Tripling Season 3
Introduction
Thank God It Is Friday and we haven’t taken a single day this week, repeatedly going through the grind to provide you the latest reviews. And we aren’t tired or fatigued either as we look forward to this long Diwali weekend that brings with it some freshly brewed content too. First up I finished watching the latest presentation from TVF, the third season of Tripling.
Tripling was one of the earliest successful shows from a production house which were successful in disrupting the market with the heartfelt and relatable content. Now that I look back, TVF has atleast one successful show to boast off in every age demographic. And that in itself is pleasantly surprising and equally heartening. But coming back to the concept of Tripling, a road trip with your siblings was a fresh content and something that all of us could relate to. However, as per my humble opinion, the second season of Tripling, although good, lacked the magic of the first season with some writing which could best be termed as “convenient”. So I went into season 3 with mixed feelings – one of hope and the other of skepticism. So then does the third season of Tripling manage to impress, lets find out.
Story & Screenplay
The third season of Tripling reunites the three siblings after they get a news of their parents separating. One thing that I really like about the writing in TVF shows is that it constantly tries to do something different and often does push the envelope too. And this is no different as it is a subject which is delicate and doesn’t make you want to accept it easily(that is how we are wired). But it is beautifully emotional this time around. The screenplay standing at 5 episodes of roughly 20 odd minutes each makes for a brisk watch.
The drama seemingly picks off a few years after the second season. While some protagonists have moved on from their past lives, some have been holding onto them tight. But one thing that I really did like was that the drama did get to the point almost immediately. Which is honestly the way to go. In these seemingly heartfelt dramas, you need the audience to invest in its core emotions early on. So the world building(which by the way was already established in season 1 wasn’t required and rightly so).
There is an element of softness to the drama along with elements featuring a sense of nostalgia. These make for some heartfelt moments in the screenplay that would deftly touch the strings of your heart. But there is also a small downside to the drama. It kind of does get a little stuck and repetitive in the middle wherein I did get a feeling that the writers wanted to slightly elongate the drama before getting to the emotional part. A needless and half hearted subplot included a sword fight sequence between the character of Pranav and his brother which didn’t really sit well with the rest of the drama. Also the humour is slightly sticky here.
Things begin to improve for the better with the entire trek sequence which brings with it some shocking revelations between a few characters. An interesting subplot included the vulnerability of the character of Chitwan for the first time in three seasons which was quite emotional to witness. In a gut wrenching scene, he holds onto his two siblings and doesn’t want them to leave(with the context being that whoever he has truly loved have all left him with his parents being the latest in the list). A beautifully constructed scene.
The final act is soulful and emotional but it comes with a very important baggage – that while kids do follow their dreams, their parents are humans too and the same rules do apply to them. This concept in itself is refreshing and I have noticed a slow transition of the points of discussion towards parents(in a good way), something that was also addressed in a totally different issue in the Hindi Film Maja Ma. The shift of generations from Gen X to Gen Y and now Gen Z is bringing out some interesting topics of discussion that is worthwhile of its time. Here, it made for a subtly intense drama that is emotional in equal measures. Overall, the screenplay is beautifully emotional trip minus the actual road trip that we have been privy to!
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are quirky yet emotional and they definitely create a stir. The music like in every other TVF production is melodious and goes perfectly with the mood of the drama. The BGM is on point as well with the “iconic” Mada Faka also being included in the proceedings. The cinematography captures some scenic locations beautifully. Director Neeraj Udhwani does a spectacular job in weaving an emotional yet engaging and important story that does manage to keep the audiences invested in most parts.
Performances
The performances are amazing as always. Sarah Anjuli as Paula and Karishma Singh as Kritika have their moments to shine. Kunaal Roy Kapur as Pranav is sincere and does a good job. Amol Parashar as Chitwan is in top form here. While he is brilliant in comic sequences, this time we do get a glimpse into his vulnerabilities also. And Baba will make you shed a tear with his brilliant act. Maanvi Gagroo(in the first of the two outings this weekend) as Chanchal is natural to the core and I really did enjoy her performance. Sumeet Vyas as Chandan is brilliant and wonderfully restrained in his act. Shernaz Patel is an absolute delight to watch. She is warm and welcoming and delivers a very dignified performance. But my pick of the actors is Kumud Mishra who just effortlessly sinks into his character here. There is an element of calmness to him(other than that one scene wherein you see him raising his voice) and his character is all heart. It was that one performance that has stayed with me long after the series was over.
Conclusion
The third season of Tripling is a beautifully emotional trip that makes for a fun watch, Baba. Available on Zee5.