CAST:  Tamannaah, Aashim Gulati, Suhail Nayyar, Anya Singh, Samvedna Suwalka, Rajesh Khattarm Malhar Thakar, Hussain Dalal and Saayan Banerjee

DIRECTOR: Arunima Sharma

Jee Karda, a wandering and gently engaging rom-com, doesn’t quite hit the mark in portraying the intricate tapestry of love and desire, casual flings and heartaches, solid friendships, and uncertain relationships; instead, it intermittently unfolds like a light-hearted, airy affair.

This Amazon Prime Video series, comprising eight episodes, is burdened with an excess of plotlines while simultaneously appearing insubstantial. It presents a rather thin selection when it comes to originality and panache. The series barely scratches the surface in showcasing the often-challenging compromises and adjustments couples must make with each other, their families, their situations, and their ultimate paths in their quest to find clarity.

Jee Karda follows the journey of seven tight-knit school friends navigating the unpredictable waters of adulthood as they approach 30. The series gains steam when it finds its rhythm but loses its footing with moments that are often cumbersome and aimless.

Helmed by director Arunima Sharma, with contributions from Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal, Jee Karda oscillates between 2006 and 2022. It juxtaposes the carefree school days in Mumbai with the contemporary times when the weight of adult responsibilities cannot be avoided.

The show explores the lives of two long-time lovers facing a rollercoaster of emotions as they near their wedding, a counselor who is in need of guidance herself, a burgeoning fashion designer craving privacy in her shared home, and four male characters who are equally entangled in their respective challenges, including issues of coming out and loneliness.

As the group of seven seeks happiness and fulfillment, their journey is marred by a series of half-baked conclusions. Jee Karda revolves around love, relationships, and a plethora of drama, often of a frivolous and forced nature. Although the series occasionally offers a lighthearted and enjoyable detour, its attempts at depth are beyond its reach and only underscore its lack of substance.

Tamannaah Bhatia heads the ensemble cast, portraying a successful architect, Lavanya, who’s on the verge of marrying her long-time boyfriend. However, as the wedding approaches, the friction between their families threatens to unravel their relationship. Moreover, Lavanya’s wavering and her boyfriend’s actions only add fuel to the fire.

The friends, each portraying a distinctive character archetype, face their respective whirlwinds of desires, disappointments, uncertainties, and apprehensions. The series also delves into the backstories of the characters and their troubled relationships with parental figures.

Jee Karda’s attempt to dissect the consequences of youthful follies and exuberance doesn’t unveil anything particularly groundbreaking. The cast, including Tamannaah Bhatia, Aashim Gulati, and Suhail Nayyar, make earnest efforts to bring energy to the narrative. Anya Singh and Samvedna Suwalka particularly stand out, but the cliché-ridden script doesn’t provide them much to work with.

Summarily, Jee Karda, while not disastrous, leaves much to be desired in terms of depth and insight. It’s an odyssey through the trials and tribulations of adulting, but it’s surface-level treatment and predictable storylines make it fall short of leaving a lasting impression.

Streams on Prime Video