Having a
celebrity crush on Barun Sobti won't be enough to endure the terrible pain that
this new series is from Ekta Kapoor Universe. She has been running this formula for ages
of cobbling together a half-baked, or should I say, hardly baked storyline, mix
in a sprinkle of star power, add a pinch of random plot twists, and voila! You
have yourself a series ready to hit the screens. Who needs a well-crafted
narrative or compelling character development when you can rely on the allure
of celebrity names to carry the show? It's the recipe for instant success, or
at least that's what they want us to believe.
The series written
by Ritu Bhatia rehashes the tired and harmful trope that portrays healthier
relationship traits as mundane while glorifying toxic traits as alluring,
suggesting that these dynamics make a relationship captivating. It's
disheartening to see yet another iteration of this clichéd narrative, which
fails to recognize the importance of mutual respect, emotional well-being, and
healthy communication in relationships.
It seems someone convinced Ekta and Ritu, that it's crucial to showcase progressiveness, especially on OTT platforms. With Badtameez Dil, it's painfully clear that they are making an excessive effort to pretend they care about topics they got zero interest or knowledge in. In this misguided attempt, Ritu Bhatia managed to leave no sensitive topic untouched, wielding her butcher knife of ignorance on topics from LGBTQIA+ relationships to abusive marriages. It's a spectacle of ignorance and insincerity, as she stumbles through these delicate matters, leaving behind a trail of mishandled narratives and missed opportunities for genuine exploration. It's quite evident that authenticity and genuine engagement are taking a backseat while she attempts to check the boxes of social relevance.
Not a single character or situation is allowed the luxury of taking a breath, resulting in the haphazard shaping of characters. Their transformations, whether for better or worse, occur abruptly, without any proper explanation, leaving the audience bewildered and unintentionally amused. It's as if the writers were in such a rush that they skipped over crucial development, making the whole experience feel like a comedic farce rather than a genuine narrative.
The series relies heavily on the enchantment of Barun Sobti and the mesmerizing sparkle of Ridhi Dogra to desperately salvage what little remains of its credibility. Given their captivating portrayals in the gripping thriller series Asur, it's undeniable that Barun and Ridhi showcased their talent and remarkable onscreen chemistry. It's a shame that their skills were squandered on a lackluster narrative that failed to do justice to their abilities. They deserved a far more engaging and compelling story to showcase their talents, one that would have truly allowed their potential to shine.
Thankfully, Mallika Dua shines as
the only sensible character with a distinct personality amidst the chaotic mess
of the story. It is in one of Mallika's desperately needed reality checks that
the series manages to deliver a truly memorable scene, a rare moment of clarity
in an otherwise forgettable narrative.
In a
desperate bid to elicit emotions from the audience, the series resorts to an
excessive overdose of background music and recurring parts of the soundtrack.
Unfortunately, what was intended to be a stirring accompaniment soon becomes a
tedious and monotonous barrage on the senses. Perhaps, these songs thrive
independently, but here, they serve as an unwelcome reminder of the series'
overindulgence and the price we pay for its misplaced attempts at emotional
manipulation.
The series wraps up with an open-ended finale, hinting at the possibility of multiple seasons to come. For those of us who endured this disappointment, let's hope against hope that they don't subject us to any more of this mediocrity, or at the very least, if they dare to continue, they do so with a significant upgrade in quality. All things considered; this series was nothing short of a letdown.
But hey, if you happen to share my peculiar blend of nostalgia-infused
celebrity infatuation for Barun and an excessive surplus of free time, then
maybe, just maybe, this could be a passable option for your entertainment.
You can
watch the series on Amazon Mini TV on your Amazon shopping App.
