Made In Heaven (S1 & S2) (2019 / Prime Series)
Will the world accept me if I confess that I finally watched this iconic series now ?
It wouldn’t qualify as a review but there’s no way I don’t share my thoughts about it .
The first thing that blew me away was the scale, top notch production values and the handpicked ensemble cast , each one fitting the character like a glove. I can imagine what a splash it must have made back then.
The central premise of wedding planning has always worked well as a record and this one boasts of about a dozen big fat Indian weddings , complete with all works , snazzy wardrobes ,Sabyasachi Lehngas and Sabyasachi himself.
Each episode brings in awesome locations & sets , posh bungalows, extravagant lifestyles, luxurious weddings, beautiful houses , chique designer boutiques and uber rich people who look & talk like creme de la creme.The base story and all the sub stories pivot around Tara & Karan, the wedding planners. There’s always a bunch going on in their personal and professional lives.
As I proceeded to episode four, despite all the glitz & glam , I found myself getting bored of the repetitiveness of weddings and sub plots. Every wedding would have a major problem or glitch and Tara & Karan would resolve it despite them both being in deep mess in their personal lives. Most often I found it bizarre how these two would keep getting embroiled in issues that have nothing to do with wedding planning and keep struggling with their prime responsibility, that is ,keeping their business afloat. I actually almost shunned the series for a few days.
But what primarily brought me back were Tara and Karan, the characters and Shobhita & Arjun Mathur, the actors.
I didn’t care much for all the weddings and glamour but I was intrigued to know what happens to them, their personal story. And so I was back. More than the wedding dramas, what I liked were the dynamics, dilemmas and struggles of the core characters. They are flawed , grey and stumbling. Yet you love them, worry for them and hope for them, almost like an indulgent parent. I also liked how the show smoothly exposes the shorn behind the shine, all that rot behind the aspirational lifestyles. To complete the package, besides all that entertainment are the substantive messages that highlight the deep seated biases prevalent even in the highest echelons.
Shobhita Dhulipala gives the performance of her life. I haven’t seen her play a character of this prominence and length. She made a mark even in that small role in Raman Raghav. But this show seemed like her life time role.She looks absolutely magnificent (loved her looks, expressions, styling, wardrobe and body language). Her performance is phenomenal.She looks convincing in a complicated mix of grey., evoking different emotions with the different shades to her character.
Arjun Mathur, who I remember from the brief role in Luck By Chance was the biggest revelation for me. I was rooting for him all the time. What an amazing actor. I kept wondering why haven’t we seen him in a prominent role as this. I was glad to see him in Hunkkaar recently.
Jim Sarah, as Adil, is as superb as ever. I wonder how does he make every character that he plays, a treat to watch.
Just mentioning the top three actors here. But each and every actor of the show deserves appreciation.
A show that I almost gave up after 3 episodes , made me feel sad when season 2 ended. That is how good storytelling makes you feel.
If by any chance , you belong to this rare segment of not having seen this show, do give a try.
