CAST: R MADHAVAN, SURVEEN CHAWLA, ATUL KUMAR, ASEEM HATANGADI

DIRECTED BY HARDIK MEHTA

WRITTEN BY MANU JOSEPH

BLUF: Shruti (Surveen Chawla) and Arya (R Madhavan) are a couple disgruntled with each other because they have lost the spark in their relationship. They’re getting a divorce, but they still have to behave like they’re a couple, and not just for the benefit of their daughter, but because of the society, they socialize in.

Shruti is a successful entrepreneur, and Arya is a best-selling author. They are lost the patience with each other to put up with each other’s idiosyncrasies.

This is the story of how they navigate the news and repercussions of their divorce while being the personalities that they are.

THE MEAT AND THE POTATOES

This show will remind you of Curb Your Enthusiasm mixed with Splitting up Together if you have watched them but that does not take away from the story the refreshing character comedy that it is.

Comedies in this genre leave hope of reconcilement but this one does not. The story of a couple who are better off without being tied up in knots of a relationship that does not work is a new age story, and it is indeed written well. Devoid of all stereotypes, the story of their child or parents dealing with the news and its outcomes is also refreshingly different.

Arya is a jerk and his wife and soon-to-be-ex knows him well to play him. In between the scenes somehow you start liking Arya even if he is cheap, below the belt, and petty to the core.

The sporadic appearances of Chetan Bhagat, the guru who was a retail honcho, and many such characters you know are literally lifted from your lives, fit well into the Delhi suburban high society lifestyle.

IN THE KNOW

If you have read Manu Joseph, you will know that the show is an embodiment of his manifestations.

Arya, much like Manu as a writer is impassive in his demeanor and therefore his writing reflects the overreaching need for the protagonist to be provocative and quite in the face.

Arya gets into trouble with his ability to rile people around him with honestly very uncomfortable truths that he may have taken the time to deliver, had he any respect for them, in a more sophisticated manner.

In a very Manu Joseph style, he scorns the feminists and the economists now and then.

The direction by Hardik Mehta makes up for the over-dependency. The art direction, cinematography, casting is all top-notch.

Madhavan is excellent and embodies Arya at a cellular level. It is good to see him back on screen. Surveen looks striking in her Shruti avatar and her attraction towards the handsome Korean investor has us all rooting for that one to take off.

If there is another season, we will take it

WHAT WE LOVED

The writing

Direction

Actors

Actually funny

WHAT WE MISSED

Could have explored the backstories a bit more