Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt. Ltd.
Introduction
It has been almost a year and a half of Popcorn Reviewss. A small enterprise which Harsh and I started during the first lockdown has only grown since. With dreams of making it big, we just took the plunge and we have been slogging everyday since. As they say, this decade is the decade of entrepreneurs in our country. With the jobs reducing and uncertainty looming large, it only but makes sense to start something that you are passionate for and then see your baby grow! Similar to us, there would be so many other including young mothers and working women who would have started such enterprises in a hope to support their family and eventually make it big. We did get a small glimpse of it on the first season of Shark Tank!
Thank God It is Friday and you know the drill by now! And TVF is back with their new show Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd, a production company who seldom gets it wrong in terms of relatability and emotions. And with that I finished watching Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd which is streaming on Zee5, is it worth your time…lets find out.
Story & Screenplay
Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd follows the story of a mother who is a divorcee who starts with her own little enterprise of making and selling pickles in order to support her children. The story is instantly heartwarming and I am sure many ladies would find this very thought relatable. TVF have ventured from engineering college to campus placements and finally this is their second attempt at entering the mass circuit after Panchayat. The screenplay at 6 episodes of roughly 30-40 minutes each means that this is again a quick watch!
The screenplay at the very beginning seemed slightly disjointed something which I had felt while watching the first episode of the first season of Panchayat. I was settled in the drama soon after probably after the first 10 minutes which made me realise that this was a new world which was being attempted. And so the slightly uncomfortable premise(of the protagonist being separated) needed to get out of the way before making way for natural emotions to flow. So this was probably intentioned to be disjointed.
The characters were have tremendous depth as there is a consistent effort made in showcasing the motives of all the characters including brief flashbacks which help you judge them better. The core drama is heartwarming with so many moments which instantly did put a smile on my face. The dynamics between the characters is such that all of them are grounded in reality making them relatable. A couple of the subplots were underdeveloped but the main plot of how the protagonist sets about setting up her small enterprise is just heartwarming and it feels like a long and warm hug.
The obstacles which she faces at every step is also a lesson to all of us to not give up and just keep going. The whole screenplay seemed so organic that it was hard to question any of the minor drawbacks. This included an extended final act which did not have a typical fairy tale ending yet it was enough to moisten your eyes with the right kind of emotions at play. This was a very balanced yet sugar coated screenplay which yet again manages to touch your heart.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues have always been a strong point of any TVF production and Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd is no different. It is able to capture the dialect of the area where it is set in so aesthetically. Also, along the way you do get life lessons in relationships and running your enterprise but more importantly the lines keep all the emotions intact. The music is just outstanding here and when that final songs swells up your eyes you just know that you have a winner on your hands. Likewise the BGM which beautifully blends with the drama. The cinematography is top notch as well. Director Apoorv Singh Karki who had previously directed the TVF series Aspirants has done a phenomenal job in venturing into a space which is simple yet reasonably untapped. The way he is able to extract emotions is truly a sight to witness and his direction also manages to hold your attention throughout!
Performances
The performances are just outstanding here. Nisha Jindal as Komal has her moments to shine as does Priya Gupta as Sadhna who is really good despite a limited screen time. Tanu Suneja as Manju is just so endearing. Ankit Motghare as the reporter is probably the best rendition I have seen in recent times. He is funny and over the top which is similar to our news channel reporters today. Anup Soni as Dilip definitely leaves a mark in a character which has a nice little arc. Anjana Sukhani as Manisha is just so brilliant and heartwarming here. I really hope to watch more of her in times to come. Manu Bisht as Juhi represents a matured teenager and she is quite sincere and natural to the core. Nikhil Chawla as Rishu is excellent as well. Anandeshwar Dwivedi as Shukla is a character which may not be affable right at the very beginning. But a transformation ensures that the audience are well invested in him. And what a tremendous job done! Yaminidas aa Dadi is my favourite character here. She is humourous and witty but at the same time caring and gives you life lessons. And this was a brilliant performance by her! Which brings me to Amruta Subhash. As Suman, she had to do some heavy lifting here and being a prolific actor herself, she is just so natural and effortless here. What a heartwarming performance by her who leaves us with so many moments over the six episodes which will make you laugh and cry and root for her throughout. This was indeed a special performance by a very special actor!
Conclusion
Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd is a heartwarming enterprise which will instantly put a smile on your face along with moist eyes. Another winner from TVF who can do no wrong! Available on Zee5 and Highly Recommended!