Half CA(Season 1)
Introduction
It is still a Wednesday but the new releases have started pouring in. With that, I finished watching the new Hindi series Half CA on Amazon Mini TV which marks the latest presentation of TVF that has forrayed for the first time in the Chartered Accountancy space! Over the years, TVF is known for some of the most heartfelt and relatable dramas, catering tactfully to each age demographic. One of the reasons why I found them relatable was also because they were in the Engineering phase(Hostel Daze) or in the phase leading up to the Engineering(Kota Factory) that had truly hit home with its emotions. But there was also a chance of getting repetitive in this space. And I was the happiest when they did break the shackles with Aspirants and now with Half CA.
One of the easiest exams of the country is that of Engineering wherein you already become a graduate and start earning by the age of 22(saying it from personal experience). As someone rightly has said, you just need a pen and a paper to complete engineering, given that you spend most of your time, filling pages of assignments. But two of the toughest exams in the country are UPSC and the CA exams(CA Foundation, CA Inter and CA Finals) that have a success rate of barely 3%. There is anxiety, uncertainty and self doubt while even opting to appear for these exams. And given that my mother is a CA, I have heard so many stories from over the years on how ahe had managed to crack the exam, only in the second attempt(while missing out narrowly in the first during her CA finals). So my respect for the CAs of the country is immense given the kind of journey that they would have gone through!
Right from the time there was an announcement about the show Half CA, I was quite looking forward to it as it did seem like a typical TVF template with vibes of positivity along with life lessons thrown in the narrative. So then does Half CA manage to impress, lets find out.
Story & Screenplay
Half CA follows the story of a bunch of CA aspirants in different phases of their journeys, trying to crack the toughest exam of the country. The story here follows the typical TVF template that you may have witnessed as recently with Sandeep Bhaiya. But this is an absolute winner of a template given that it exudes of positive vibes while allowing the viewers the luxury of investing in the characters and their journeys. The story is specifically designed to give you a glimpse into the lives of the CA aspirants. The screenplay standing at 5 episodes ranging from 30 odd to 40 odd minutes does make for a heartfelt watch which is compelling in so many ways.
The drama opens with the introduction of one of the protagonists who is shown to be awaiting the results of his CA final exams. Soon, the incoming news does result in a heartbreak which sets the tone of the drama given the difficulty of the exam and its slender results. Elsewhere, the drama shifts focus to a couple of young adults who have just appeared for their 12th board exams and are about to venture into the big uncertain world of CA. At an early phase, it is important that students get a good mentor who would be able to guide them, and here the two extremes in the field are shown wonderfully well. On one hand, the viewers are privy to a coaching class teacher literally scaring off the students by painting a daunting picture of the CA entrance exams(and the exams to follow), on the other hand, the protagonist does guide the young adults by motivating them and showing them a live example of the importance of CA, that does also mark the fusion of the two worlds.
The proceedings are engrossing with the drama designed in a way that you would be invested in it. The two parallel journeys across the storyboard do represent the struggles of CA Aspirants across different age demographics(a further point of reference being that a person passing CA at the age of 59 years). And the challenges in their journeys are different, one with respect to the corporate(wherein one would be serving articleship) and the other fresh in college and in a big new city(the cultural shift and shock was beautifully represented), both of which have their own share of challenges and distractions. Yet, the common ground is often the struggle of sticking to your goal of cracking the CA exams that is so well established and showcased. There are two points layed out too – the CA course is designed to make you fail and CA is the only competitive exam that can be done through one’s own pace.
The drama also does get into the psyche of the characters, one dealing with the anxiety of being left behind, and the other, undergoing the anxiety of peer pressure along with the uncertainty of the exams. This, while many other aspirants may have given up on their dreams of becoming a CA. At this point, I had jokingly told my mom that CA is essentially the IIT of Engineering although much tougher! I was so invested in the characters, their dynamics and their journey that I started caring for each one of them. But this is where the drama doesn’t take the rosy note out!
The final act of the drama is edgy and quite realistic without falsely painting a picture on everything being rosy and fine. It was a brave detour but an accurate one that further heightened the drama with respect to the uncertainty of the exam and the self doubts of the characters. This is the point wherein you generally need a helping hand or shoulder and that was represented in each of the two tracks wonderfully well. There was a purpose to the ending that did showcase the harsh realities of the exam but also providing plenty of hope that sums up a wonderful screenplay that hits all the right notes with respect to the emotions in the drama.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are filled with gems and life lessons that make for a heartwarming watch without compromising on the reality of the situation. The music blends perfectly with the drama and the journey of characters. The songs at specific junctures in the screenplay enhance the emotions beautifully. The BGM is heartfelt and hits all the right notes in so many scenes. The cinematography is pretty good and along with the art design, they paint a grim picture of reality with beoader strokes of loneliness and anxiety. The editing is quite crisp and the flow of the drama is maintained throughout. The costumes add layers to the character traits of the characters.
Director Pratish Mehta(you may know him as Pandya from Pandya Vlogs) does a magnificent job in creating some wonderful situations between characters that does make you want to invest in their journeys while being thoroughly engaged in the drama. The direction deserves distinction marks here!
Performances
The performances are excellent here by the ensemble cast. Manu Bisht as Disha has her moments to shine. Rohit Tiwari as Ranka, Bachan Pachehra, Harish Peddinti as Sanju, Vanita Kharat(you may remember her as The maid from Kabir Singh), Menekka Arora, Siddharth Mishra as PB Bansal and Deepak Daryani as Niraj’s uncle, all are first rate in their respective roles. Neeraj Sood as Niraj’s father is excellent and represents the apprehension of parents that is often translated to pessimism. One of my favourite characters in the series was Shridhar sir which was essayed wonderfully by Brij Bhushan Shukla. He is firm and assertive yet warm and thoughtful, just as a mentor should be.
Prit Kamani as Tejas is a lot of fun to watch and he does a swell job. Rohan Joshi as Parth is a beautifully written character, a nerd with a high intellect but carrying a mountain of pain within him. And Rohan is earnest and sincere in what was a towering act. Anmol Kajani as Vishal has a playful side to him and it does make his character really affable. Yet, there was a phase in the drama wherein he had to showcase his vulnerability. And he portrays that with perfection.
Gyanendra Tripathi is such a fine actor and I am the happiest that he is getting his due! As Niraj, there is a sense of calmness to him on the outside, while holding on to a plethora of anxiety within him. Yet, he is always willing to give a helping hand to some of his juniors and that is what makes his character endearing. It was a brilliant portrayal of uncertainty and a tad bit of depression in what was an outstanding perdormance.
Ahsaas Channa as Archie had so many emotions to play with in what was a roller coaster of a character. But in many ways, this character was also on a journey of self discovery through the life lessons that she gains through her CA exams. It was a perfect portrayal of anxiety and uncertainty with bouts of distraction in what was a brilliant performance of the highest order by her. She scores wonderfully through her expressions and can emote really well. And she looks cute too, that is an added bonus😊.
Conclusion
Half CA is a heartfelt ode to one of the toughest exams of the country, a drama that boasts of great performances and wonderful writing. Available on Amazon Mini TV and Highly Recommended!
