- Date of Release: 08 July 2022
- Genre: Romance
- Language: Hindi
- Watch On: YouTube
Yeh Dooriyan
Introduction
Quickly onto the next release of the weekend and I finished watching the new Hindi series Ueh Dooriyan on Youtube. This review is also a part of our vision at Popcorn Reviewss to give back to the fraternity by giving voices to budding filmmakers. The series is set during the first lockdown of the pandemic and by now we all know the issues we all had faced. In fact, I also know about some of my friends who actually were in a “long distance relationship” despite being in the same city. And trust me, the distance always plays a part in defining a relationship. They might say that distance makes the heart grow fonder but always may not be the case. There are insecurities and disagreements which may potentially make or break a relationship. So having said that does Yeh Dooriyan manage to impress, lets find out!
Story & Screenplay
Yeh Dooriyan follows the story of a married couple stuck in different cities during the first lockdown. Will Love find a way again? The story is definitely relatable filled with heartfelt conversations. The screenplay standing at just 4 episodes of roughly 20 odd minutes means that the show can be easily binge watched.
The technique used in showcasing the screenplay is something similar to what we have seen in the first season of The Gone Game or the Malayalam film C U Soon. So the characters have heartfelt conversations through Zoom calls and Google Duo. You get a glimpse of the relationship of the couple very early on which begins with random conversations days before the first lockdown. The frivolous nature of the conversations(intentionally done as neither of them had anticipated a lockdown) keep getting deeper with every passing minute.
The screenplay is designed to be conversational as hence it may be a niche to many viewers. But if you enjoy conversations, then you will be sucked into this world. The conversations are definitely engaging and engrossing which range from everyday talks over dinner to slightly intimate ones only to eventually have insecurities creep in related to their own jobs and between them. The characters of the two protagonists are really well fleshed out with distinct traits that forms a vital cog in the narrative.
The ups and downs of a relationship is wonderfully shown over the four episodes which definitely touches you during the final act. It is a wise saying that love may fizzle out one day but mutual respect and companionship will always stay! And what a beautifully woven final act it was. On the downside, there are a few repeated conversations which may well have been left out on the edit table(given that the show is conversational and the proceedings can get heavy). Secondly, since the lockdown was two years back, the theme may slightly be outdated given that similar content had already been doing the rounds. But overall, this is a wonderfully penned screenplay which will gently tug the strings of your heart!
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational and very engaging which make for an impactful viewing. The music is beautifully integrated in the narrative with subtle but heartfelt notes used as the BGM. The cinematography does have glimpses of the outside world which are very well shot! Director Souvik Gupta has done a terrific job in digging deeper into a modern day relationship. His approach is subtle and real but never overdramatic which makes for a pretty interesting viewing!
Performances
The performances are excellent here. Jayshree Talpade and Krishnakali Ganguli both have their moments to shine. Shivam Bhaargava as Manav is a lovely catalyst in the screenplay towards the end and he is quite good. But the show belongs to Vikram and Aisha aka Paresh Pahuja and Manjari Fadnnis. Paresh Pahuja is just so brilliant here. He has a lovely character arc and he really takes you on an emotional ride, bringing many emotions to the table. He is natural to the core in what was a fabulous performance. Manjari Fadnnis is such a fine actor, this is probably my third review of her in as many weeks. You can make out how natural she is simply by studying her performance. She is wonderfully restrained even in emotional scenes and she is just well within herself. And her charming presence is the cherry on the cake which sums up a prolific performance which is natural to the core!
Conclusion
Yeh Dooriyan is an intimate, tender and heartfelt conversational drama which seems so real due to its wonderful writing and its performances. Available on Youtube for free, so go watch it now!