CAST: Naseeruddin Shah, Lara Bhupati, Soha Ali Khan, Anya Singh, Kriti Kamra, Raghubir Yadav, Cyrus Sahukar.

DIRECTOR: Ananya Banerjee, Gauravv K Chawla 

BLUF:

When an elderly Maharaja (Naseeruddin Shah) gets his tax evasion tab, he conceives a ludicrous plot with the assistance of his right hand man (Raghubir Yadav) to reunite his four estranged daughters so they can pay it instead because after all – they are the heirs to the throne.

The plan? To put them through a series of weird competitive routines so their joint hatred of their father reunites them to save the palace.  But that’s not what he tells the daughters.

This is the story of what happens when the sisters who loathe each other unite.

THE MEAT AND THE POTATOES

The concept of Kaun Banegi Shikharwati is interesting, and it is good to watch a series in which not the sons, but the daughters are competing to be the next king. The series maintains its gender-sensitive approach and should be lauded for that thought and writing. The plot and its subplots are well woven and integrate well into the whole idea of bringing estranged people together to common ground so they can communicate.

Naseeruddin Shah as Raja Mrityunjay is brilliant as usual. His comic timing is as perfect as it was in the Draupadi scene of the classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. Lara, Soha, Kritika, and Anya, all four actresses hold the narrative really well. Raghubir Yadav is phenomenal as  Mishraji.

IN THE KNOW

The palette of the show is very Wes Andersonish and the frames remind you of that world-building.

The script could have been tighter and the cliffhanger more compelling but the show stands out as hilarious and the chemistry between the actors holds the narrative together.

WHAT WE LOVED

The actors. All of them

Music

Palette and art direction

WHAT WE MISSED

Story cohesion towards the end of the series