- Date of Release: 18 October 2023
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Language: Hindi
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
Permanent Roommates (Season 3)
Introduction
It is Wednesday and life has come a full circle! With that, I have finished watching the third season of Permanent Roommates which is now streaming on Amazon Prime. It was way back in 2015 when even the concept of a webshow was unknown, that the visionaries of the industry TVF decided to quietly drop a show on their Youtube channel in an episodic format. The show was Permanent Roommates(and I haven’t added a Season 1 on purpose) that found love from all quarters while also initiating a conversation on a whole new watch stream after TV and the theatrical releases. But let me let you in on a little secret – I only managed to finish watching the previous two seasons, a night before the third season was out.
One of the reasons why I didn’t watch the first season of Permanent Roommates immediately was because I wasn’t quite wired to know or accept any content other than films back in the day. In between I did manage to watch Pitchers then but Permanent Roommates was inexplicably put on the back burner. As a result, the second season came and went but I had to skip that as well. Come the announcement of the third season of Permanent Roommates, I thought that this was a God-sent opportunity to visit the show which the world has seen and loved.
As I began my journey with Mikesh and Tanya, I began falling in love with them and their journey. As they say(don’t ask me whoš¤£), the biggest battle ever fought by mankind is for love and staying together. This is particularly true for couples in today’s day and age who just find it hard to stick together. I have been privy to so many separations around me that the journey of Mikesh and Tanya felt like a breath of fresh air, even as they navigated through their ups and downs. This did portray that the content of TVF is not only relatable but also stands the test of time. I immediately ventured into the third season of Permanent Roommates with much anticipation after having finished the previous two seasons. So then does the third season of Permanent Roommates manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
The third season of Permanent Roommates handpicks another chapter in the lives of Mikesh and Tanya wherein both of them are at different points of their lives, although together. While both are doing well, the need to go abroad for a better career prospect is what forms the conflict between the couple. The story here is relevant and written with a sense of light-handedness while keeping all the emotions in check. The screenplay standing at just 5 episodes of roughly 30 odd to 40 odd minutes is light and breezy while also nailing the set of emotions, something that TVF has mastered over time.
One little criticism that I had while watching the brilliant second season of the show was that it was a tad too long. And thankfully, the same has been taken care of here in its crisp and sharp third season. The drama opens with the re-introduction of Mikesh and Tanya with some sizzling chemistry that they share with each other, almost like a fire and ice combination. But beauty of their relationship lies in their mutual love and respect for one another despite being in disagreement with each other at certain junctures of their relationship. And this quality of theirs is put to test with the introduction of the conflict wherein Tanya does feel stuck and wants to shift abroad much to the dismay of Mikesh.
The writers dabble with a very potent issue between couples by lacing the events with bouts of sensitivity and humour. The proceedings are interesting and I am sure also nostalgic(for most fans of the show), given that the makers are able to bring in most of the characters from the previous season. The inherent humour in the drama is mostly situational and arises out of the antics of the characters who have been put in a situation. The humour may not make you laugh hysterically, but it will surely put a smile on your face. However, I did have a little criticism with the way the drama unfolds in the middle. The humour did seem slightly forced while the proceedings kind of got a little stuck(just like Tanya) and repetitive to an extent.
The moment I thought that this might go downhill, the makers sprinkle the drama with the trademark TVF magic in the final two episodes. The drama here works best when the focus is on the emotions while showcasing the vulnerability of the characters. If the sub-plot involving Mikesh’s mother Lata was heartwarming, the turn of events leading to an emotional revelation by Mikesh did deftly touch the strings of my heart. I was connected to all the characters at that point and I could feel something in me changing, while a part of me was relating to the proceedings. The emotions didn’t die anytime soon while the proceedings felt like a warm hug on a lonely day. The final act was heartwarming but the moments created by the makers were beautiful, and it did make me shed a tear or two. Overall, the screenplay is wonderfully written while briefly stumbling a bit in the middle.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational and all the lines are relatable, wherein either I have experienced them myself or noticed such conversations around me. The music is good here and gels well with the drama although I would have expected a slightly better soundtrack to revisit as a part of my playlist. The BGM captures the vibe of the drama beautifully. The cinematography is good, the costume department deserves a shoutout as well. In a scene involving an outburst by Tanya, she T-Shirt reads ‘Oops’ which was essentially the state of dilemma that the character found herself in while venting her anger on her partner. The editing is sharp and crisp right throughout the show. Director Shreyansh Pandey does a wonderful job in understanding the world and the character dynamics between the two protagonists(why wouldn’t he? He is afterall the executive producer of so many TVF shows) and that just reflects in the moments that are created onscreen. But his biggest victory as a director lies in tapping into the emotions that just hit home, and beautifully so. He doesn’t allow the drama to get melodramatic while only deftly touching upon the emotions, just enough to make you teary eyed. It was a debut to cherish as a director for Shreyansh!
Performances
The performances are brilliant by the ensemble cast who also evoke a sense of nostalgia with their presence. Sapna Bhatt as Shraddha and Ambrish Varma as Pranav(particularly lovely in the cafe scene towards the end) are wonderful additions to the drama and both of them are wonderful to watch. Ayesha Raza Mishra as Ila and Shishir Sharma as Brijmohan are such fine actors that they make their presence felt despite a limited screen time. Anandeshwar Dwivedi as Leo aka Lleo is zany and will tickle your funny bone in his brief stay in the middle of the show. Sachin Pilgaonkar as Venkat is sincere and endearing and I wonder if his character could get a little spin-off story as well. Deepak Kumar Mishra is a bundle of talent and his impeccable sense of humour is on full display here as Purushottam. He is a delight to watch!
Sheeba Chadha is such a fine actor and her performance just felt like a warm hug. She delivered a heartfelt performance while deftly touching upon her vulnerability which was of being lonely after the death of her husband. Her equation with Mikesh is almost equivalent to my mother’s relationship with me. We are friends for life!ā¤
It is a bit of a homecoming for both Nidhi Singh and Sumeet Vyas in a show that made them hugely popular back in the day. Nidhi as Tanya is assertive while beautifully representing her insecurity with respect to her career and her partner, Mikesh. Her dilemma is the driving point of the show and she absolutely nails her character.
And I haven’t seen a range in a performer as much as I have in Sumeet Vyas. He was recently seen in Bambai Meri Jaan in the character of a gangster, a serial killer in Mrs Undercover, and here in a diabolically opposite character, he plays Mikesh, a goofy little guy with a sly sense of humour and a heart of gold, all in a year’s time. Yet, the mountains of pain that he is carrying is beautifully showcased in an emotionally heavy scene that just hit home with all the emotions. He was absolutely brilliant on the show and a word to the girls out there, if you find a ‘Mikesh’ in your life, don’t let him go! Another towering act by a stunning performer.
Conclusion
The third season of Permanent Roommates is a heartfelt Rom-Com that will deftly touch the strings of your heart. And TVF weaves its magic yet again! Available on Amazon Prime!
PS : Mikesh and Tanya are loveā¤ā¤ā¤
