TV ORIGINALS (INDIA)
DIE TRYING: WELL TRIED
Kenny Sebastian’s Die Trying is a breeze to watch. Somewhat like the cool breeze of Bengaluru, this one feels pleasant and comforting. Kenny who introduced us to the word ‘Pavam’ – meaning innocent and naïve, masters this across its 7 episodes. In this simple story of a band trying to make it big, we move at a laidback pace, almost lazing our way through the weekend. It’s like they knew you’d be on your bed, sprawled, enjoying this. This perfect Sunday viewing has all the Bengaluru parlance you’ve heard over the years, but done right. If you’ve ever been to the garden city, you’d feel right at home with Die Trying. The people look familiar. You’ve seen these faces at Purple Haze or Pecos before. You’ve heard these conversations, these frustrations, these jokes. You feel like you’re there and all this is happening right in front of you. Urooj Ashfaq and Naveen Richard get the pulse right, and more importantly the essence as well. The jokes aren’t written for humour, they’re written in the characters. Speaking of characters, Rohan played by Vidyuth Gargi is excellent. He’s the best friend you have – selfish, dominating, stuck up, callous, and yet someone whom you can bank upon. Appropriately labelled as a ‘F*#ing Child’, he along with Kenny, put together a melody that you won’t mind humming. In supporting cast, Soundarya from The Stage fame is likeable, and Adarsh Gourav Bhagavatula as band manager Jason is a lovable goof. It’s a short story and a sweet one at that. Get a couple of beers, a few of your friends, and watch Rohan and Kenny try their way to fame. While they may not win all the accolades, they’d sure win you over. And after all, isn’t that the biggest prize?
MAN’S WORLD: THE GREAT SWITCHEROO
Man’s World is your ultimate answer to role reversal. What if women played the man’s role, and the man played the women. While there’s a lot to appreciate here, there’s nothing to love. It starts off as a social commentary, and just goes on preaching the same. To harp on the point, leading ladies from Kalki Koechlin, Bhumi Pednekar, Soni Razdan, Rhea Chakraborty, Richa Chaddha and even Parineeti Chopra make an appearance. But seems like all the money was spent on them. The production value seems low and it never seems engaging enough. What’s interesting though are the parallels drawn through this narrative. A male receptionist, a guy being the unwilling bride, seats reserved for men in local buses are pointed perspectives that beg the question of what if roles were truly reversed. The creators fell in love with this idea and kept giving us various scenarios that highlight this point. While being contemporary, it feels like it’s shot in the 90s, giving us a very ordinary feel of the current scenario. All this series wanted was great production and some finesse, that would make this world seem more real than what’s portrayed on screen. While there may be enough eyes countering this view that the subject is far more riveting than its execution and deserves a viewing, I’d say true to that, but it doesn’t make for a compelling watch. The art of making content is not just to make a point, but to drive it as well. While Man’s World is an interesting read, there are far better reads out there. So yes, we salute the sentiment and appreciate the effort, but that’s about it.
BANG BAAJA BAARAAT: LOVE AT FIRST SWIPE
Right swipe. That’s basically how most of today’s relationships begin. Anand Tiwary’s refreshing take on weddings in the 21st century begins with a Tinder date. Angira Dhar’s Shahana and Ali Fazal’s Pawan meet at a bar, and basic introductions later, move to making out at the back of the pub. Bang Baaja Baaraat primarily is about a meat-loving, alcohol-chugging, dance-friendly, loud Punjabi family trying to come to terms with ritual-loving, tradition-following, vegetarian Brahmin family. And the chaos and drama that follows. But it’s also about its characters. Before we get into the stereotypes of the Indian families, let’s shed some light on the portrayal of our lead couple. Tiwary portrays forward thinking - realistic, independent modern professionals who have their life figured out. The fact that they inform their parents three days before the big day is a big tell into their personalities. They are independent, and yet rooted enough to strike a balance. Tiwary along with Sumit Vyas have beautifully crafted this juxtaposition of old thinking meeting new ideologies. The fantastic supporting cast only pushes the envelope further. The quirks and idiosyncrasies layer up the humour rather nicely. But at the center of it all, Bang Baaja Baaraat has a beating heart. One that can been seen in the bride’s brutal honesty, a groom’s frustration, a mother’s plea to avoid social scrutiny, a father’s wisdom, a divorcee’s thirst for family and even a doting father’s pride. Anand Tiwary is a fresh voice that’s finally found a platform and we can’t wait to see what more he has to offer. Bang Baaja Baaraat is an excellent representation of modern India and a small peek into our potential for great content. We suggest you too swipe right on this.