of how Nayonika and Rajiv ended up together could have been explained better. But still, the scenes between Kajol and Jisshu Sengupta do pack a punch.

The aloofness of Nayonika and her hesitancy to trust Rajiv again has been wonderfully portrayed.

Performances

As Nayonika, Kajol delivers a formidable performance and is successful in bringing alive the different layers. She brings in the right amount of grit, vulnerability, and despair.

Jisshu Sengupta is solid on his part as a guilty husband.

Sheeba Chadda as Vishal’s law firm partner brings in the required authority.

The rest of the actors also deliver good performances.

Final take

Watch The Trial for a realistic portrayal of Nayonika’s professional and personal life.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

Posted on

The Night Manager Part 2: High On Both Thrills And Human Drama

Part 2 of this espionage drama gives a deep insight into global politics through the character of Shelly played by Anil Kapoor.

Stands out for its performances!
The Night Manager Part 2 (Hindi)
  • Cast: Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Tillotama Shome, and Saswata Chatterjee
  • Direction: Sandeep Modi, Priyanka Ghose, and Rukh Nabeel
  • Producers: Deepak Dhar, Rishi Negi, and Rajesh Chadha
  • Music: Sam CS
  • No. of episodes: 3
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar

The first part of The Night Manager followed the journey of an ex-Navy guy-turned-night manager Shaan Sengupta (Aditya Roy Kapur). His life takes a drastic turn when a tormented teenager seeks help from him.

The husband of this teen is a criminal and much older than her. He is also an associate of a businessman named Shelly (Anil Kapoor).

On the surface, Shelly is supposed to be a philanthropist. But in reality, he is a businessman who deals in illegal arms.

Shaan takes the help of a woman called Lipika Saikia Rao (Tillotama Shome) who works for the Indian intelligence.

In spite of his best efforts, Shaan isn’t able to save the teenager. And this leaves him absolutely shattered.

The crux of The Night Manager Part 1 was primarily about how Shaan manages to impress Shelly and gets access to his inner circle.

Season 2 synopsis

The Night Manager Part 2 begins with the illegal arms dealer Shailendra Rungta aka Shelly.

He is still not aware of Shaan’s real identity. His trust in Shaan is so firm that he even makes him a business partner.

On the other hand, Lipika is continuing to trace Shelly at the cost of facing heat from the system.

There is also a secret love story developing between Shaan and Shailendra’s girlfriend Kaveri K Dixit (Sobhita Dhulipala).

However, Shelly’s friend Brijpal (Saswata Chatterjee) isn’t still convinced about Shaan’s reliability. Adding to Brijpal’s woes, he loses Shelly’s trust.

Like most espionage dramas, this web series is also about a man who rises against all odds to save the country. At the same time, The Night Manager Part 2 gives a deep insight into global politics through the character of Shelly.

Sobhita gets a strong role

A big area of improvement in comparison to The Night Manager Part 1 is how the makers designed the character of Sobhita Dhulipala’s Kaveri.

In the first season, she was more of a glam doll. But now, the character has been explored much more.

The romantic moments between Shaan and Kaveri are subtle yet effective. However, as viewers you do wish that Kaveri shouldn’t have been reduced to a damsel in distress towards the end.

Sobhita Dhulipala is quite good and does hold her own opposite the terrific Anil Kapoor.

A peek into world politics

Coming to Anil Kapoor, he does a fantastic job of portraying the evilness of Shelly. The monster side of Shelly comes out much more in The Night Manager Part 2.

For example, there is a scene where he butchers a former associate to death with what looks like a Reynolds ballpoint pen.

One of my favourite moments in the show is when he chews on the cigar and talks about bombs in a poetic way. It is so good to see Anil Kapoor reinventing himself constantly.

As earlier mentioned, the theme of global politics is explored through the character of Shelly.

He may look like the villain, but in reality, he is someone who is very much needed by the Indian government. Because people like him are hired to do the dirty work which the government doesn’t want to lay its hands on.

At one point, Shelly is compared to Osama Bin Laden whom America thought it could control, at least at one point in time.

These moments make the show a cut above the usual espionage drama.

Other characters

Aditya Roy Kapur shows once again why he is perfect for the role of Shaan. He lends the required mystery as Shaan doesn’t express a lot. His good looks also come in handy since Shaan is meant to be a seducer as well.

Another character from The Night Manager Part 2 that stays with the viewers is Saswata Chatterjee’s Brijpal. He effortlessly conveys the turmoil of a man who is losing the trust of his friend.

Tillotama Shome as the heavily pregnant intelligence officer continues her impressive form.

She is in equal parts resilient and vulnerable. She also gets her share of masala moments and the actress knocks them out of the park.

The cinematography by Benjamin Jasper and Anik Ram Verma is of the highest order. The desert shots, in particular, deserve mention.

The background music by Sam CS elevates the drama in several places.

Final take

The Night Manager Part 2 is an espionage drama that manages to stand out with its understanding of world politics and stellar performances.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

Posted on

Jee Karda: A Tale Of Friendship With Good Dose Of Fun And Drama

Director Arunima Sharma’s web series is a good attempt at exploring the different problems faced by today’s youth.

A mirror of contemporary times!
Jee Karda (Hindi)
  • Cast: Tamannaah Bhatia, Anya Singh, Aashim Gulati, Suhail Nayyar, and Hussain Dalal
  • Direction: Arunima Sharma
  • Producer: Maddock Films
  • Music: Sachin Jigar
  • No. of episodes: 8
  • OTT platform: Amazon Prime

Arunima Sharma’s Jee Karda (What the Heart Wishes) is a relatable tale of seven childhood pals, now in their 30s going through different issues.

Through this tale of friendship, Arunima Sharma touches upon multiple topics. Not all of them are fleshed out sufficiently. But still, there is a lot to enjoy particularly if you are in the mood for some fun.

Jee Karda begins with an old man making a prophecy about a bunch of schoolchildren. He tells each of them how their lives will turn out and what things they need to keep a distance from.

Children dismiss this farfetched prophecy, and we fast forward to 15 years.

At the centre of this tale is Lavanya (Tamannaah Bhatia). She is on the verge of marrying her childhood friend Rishabh (Suhail Nayyar). Even at that stage, we see her struggling to come to terms with the idea of marriage and the complexities that come with it.

Among others, Arjun (Aashim Gulati) is a popular Punjabi pop singer who is often embroiled in controversies. Preet (Anya Singh) is struggling to find a compatible partner.

Sheetal (Samvedana Suwalka) is married to Sameer (Malhar Thakkar). She is facing the challenges of living in a joint family and is desperate to have her own space with her husband.

Melroy (Sayan Banerjee) is in a problematic relationship with a guy called Yavar. Melroy is trying to cope with Yavar’s inability to come out of his closet.

The last one in the group is Shahid (Hussain Dalal), a school teacher struggling financially to make ends meet.

In a nutshell, Jee Karda looks at how these seven friends navigate the challenges of adulthood.

There is no denying that the theme of Jee Karda isn’t exactly original. The story at times reminds you of both Shashanka Ghosh’s Veere di Wedding (2018) and also Ayan Mukherjee’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013).

But what makes the show work is how Arunima Sharma deals with the different plotlines.

Strong plotlines

One of the best tracks in Jee Karda is the one involving Sayan Banerjee as Melroy. He is a homosexual man who had to face a lot of problems because of that.

The director does a wonderful job of portraying the arch of his character. It also helps that Sayan did complete justice to the character.

Another subplot that deserves a mention is that of Hussain Dalal’s Shahid.

Shahid comes from the lower social strata, in comparison to his friends. As a result, life has never been easy for him. Hussain Dalal does a very good job of bringing out the vulnerability of Shahid.

The story of Samvedana Suwalka is similar to what we had earlier seen this year in Zara Hakte Zara Bachke (2023). However, there is no denying that the claustrophobia of her character Sheetal is easily relatable for many married women.

Coming to the main leads, Tamannaah Bhatia gets to portray a character which is vastly different from what we have seen in her earlier films. To Tamannaah’s credit, she does pull off a wonderful performance.

There are times when she goes overboard. But nevertheless, she is impressive.

Aashim Gulati is also fun to watch as the Punjabi pop singer. His character Arjun is not just high on energy, but there is also a vulnerable side to him.

Another aspect that works for Jee Karda is the family scenes featuring Lavanya’s mother and Rishabh’s parents. Their contrasting ideologies have been well portrayed by the director.

Weak points

Among the seven friends, the one track that sticks out like a sore thumb is Anya Singh’s Preet. The arc given to her is the weakest of all.

One major problem with Jee Karda is the overdose of the “F” words. After a point, it does get irritating.

Technical aspects

The cinematography by Mahendra Shetty is suitably glossy adding to the rich production values. Sachin Jigar’s background music also works well.

Final takeOverall, Jee Karda is a good attempt at exploring the different problems faced by today’s youth. Some of them manage to resolve them while others don’t; a mirror of contemporary times.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

Posted on

The Family Man Season 2: A Scintillating Sequel

The expectations from The Family Man Season 2 have been huge ever since its announcement. Fortunately the show turned out to be a worthy one. It not only matches up to the first part but it also goes a step ahead. Through the second season director duo Raj and DK continue to showcase their ability in dealing with conflicts both global and domestic through humanist lens. There are no simplistic heroes and villains here. Both sides come with their own shades of grey.

By the start of Season 2 Manoj Bajpai’s Srikant Tiwari had quit his task force job and joined an IT company. The reason for it is his guilt about certain events that happened at the end of the first season. He also wanted to make his family life work. But both were not working well for him. In fact things became worse.

The backdrop of Family Man Seaason 2 is Northern Sri Lanka. You have a Tamil government in exile who wants to take revenge on PM Basu ( Seema Biswas). Manoj Bajpai’s Srikant who is already vexed with his IT job decides to return back to where he belongs. This time around Srikant is dealing with a hardened LTTE militant Raji ( Samantha Akkineni).

In addition the old enemies have also made a comeback lead by Darshan Kumar. As part of the plan Darshan Kumar’s character along with another person Sajid uses a boy to trap Srikant’s daughter. This is only one side of the story but many other things are happening simultaneously.

The biggest take way from this season is how Raj and DK deal with the character of Samantha’s Raji and the entire LTTE thing in general. Samantha has said in various interviews that she doesn’t look at her character as a villain and you understand the reasons behind it when you see the show. Raji is someone who has faced brutality not only at the hands of the Sri Lankan soldiers but has also been abused by men in day to day life.

There are scenes where we see men trying to get into bed with her, you also have a random stranger trying to touch her inappropriately on a local bus. So her anger is not just about the governments but it is also about the patriarchy and the society at large.

Initially we see her as a very silent person with no expressions but as the story goes along we are introduced to the darker side of her life. Samantha embodies all these aspects of her character superbly and delivers a performance which pushes boundaries. Her performance in the action scenes is also top notch.

The scenes where the paths of Manoj Bajpai and Samantha cross keep you on your toes. One of my favourite scenes in the series is when Manoj Bajpai’s character question’s Samantha’s about their plans. Can’t give too much away as it will be spoilers but the scene works very well. In simple terms Raj and DK touch upon about how a freedom fighter is a terrorist for a person who is on the other side.  

The treatment of Samantha’s character also extends to the other LTTE ones. Raj and DK along with co writer Supan Varma show that although the path they have chosen is wrong we shouldn’t ignore the struggles and the sufferings that they have undergone.

Another important thing about the show is how Tamil characters speak. It comes across as very natural without sounding caricaturist (for example Chennai Express).

The moral dilemmas of Srikant Tiwari has also been explored well. This particularly comes out in a scene where he and his boss played by Dalip Tahil talk about a mishap related to the first season. This is regarding a Muslim student who gets branded as a terrorist because of Srikant’s mistake.

The friendship between Srikant and Sharib Hashmi’s JK also grows stronger in this one. There is a strong thread of emotion that comes out.

The family portions don’t get the same weightage as the first one but they still work. The character which gets the most growth in the family is the daughter Dhriti played by Ashlesha Thakur. Her character goes through a major transformation in this one. She gets into a relationship with Kalyan AKA Salman. One thing leads to another and eventually it is shown that Salman is not what he appears to be. He kidnaps her on his bosses’ command. In the eighth episode she saves herself from Salman and also from Sajid. She shows that she has inherited her father’s genes and can make for a great agent herself. After that incident we see a more mature Dhriti. Ashlesha Thakur is particularly good in the scenes where she saves herself.

The comedy bits work perfectly and come across as a major relief when the drama gets dark. The scenes which will make you chuckle the most are the ones where Srikant is struggling to adjust with his IT life. There are also some humorous scenes when the action shifts to South India. Most of the humour in these scenes comes from the stereotypes that north and south people have about each other. These include food and other things.

Manoj Bajpai as Srikant continues his good form and shows why he is the perfect actor to play this character. This time around there are more scenes which portray Srikant’s vulnerability and Manoj faces it. Sharib Hashmi continues his impressive form, out of the old nemeses Darshan Kumar looks very dashing and fits the part of the stylish villain perfectly.

The Family Man Season 2 is well worth the wait and it will be interesting to watch how Raj and DK take the franchise forward. Can’t wait for the third season!

Posted on

Scoop: Hansal Mehta Brings Alive Yet Another Real-Life Story

“Scoop” scores full marks in depicting the work of investigative journalists and what effect it has on their lives.

Miss it not!
Scoop (Hindi)
  • Cast: Karishma Tanna, Harman Baweja, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Inayat Sood, and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub
  • Director: Hansal Mehta
  • Producer: Matchbox Shots
  • Music: Achint Thakur
  • No. of episodes: 6
  • OTT platform: Netfilx

Scoop, the latest Netflix series of Hansal Mehta, is based on the real-life account of journalist Jigna Vora.

Starting from the year 2010, Hansal Mehta has become a filmmaker who is synonymous with making real-life stories.

Irrespective of their commercial success, these films have left a huge impact on the audience’s mind. His latest web show Scoop is another noteworthy addition to this.

Synopsis

Jagruti Pathak (Karishma Tanna) is a senior crime journalist working as deputy bureau chief in the newspaper “Eastern Age”. Since Jagruti has a solid network, she excels in her job.

She shares a good rapport with police officer Harshvardhan Shroff (Harman Baweja) who often tips her about several crimes. She also has the support of her editor-in-chief Imran (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub).

Here, it has to be mentioned that the characters in Scoop of Imran and Jagruthi are based on real-life persons.

Imran is none other than the well-known investigative journalist Hussain Zaidi. He was the mentor of Jigna Vora on whom Jagruti’s role is based.

The murder of a journalist

There is another investigative journalist in Scoop who gets killed mysteriously. He is Jaideb Sen, played by Prosenjit Chatterjee. He works for the newspaper “News Day”.

One day, Sen is found dead in the middle of the road. Gangster Chhota Rajan is suspected to have a hand in this murder.

Meanwhile, things take a tragic turn for Jagruti. She is arrested based on a phone conversation which makes the police think that Jagruti instigated Chhota Rajan to kill him.

The rest of the story is about what happens to Jagruti and who the real culprits are in this murder case.

Strong points

Scoop scores full marks in depicting the work of investigative journalists and what effect it has on their lives. The show also dwells on the prejudices that female professionals face.

The makers of Scoop should also be appreciated for fearlessly exposing the nexus between Dawood Ibrahim and the police, without any fear of backlash.

Another major reason why Scoop is interesting to watch is because of the way the characters are written.

Hansal Mehta, along with writers Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul and Mirat Trivedi, sketches the characters that stay for a long time in the viewers’ minds.

The best example of this is Karishma Tanna’s Jagruti.

Jagruti goes from a confident journalist to a dejected woman. Her scenes with the jail inmates are particularly disturbing to watch.

Performances

Karishma Tanna easily delivers her career-best performance. Her performance in Scoop should open new doors for the actress.

Another character who deserves a mention is Harman Baweja’s, Harshvardhan Shroff.

Harshvardhan has a lot of fondness for Jagruti. But, at the same time, he is in a situation where he has to save the skin of both his department and himself.

Harman Baweja springs a pleasant surprise with his acting.

Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub as the editor-in-chief plays a character that is very similar to his real-life ideology. He makes Imran immensely watchable.

Prosenjit Chatterjee as Jaideb has a small part, but the actor is impressive every time he appears on the screen.

Technical aspects

Pratham Mehta’s cinematography blends in with the realistic look of the series — whether it is the newsroom, editorial meetings, or even the shady bars and cafes where the reporters meet their sources.

Achint Thakkar’s music and background score uplift the drama in many places.

Pratham Mehta and Achint Thakkar deserve full appreciation for a job well done.

Weak points

Scoop has its share of shortcomings as well. For example, the extended cameo of Shikha Talsania as the Godwoman isn’t well defined in any way and creates a halt in the proceedings.

Similarly, some of the jail portions could have been trimmed. However, these are minor aberrations.

Final Take

Scoop should be high on your watchlist if you are a sucker for stories centred on investigative journalism.

(Views expressed are personal.)

Posted on

Dahaad: A Gripping Thriller That Goes Much Beyond The Usual Police Procedural

Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti script a serial-killer story that also looks at important social issues plaguing our society.

Dahaad (Hindi)
  • Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Gulshan Devaiah, Vijay Varma, Sohum Shah and others
  • Directors: Reema Kagti and Ruchika Oberoi
  • Music: Gaurav Raina Tarana Marwah
  • No. of episodes: 8
  • OTT platform: Amazon Prime

Zoya Akhtar has created a niche for herself in the industry with her strong storytelling skills; whether it is stories about the elite (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Dhadakne Do) or the underdogs (Luck By Chance and Gully Boy).

Audiences expect a certain quality when her name is associated with any project.

After co-directing the blockbuster web series Made In Heaven, Zoya delivers another winner, Dahaad.

Though she isn’t the director of this one, she is one of the creators and also has written the additional screenplay.

For those who are not aware, Dahaad is inspired by real-life serial killer Mohan Kumar, also known as Cyanide Mohan.

Synopsis

The story of Dahaad is set in a small town called Mandawa in Rajasthan.

Sonakshi Sinha plays Inspector Anjali Bhaati, an officer who belongs to a backward caste.

She gets the case of a girl who is said to have eloped with a Muslim man taking along cash, jewellery, and other things.

She initiates the investigation with her fellow officers Devilal Singh (Gulshan Devaiah) and Kailash Parghi (Sohum Shah).

During the investigation, the cops discover many similar cases of girls eloping with anonymous partners, which raises the question of whether they were all linked.

Eventually, Anjali finds that all the eloped girls died by consuming cyanide.

Anand Swarnakar (Vijay Varma) is the prime suspect. However, Anjali is not able to gather strong evidence against him.

Meanwhile, Anand plays many tricks with the police and poses as a victim who is being harassed by Anjali.

The rest of the story follows Anjali’s pursuit of the case. Where her suspicions about Anand right? If so, how does she and her team manage to arrest Anand red-handed?

Also. why is the killer attacking girls from only a particular social stratum?

The presentation

The best thing about Dahaad is how the Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, and Ruchika Oberoi team uses the town of Mandawa and Rajasthan.

Both these become a character in themselves, and the social issues have been presented in a hard-hitting manner.

For example, despite being a police officer, on more than one occasion Bhaati is reminded of her lower caste.

Anjali has to fight against both sexism at the workplace along with questions about her lineage.

A scene which deserves particular mention is the one when Anjali lashes out at a wealthy man who doesn’t allow her to enter the house because of her lower caste.

There is also a subplot of how people are used as scapegoats. It is brief but Ruchika Oberoi and Reema Kagti make some important points.

Standout performances

Gulshan Devaiah’s Devilal Singh is a character that stands out the most along with Vijay Varma’s Anand Swarnakar.

We see Devilal Singh not just as a determined police officer but also as a husband and a father who is weathering a storm at home.

He has a progressive outlook on how his daughter shouldn’t confine herself to being a housewife in future. He wants her to be strong and independent.

His wife on the other hand isn’t so progressive and as a result, there are constant tussles.

Devilal Singh is so progressive that he even makes his son understand that curiosity about sex is natural at his age and that there was nothing wrong with that. However, he also tells his son to be careful.

Gulshan Devaiah steals every scene he is in with a magnetic performance.

The antagonist

Vijay Varma is a veteran at playing socially deviant characters; whether it is Pink or last year’s Darlings.

Still, the actor makes a huge impact with his character in this series. Anand is a complex character as he appears to be a do-gooder on the surface.

Apart from being an excellent Hindi professor he also runs a mobile library for the underprivileged but soon enough the viewers can understand how calculative he is.

He spends most of his time outside the home and his equation with his father is not great as there are severe daddy issues.

Vijay Varma is in fantastic form. Both as a middle-class married man struggling to make out ends meet and also as a serial killer who has unresolved issues with his father.

Striking aspect

Another striking aspect of the web series is how it doesn’t paint all men as monsters.

Certain women characters in the web show are equally regressive.

This particularly comes out in the scenes when Anjali talks to the parents of the eloped girls. All of them think that it was good that their daughters eloped instead of being a financial burden at home.

They declare that they had nothing to do with girls.

It must be mentioned that Anand only targets women from the lower strata of society and whose parents were not in a position to pay a big dowry.

He camouflages himself as a different person and seduces them by talking sweetly. Once they fall for him and agree to have sex, he thinks they are loose characters and eliminates them with cyanide.

Slightly off

One of the areas that Dahaad slightly falters is the climax.

After all the cat and mouse game the confrontation between Sonakshi and Vijay could have been more impactful.

Another issue with the web series is the casting of Sonakshi in the role of Anjali Bhaati. Sonakshi is adequately fierce in her demeanour but is rather one-dimensional in how she approaches the character.

The cinematography by Tanay Satmam is of the first order. He does a wonderful job of capturing the rusticness of the terrain. The Rajasthani dialect used is also mostly flawless.

Final verdict

Dahaad is definitely a worthy roar and a noteworthy addition to the career of Zoya Akhtar.

(Views expressed are personal)

Posted on

Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo: Dimple Kapadia & Co Lead This Formidable Tale Of Badass Women

Director Homi Adajania makes a successful OTT debut with a perfect mix of emotions and thrills.

Leaves you with a solid high!
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo (Hindi web series)
  • Cast:Dimple Kapadia, Isha Talwar, Radhika Madan, Deepak Dobriyal, Naseeruddin Shah, and Jimit Trivedi
  • Director:Homi Adajania
  • Producer: Dinesh Vijan
  • Music:Sachin Jigar
  • No. of episodes: 8
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar

It is always refreshing when the stories are headlined by women — whether they are movies or web series. More so, when they are well made.

Homi Adajania’s debut OTT show Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo is one such tale. The director presents four inimitable women who are a treat to watch.

What makes the web series even more refreshing is the saas–bahu dynamics avoiding the clichéd tropes that you generally see in Indian television shows.

Synopsis

This web show is set in a remote village called Hastinapur, somewhere in Rajasthan.

Savitri (Dimple Kapadia) runs a company named “Rani Cooperative” which trades in various products. Some of these include jari–booti (herbs), balms and textiles. However, there is also a dark side to this company — drugs.

“Flamingo” is the name of the drug Rani Cooperative deals in.

Savitri operates out of a haveli (mansion) and is surrounded by a team of women, including two daughters-in-law Kajal (Angira Dhar) and Bijliee (Isha Talwar). There is also the rebellious daughter Shanta (Radhika Madan).

These four women together run the business with a firm hand and live life on their terms. They are always ahead of their enemies, including The Monk (Deepak Dobriyal).

Savitri also has two reckless US-returned sons — Harish (Ashish Verma) and Kapil (Varun Mitra). They both have zero knowledge about the nature of their mother’s business. But soon enough, they find out.

Things take a turn when Savitri announces that she would soon name a successor to her company. What follows is a thrilling tale that keeps you invested for the most part.

Engrossing drama

Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo grips the viewers from the start.

There is a spine-chilling scene at the very beginning. Not many details can be revealed here but it sets the stage for an engrossing drama.

There is a certain authenticity to the way the village has been presented and no artificiality in the rustic makeover of the characters.

A major highlight of Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo is how Homi Adajania uses the palatial haveli of Dimple Kapadia’s Savitri. It is a character in itself. This is a palace filled with many secrets.

Brilliant characterisation

The story written by Saurav Dey, Karan Vyas & Co has many moments of tension and unpredictability.

It isn’t just high on thrills but it also packs in some strong emotional moments. The case in point is the characterisation of Dimple Kapadia.

Savitri is extremely brutal and menacing. But at the same time, there is also an emotional gravitas that makes the viewers empathise with her.

Another characterisation worth mentioning here is that of Isha Talwar. Her character has an additional layer of homosexuality which, thankfully, has been dealt with sensitively.

Director Homi Adajania also pays homage to Shekar Kapoor’s Bandit Queen (1994) and Ketan Mehta’s Mirch Masala (1987) with some brilliantly executed action scenes where the women take on Deepak Dobriyal and his henchmen.

Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo also works because of its strong antagonist.

Deepak Dobriyal’s Monk hasn’t got many dialogues but the actor makes a solid impression with his eyes and expressions. He exudes menace without breaking a sweat.

This web series has some laugh-out-loud moments, thanks to Ashish Verma who plays one of Savitri’s sons. He raises many chuckles with his understated humour. His moments of bickering with Kapil are a delight to watch.

Dimple Kapadia stands out

Talking about the women characters, Dimple Kapadia is brilliant in exuding both raw power and the required vulnerability in equal measures. With this power-packed performance, the veteran actor shows that she is only getting better with age.

The other actresses who stand out are Isha Talwar and Angira Dhar. They deliver a class act and more than hold their own opposite Dimple Kapadia.

Radhika Madan’s Shanta isn’t different from what she played earlier but she too makes an impression.

The one slight flaw in the series is the underutilisation of Naseeruddin Shah. Much like his last release Kuttey (Dogs, 2023), here too, the senior actor packs a punch despite his limited screen time. But as viewers, we want to see more of him.

Talking about the music, Sachin Jigar’s score goes perfectly with the tonality of the show. Even his background score enhances the drama by several notches.

Cinematographer Linesh Desai does a spectacular job of capturing the parched and arid land through his lens.

Final take

Overall, this group of women in Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo leaves the viewers with a solid high making you look forward to Season 2

Posted on

Jubilee: A Gripping Saga That Transports Viewers To The 1940s

Incredible performances by actors and strong technical aspects add to the immersive experience of the audience in director Vikramaditya Motwane’s latest offering.

The show shines the brightest in the technical aspects.
Jubilee (Hindi)
  • Cast: Aditi Rao Hydari, Aparshakti Khurana, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Ram Kapoor Wamiqa Gabbi, and Sidhant Gupta
  • Director: Vikramaditya Motwane
  • Producer: Dipa De Motwane
  • Music: Amit Trivedi
  • Episodes: Midseason 1 to 5
  • OTT platform: Amazon Prime Video

Filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane’s web series Jubliee is out on Amazon Prime Video. The ace director has once again proved his directorial capabilities with this complex historical saga.

Period dramas have always been a safe bet to draw in the audience, primarily because of the curiosity of the viewers, as they know very vaguely of the periods which these dramas deal with.

The viewing experience becomes greater when a director like Vikramaditya Motwane helms the project. He already proved his capability with the likes of Udaan (Flight) in 2010 and Lootera (Robber) in 2013. He also co-directed the first season of Sacred Games (2018-19).

The show is set in the 1940s with the main focus on the film industry (Bollywood) with the backdrop of the independence movement and the partition.

For example, you have a refugee from Pakistan who wants to make it big in cinemas. It is a complex plot filled with several themes.

The director does a good job of sustaining the audience’s interest. As a viewer, you look forward to the next set of episodes.

The web series is broadly inspired by the lives of yesteryear film personalities like Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani.

Synopsis

Srikant Roy (Himanshu Rai’s role played by Prosenjit Chatterjee) is a filmmaker and also the head of a studio called Roy Talkies in this fictionalised version.

Sumitra Devi, also a star (Devika Rani’s role played by Aditi Rao Hydari), is the wife and co-owner of his production company.

he plot revolves around Srikant Roy who is on the hunt to launch a new face for his next film. After numerous auditions, he narrows upon a Muslim boy by name of Jehangir Khan (Nandish Singh Sandhu).

But conflict arises when Sumitra has an affair with Jehangir Khan. They even make plans to escape to Karachi.

Binod Das (Aparshakti Khurana) is the most trusted aid of Srikant. He is given the responsibility of making sure that Jehangir Khan doesn’t elope with Sumitra.

The situation takes a drastic turn when Jehangir Khan completely disappears and no one is aware of whether he is dead or alive.

There is also the parallel track of Jay Khanna (Sidhant Gupta), a Pakistani refugee who is desperately searching for work in Bombay. Courtesan Niloufer Qureshi (Wamiqa Gabbi) is also in the same city hoping to land a film role.

They both are street-smart and end up striking a friendship. They want to find their footing in the city as well as in Roy Talkies.

Performances

Most of the characters have been written with many layers and this makes the web series more nuanced. Particular mention must be made of the characters essayed by Sidhant Gupta, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Aparshakti Khurana.

The interaction between Niloufer Qureshi and Jay Khanna and the progress of their relationship gives the show some of its best moments.

Niloufer is a courtesan who has big aspirations. To fulfil those dreams, she takes all the possible routes. Some of it is questionable as well but at no point, Niloufer comes across as compromising.

Wamiqa Gabbi as Niloufer effortlessly portrays all the shades of her character. Her dances are also wonderful to watch. The best example of her dancing skills comes in the mujra titled “Woh Tere Mera Ishq Ka”.

Jay Khanna as Sidhant Gupta gets the best character of his career so far. Sidhant perfectly portrays the pain and also the spirit of a young man who has suddenly become a refugee in what recently was his own country. As viewers, you root for Jay.

Till now, Aparshakti Khurana has been seen in light-hearted roles. But here, he does a complete U-turn.

Binod Das who starts as a spot boy lands up in an unexpected new situation. It is a role that is filled with grey shades and the actor aces it.

Prosenjit Chatterjee also deserves a mention for his performance as the head of the studio. He plays his part with a certain panache.

Technical crafts

The show shines the brightest in the technical aspects — the sets are authentic, and Vikramaditya Motwane does a great job of recreating the 1940s. He has assembled a first-rate technical team and has drawn some solid work from them.

The art direction by Priti Gole and Yogesh Bansod is top-notch.

Similarly, Pratik Shah’s cinematography adds to the immersive experience of the viewers.

Amit Trivedi’s music is also in perfect sync as his tunes instantly take you back to those times.

The flaws

Jubilee has also got its share of flaws. One of them is the not-so-powerful characterisation of Aditi Rao Hydari’s character. Her interactions with Nandish Singh Nandu needed to be written far better.

The character of Jehangir Khan also comes across as mostly flat. As a result, his disappearance doesn’t register strongly.

Some cuss words don’t gel with the show.

Verdict

Above all this, Jubliee is worth a trip down memory lane.

(Views expressed are personal.)

Posted on

Rocket Boys Season 2: A Worthy Follow-Up to The First Season

Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh takes the center stage

Rocket Boys Season 2

Cast: Jim Sarbh, Ishwak Singh, Regina Cassandra, Saba Azad etc.

Screenplay, Dialogues and Direction: Abhay Pannu

Story: Abhay Koranne

Additional dialogues: Kausar Munir

Genre: Biographical drama

Producers: Siddarth Roy Kapoor, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani

Number of episodes: 8

OTT: SonyLiv

Season 2 of Rocket Boys is a worthy follow-up to the first season. It mainly looks at the decisions that shaped the nation’s space and nuclear programmes under the leadership of Jim Sarbh’s Homi Bhabha and Ishwak Singh’s Vikram Sarabhai.

There is also a major subplot of how their decisions ended up creating geopolitical ripples across the subcontinent.

Strong women characters

Much like the first season, the new season also has strong women characters.

Mrinalini Sarabhai played by Regina Cassandra is one example of this. She is the wife of Vikram Sarabhai and also a classical dancer. Her presence is significant both at home and also in the outside world.

Saba Azad who played Pipsi, a close friend of Homi Bhabha, has less to do in comparison to the first season, but she also gets her moments at a critical juncture.

The biggest strength of Rocket Boys Season 2 is the humane touch that director Abhay Pannu brings to the table. One example of this is how the director deals with the political undertones of the plot.

For instance, there are scenes showcasing the struggle of Indira Gandhi (Charu Shankar) post the death of her father Jawaharlal Nehru.

The entire process of Indira Gandhi coming to terms with her father’s death has been portrayed with a lot of sensitivity. Charu Shankar is impressive in capturing the spirit of Indira Gandhi. She brings in the required authority.

Humane touch in characters

The arguments between Ishwak and Jim Sarbh, though fierce, never get into the shrill territory.

The turbulent interpersonal relationship between them has been brought out well by the director. In spite of their great scientific achievements, they don’t come across as superheroes at any point.

On certain occasions, we see them vulnerable to provocations and also not shying away from their weaknesses.

The scenes between Vikram and Mrinalini Sarabhai are another major highlight of the series.

Their marriage is under severe strain because of Sarabhai’s long absences from home and his other attractions.

Still, Mrinalini doesn’t come across as a nagging wife at any point. She has her own ambitions of becoming a classical dancer.

There is certain assertiveness to the character which is refreshing to watch. Regina does a fantastic job of capturing the feistiness of Mrinalini. She has effectively portrayed the vulnerable moments of the character.

Impressive technical team

Season 2 also benefits from a very impressive technical team.

The cinematography by Harshvir Oberoi is successful in transporting the viewers back to that era with the frames being perfectly in sync with the nature of the story without overriding the content.

The sound design by Subhash Sahoo is also top-notch. A special mention must also be made of the show’s theme music, which is an absolute winner.

Falters at some places

The positive being told, there are certain areas where the series falters.

Primarily, the characterisation of the young Dr APJ Abdul Kalam could have been better written.

Also, some of the supporting characters come across as more of TV serial villains which are not in sync with the tonality of the show.

Particularly those played by Namit Das and KC Shankar.

Jim Sarbh, Ishwak take centrestage

The performances by Jim Sarbh and Ishwak are simply terrific.

There is no dull moment whenever Jim is on screen. He gets ample opportunities to be a charmer which Jim pulls off with ease. He is equally good in the more intense bits.
The scene leading to the death of Homi Bhabha has an emotional poignancy that stays with the audience for a long time.

Ishwak Singh’s part is less colourful but the young actor makes his presence felt.

He is particularly good in the vulnerable bits with his wife. He is successful in bringing out the zen-like attitude of Vikram Sarabhai.

Saba Azad enters pretty late but she does hold her own in the few scenes that she has got.

A special mention must be made of the intense scene where she questions the futility of war.

Dibyendu Bhattacharya is also in form, as a misunderstood scientist who has to prove his innocence.

Verdict

In a nutshell Rocket Boys Season 2 is a worthy tribute to the two great scientists. What elevates this underdog story is the humane touch that the director brings.