Made in Heaven (Season 2)
Introduction
We are officially just a day away from the weekend but the weekend is nicely warming up in terms of its new releases. With that, I finished watching the weekend biggie, the new Hindi(oh well Hinglish) series, the second season of the much awaited show Made In Heaven which is now streaming on Amazon Prime. It has been 4 long years since the first season was out, and times when I wasn’t actively reviewing any shows(and just sticking to Hindi films, what a shame). But that did not deter me in watching content from across the globe. Those were the times when OTT platforms were fairly new and just about finding their feet, with newer shows and ideas being explored on the web.
One of the reasons that I am a huge fan of Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti is because they take their time in developing characters and some interesting sub-plots over the storyboard. I have always felt that the webshows are their match ‘made in heaven’ simply because the longer format provides their an appropriate setting to stage and construct a drama which may not quite be in the case of films which does have a time crunch(although their films have been magnificent as well). So with Made In Heaven, they provided a glimpse of their brilliance by constructing a seemingly frothy drama with layers of social commentary thrown in. There was a genuine sense of freshness to their writing that dealt with the first world problems in a rather progressive approach. Since then, they have only grown in stature with shows like Dahaad that was up for consumption recently. And this is exactly why I had high hopes from the Second Season of Made In Heaven. Now that the show is out, here are my two cents on the second season of Made In Heaven.
Story & Screenplay
The second season of Made In Heaven picks up from the same point where season 1 had ended, and it traces the journey of Tara and her group as they make their way to the top once again as the wedding planners of Delhi. But their journey is filled with obstacles, either pertaining to their personal lives or related to their clients. The story here is a searing progressive commentary on the different social issues which are prevalent in our society. As is the case always, the society does choose to view these problems through rose-tinted frames which only results in them being brushed under the carpet. What the story does here is that it addressing them while also remaining practical with the existence of these issues. The screenplay standing at 7 episodes of well over an hour seemed like a daunting runtime to begin with. And the narrative here is niche, almost indulging the viewers to read between the lines and look past the rose-tinted frames which has been heavily imbibed in our psyche. The writing is extremely relevant while taking you on an unforgettable trip of aesthetic brilliance!
For those who are familiar with the format of the show would be aware that the drama is divided into separate episodes dedicated to each wedding, with every event bringing with it, its share of conflicts and issues. This, while there is a thread connecting each episode that allows the viewers to get a glimpse into the personal lives of the characters. And here, the issues start with a slightly superficial note(in terms of what the issue was rather than it being less important), but slowly they begin to get complex and murkier along the way. The writing is fresh once again, and it does focus on various social issues ranging from issues with the skin tone to casteism to physical abuse or even pertaining to the starlets. But each episode tactfully acts as a mirror, reflecting on the different stigmas that are prevalent in the society.
The proceedings force you to look beyond the lavish and aesthetically beautiful decors while presenting a grey picture on the underbelly of the rich and the famous. And this isn’t done with an intention to vilify anyone, instead it does paint a progressive solution to each of the problems in the most practical manner. This, while the writing does include some exceptionally written characters who share some interesting dynamics with each other. There is also an emotional thread that connects the dots particularly with the characters dealing with their own share of dilemma related to their family. The events are interesting and indulging to a part where you start to care about the characters while completely being invested in their journeys.
I also enjoyed the delicate representation of the LGBTQIA community by addressing their share of problems as well. The concept of love is dissected in into complex emotions while normalizing the process of love with respect to all characters from across the board. We are in 2023, and still if there is an issue with the acceptance of the LGBTQIA then somewhere we aren’t progressive as a society. And it all starts from your home! Something to ponder about.
The events leading up to the final act are brilliant penned as well. The subplot involving a young parent teaching her son to respect girls is such a vital thing that I have continuously been endorsing through my reviews. And so glad that the writers deconstructed the life lesson by spinning off a brilliant sub-plot around it which is poignant and reflective of the actions of today’s youth. But the writing never quite loses focuses of the main plot besides the fact that some of the issues are overlapping and get slightly repetitive. But to the writers’ defence, tje situations created at times have a striking similarity to the events from the personal lives of the characters. And by choosing to opt for an alternate end with respect to their clients, it showcases the growth of every character.
The finale message of loving and embracing your loneliness just hit home and I am sure it would be endorsed by so many folks like me! A quick spinoff at the end, showcases the loneliness of Tara while also addressing the fact that she continues to have her best friend for company as a life support. A wonderful representation of friendship while tapping in to the concept of loneliness, thus summing up a screenplay which is brilliantly penned(only mildly preachy at times).
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues range from being conversational to poetic and insightful and all of these aspects lead to a solid impact. Even the voiceovers at the end of every episode just hit home with their messaging that gently tugs the strings of your heart. The music of the show is such so brilliant. Different moods of the drama are represented through different songs that range from being melancholic to being jazzy, and it did enhance the viewing experience incredibly well. The BGM enhances the impact of several scenes.
The cinematography is wonderful, capturing the beautifully regal and aesthetic frames brilliantly. The entire art department needs a standing ovation for designing some beautifully colour coordinated sets with an inherent sense of grace. The costumes are impeccable and they capture the vibe of the drama wonderfully well. The editing is crisp but my only qualms with it was that certain emotional scenes were abruptly cut shot as opposed to allowing them to linger. For instance, a scene featuring a mother embracing her crying son who has realised his mistake of circulating a video about a girl was beautifully staged but I wished the camera had continued to roll by panning in on the expression of the mother which would have completed the scene. But these are minor technical issues which don’t hamper the viewing experience at all!
The director’s chair is shared by five individuals – Nitya Mehra, Alankrita Srivastava, Neeraj Ghaywan(the lone male representative and what an incredible choice) along with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti. And each of the individuals bring a different flavour to the narrative. It was incredible to watch 5 wonderful directors joining forces into creating something spectacular! The nuances and depths in almost every scene with an underlying sense of emotions are wonderfully explored and it contributes to a beautifully layered narrative. The direction is excellent here!
Performances
The performances are brilliant by the incredible ensemble cast but before that, a note to applaud the casting directors who have done an amazing job in meticulously casting a vast spread of talent. Pravishi Das as Karuna and Maninee De as Vimla have their moments to shine. Zayn Marie Khan as Sarina has such a charming presence in a wonderfully enacted character. Mrunal Thakur as Adhira and Siddhant Karnik as Anik are incredibly good in their respective roles. Neelam Kothari as Kriti and Samir Soni as Gulshan have some crackling chemistry between the two(no surprises there as they are a real life couple) and they make for a warm watch. Naina Sareen as Gargi and Sanjay Kapoor as Ashok are able supports in the tale.
Pulkit Samrat as Sarfaraz and Elnaaz Norouzi as Leila are spectacular, Parul Gulati as Amber has a fine screen presence in a job well done. The Anurag Kashyap cameo was the cherry on the top! Dia Mirza has such expressive eyes and she shines as Shehnaz. Parvin Dabas as Wasin and Kallirroi Tziafeta as Elmira have their moments to shine. Shibani Dandekar as Aditi manages to impress as well. Radhika Apte as Pallavi delivers a powerful performance with a tinge of contemplation within. Imaad Shah as Roman and Sarah Jane Dias as Julie are adorable to watch, particularly the latter and the dignified performance which she delivers. Kashyap Harsha Shangari as Akshay is quite affable as well. Vikrant Massey as Nawab is wonderfully restrained in a job well done!
Ishwak Singh as Raghav is quietly charming and does a wonderful job. The other ‘Rocket Boy’, Jim Sarbh is in top form as Adil and he is such a natural onscreen. Neil Bhoopalam as Danish is such an endearing character and he puts forth a wonderful performance. Naina Bhan as Dilshad has her moments to shine as well. Trinetra Halda Gummaraju as Meher is one of my favourite characters from the show who has so much to contribute in terms of her vulnerability and insecurities while searching for pure love all along. And she was absolutely brilliant here.
Mona Singh as Bulbul also was my other favourite character from the show. Her character might appear to be frivolous on the first glance but slowly and steadily, as you spend more time with her, do you you realise on what a heartfelt character Bulbul is. Her emotional baggage and her worries surrounding her children are real, and trust a brilliant actor like Mona to pull through all the strings wonderfully well. Mihir Ahuja as Dhruv and Vijay Raaz as Ramesh are excellent in their respective roles as well.
Kalki Koechlin as Faiza is such a joy to watch with her performance that laced with poise and grace. Shivani Raghuvanshi as Jazz is a firecracker but with a sensitive heart and she has such a wonderful presence onscreen. I hope she continues to get such meaty roles that would justify her incredible talent. Shashank Arora as Kabir has a certain sense of ease in front of the camera and that is what makes him special. He is a bundle of talent who almost indulges the viewers with his natural act every single time.
Arjun Mathur as Karan has such a layered character dealing with his own share of anxiety with respect to his family and his equation with his mother. It was a towering act that hit all the right emotions along the way with a layer of complexity tagged to it. Sobhita Dhulipala as Tara has grown as a performer by leaps and bounds. While she was great in the first season, she is excellent in the second. She is confident, assertive yet showcases a sense of vulnerability that makes her human. It was a sensitive portrayal of a character with strong ambitions in life.
Conclusion
The second season of Made In Heaven is an aesthetically beautiful drama with shades of complexities and layers of progressive commentary, and some brilliant performances that makes for a brilliant watch. A worthy followup to the first season indeed! Available on Amazon Prime and Highly Recommended!
