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Made in Heaven 2 showcases more of the marriage related social problems, while advancing the stories of its main characters, including 2 new faces - Mona Singh and Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when my mum told me a few years ago that a new series titled “Made in Heaven” was making waves on Netflix. Even less so when she informed me that the series was about a pair of wedding planners based in Delhi.
Admittedly, I did binge watch the first series over a weekend and enjoyed every single episode too. I found it entertaining, honest and bold. The fact that it addressed quite a few pertinent social issues like dowry, honour killings, homosexuality etc, was a surprise and added significantly to the experience. No sooner had I finished the series, than I found myself ardently wishing and hoping that there would be a Season 2.
It therefore wasn’t surprising that I freed up an entire weekend, chilled a bottle of wine and told everyone not to bother me the moment “Made in Heaven Season 2” was announced. 7 spanking new episodes to look forward to! And even though I wasn’t expecting the second season to outdo the first, I knew that I was going to enjoy it very much.
Well, not only did I thoroughly enjoy it for its bold and racy entertainment, but I also genuinely feel that the second series did in fact, outdo the first. Whether it was the protagonist Tara who continued her role from Season 1, adding yet more fascinating shades of grey to her character, or Karan’s struggles as a homosexual man broken down into even finer nuances, or even the brilliant relationship between Jauhari and his wife, this was one hell of a fabulous, revelatory ride.
*Many spoilers alert*
In fact, the relationship between Jauhari and Bulbul deserves special mention. A man who openly gets judged for not speaking fluent English and not being “sophisticated” enough, touches our hearts for the unconditional love, support and most importantly, the total respect that he showers on his wife. She, who is a victim of domestic violence from her previous marriage, revels in Jauhari’s complete love for her. She also displays the kind of grit and courage that all women should, and takes a tough stance, coming down heavy on her own son when he displays a disrespectful attitude toward women.
I seriously wish we had more people like Jauhari and Bulbul in our society. We need them!
On the other hand, the seemingly urbane and “cultured” Adil Khanna is as self-centred and egotistical a man in this season as he was in the previous one. The character though is perfectly portrayed by Jim Sarbh who has once again proved what a fine actor he is.
Our protagonists Tara and Karan have a new set of battles to fight in this season. Tara doesn’t cease to surprise us with every episode, and I laud the gorgeous Sobhita Dhulipala for the fabulous portrayal of this confused yet resolute woman who sways between ambition and morals, but in the end, refuses to give up on what she believes is rightfully hers.
Karan continues his struggles as a gay man, fighting for a basic identity in a highly judgemental society. His complex relationship with his own mother opens up our eyes to how skewed and unfair society can be to those who choose to defy its norms.
One scene in particular that I thought was rather interesting was the one in which Faiza displays a sudden spurt of understanding and support for her ex best friend. For the uninitiated, Adil Khanna was cheating on Tara with her best friend, Faiza, in the last season. In this season, Tara and Adil are going through a messy, bitter divorce. Now while we might judge Faiza for betraying her best friend, I couldn’t help but be pleasantly surprised at the fact that she was more empathetic (perhaps even a wee remorseful) about Tara’s situation than the husband.
What actually disappointed me was the way Tara and her mother-in- law’s relationship eventually ended up. I must confess I had hoped for something more positive there.
And before I forget, I must mention that Meher’s character as a transgender production manager was a lovely addition to an already powerful cast.
Just like Season 1, Season 2 also brings out some hard hitting realities and social messages. The first episode deals with the issue of warped beauty standards and hypocrisy.
The second episode was perhaps the most disturbing, at least for me, in which a woman who seems to have it all on the outside, is actually a victim of violence at the hands of her abusive fiancé. What distressed me the most was the way this intelligent, educated, financially independent woman was brainwashed into willingly going back for more, despite having the support of her family and friends. I just couldn’t wrap my head around that.
The third episode was all about living life on your own terms, however difficult and inconvenient the choices might be while the fourth gave us an interesting insight into the manipulative side of relationships and the relentless power games that people can play.
The fifth one was my favourite, simply because it dealt with the extremely pertinent issue of caste based stratification and the hypocrisy that surrounds this still prevalent issue. I thought Radhika Apte deserved a standing ovation for her portrayal of the fiery and brutally honest Pallavi Menke. Dia Mirza as an equally strong and resolute Shehnaz in Episode 6 had me rooting for her all along when she put up a determined fight to question the age old practice of polygamy and its relevance in contemporary society. This episode also had a heartwarming lesbian couple who have a “commitment ceremony” in lieu of a proper marriage ceremony, bringing to light the ongoing battle of same sex marriages in India.
The finale episode tied up many of the loose ends with Faiza and Adil finally tying the knot and Adil wholeheartedly accepting his half-sister. The challenge of single motherhood is also sensitively captured in one of its endearing sub plots.
One thing that did leave me rather disappointed was the judgement that was hurled at Tara by her boyfriend toward the end. The redeeming factor for me was the steadfast way in which she stood up to own her choices, right or wrong. Finally, the concluding scene with Tara and Karan sitting side-by-side by the pool, Tara resting her head on Karan’s shoulder, was one of the most beautiful depictions of friendship, through thick and thin, that I have seen.
This is a series that is an eye opener, a revelation. A series that has dared to say it like it is. And one that I hope will go on to become a smashing hit. So much so that we wouldn’t have to wait another 4 years for a third season.
Rrashima is a senior corporate analyst with over 20 years of experience in the corporate sector. She is also a prolific writer, novelist and poet and her articles, stories and poems are regularly published in read more...
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