-Brian Mendonça
If there is anything to crow about during Lockdown 5 (or Unlock 1, if you prefer) it is the wealth of material you can watch online. For the price of a fee one can have access to service providers like Amazon Prime, AltBalaji or Netflix. Of course the youth - and young at heart – have been doing it anyway notwithstanding the rider at times that the content is suitable for viewing for 18+.
With adult content within arms reach, it is no
wonder that kids grow up faster these days. Knowing about the birds and the
bees - some of it in your face – being the sheet anchor of many web series, has
had content writers rarely stray far away from the dominating theme of
infidelity and sex on the side.
Made
in Heaven (2019) created by Zoya Akhtar is a web series on
Amazon Prime which showcases contemporary India as never before. An event
management agency which deals in hosting marriages goes by the name of Made in Heaven. The name is a throw back
to the proverb that despite all efforts marriages are ultimately made in
heaven. Whether they work or not is anybody’s guess.
Made
in Heaven has put out nine episodes of around 45 minutes
each. The bureau has its office in Delhi and the characters are located in
Delhi. So it is as much the story of the city of Delhi as it is of the characters
which live in it. There is Karan, and there is Tara, who are the top honchos of
the enterprise. Both of them have separate lives though they are working
partners.
Tara is married to Adil who is a rich person. He is sleeping with Tara’s best friend Faiza. Faiza, played by Kalki-Koechlin is in a marriage with an abusive partner. Karan is gay.
As you view the nine episodes in sequence, you see
the fissures get bigger. Tara is often
reminded by Adil that she is from a lower-class than him. Karan has multiple
partners but they are all brief flings. His only steady partner is in the US
and Karan does not want to leave India. As Faiza becomes more estranged from
Tara she begins to break down, resulting in continuous counselling. Tara too is
hurting inside as she blocks Faiza’s calls.
Jazz – short form for Jasmeet -- is a new appointee on
the sets. As the series progresses her character evolves. She is the simple
town girl whose suggestions are ridiculed by the rest of the team initially –
though they are successful in the end. Her match is Kabir the photographer, who
is like the sutradhar – the narrative
voice.
Each of the nine episodes centres around a different wedding and the chaos that it entails. But at heart what is being unrobed are the hypocrisies of the Indian elite. Whether it is the molestation by the Ranawat family, or the dowry demanded by one of the grooms -- Made in Heaven exposes the seedy side of all.
---------------------------------------------------------
Pix of Tara and Adil (top), Karan and friend (bottom)
Comments