Review: With immense FLAWS throughout, 'KarnSangini' is saved by Tejasswi's commanding performance

Based on the book, Karna's wife: The Outcast Queen, KarnSangini centers around Mahabharata, but in a way, no one has done before. Unlike the Pandavas, Draupadi or Krishna, this story is about Karn, the ill-fated warrior, Uruvi - Princess of Pukhiya and Prince Arjun, the man to be.

Starring Tejasswi Prakash, Ashim Gulati and Kinshuk Vaidya in titular roles, we caught on to the show this past week, and here's what I think of the same.

The pace of the show is quick as it can be. Apart from a brief introduction to how Karn was born and abandoned by his own mother and then Guru Drona, we are immediately introduced to a grown-up Karna, who is taking lessons from a guru and excelling at the same. On a parallel note, a little princess is born in Pukhiya and while everything is hunky-dory about that, the pandit warns that she will choose an ill-fated partner for herself in the future and will face problems apart from having the most blessed life ever.

Cut to grown-up Uruvi, who is as beautiful as poems describe princesses to be along with being a little bratty and outspoken, but her heart is at the right place.

Apart from these two, the obvious other protagonist is Arjun, who is directly introduced as Uruvi's best friend and partner in almost, everything. Arjun and Uruvi hang out and end up in multiple competitions of their own, where the latter wins, but the former faces some issues. Without any delay, Karn enters a competition he is not supposed to and gets the assistance of an unlikely ally, Duryodhan (Paras Babbar).

Thus begins the feud between Arjun and Karn, where Duryodhan hates Arjun; and Uruvi continues to be Arjun's best friend but is also a righteous woman who is smitten by Karn of sorts. How will she end up being the wife to Karn and what will be her role in the Mahabharata that will follow is what constitutes the show's future.

Straight up, Tejasswi Prakash as Princess Uruvi is undoubtedly the best factor of the show. Not only is her beauty justified, but Tejasswi's acting prowess is seen in several scenes as she delivers dialogues with the required emotion. Acing the role of Uruvi, Tejasswi will be anchoring the show and that is the biggest relief.

Aashim Gulati may not have the best screen presence, as he falters when he is not speaking, but with his dialogue delivery, stance, and chiseled physique; he justifies the character of Karn as episodes go by.

The scale of the show is huge, and a special mention should be given to the costumes and jewelry. They may not appear much different to any other mythological show, but there are some details which are taken care of brilliantly.

Arjun is too powerful a character and too iconic in the minds of those, who have seen the many versions of the epic tale earlier. And after the likes of Arjun and Shaheer Sheikh playing the character back then, Kinshuk Vaidya doesn't live up to the role as much. From physical to verbal, there has to be an aura about the character, and Kinshuk fails in displaying that.

Just like Arjun, Duryodhan is a character that gave the chills to anyone who has seen or read about him. The bar has been set too high with actors like Puneet Isaar and Arpit Ranka playing the role back then. While Paras Babbar does manage to nail the physical presence needed for the role, his acting chops are abysmal, to say the least.

There are several laughable moments in the show, and the makers should realize they need to adapt to the changing audience as to how can the epic tale be shown. While I list down some supremely dismal moments, a special mention is here for the bizarre CGI work that the show displays. You know, right away that everything is as fake as it can get-

With some massive flaws, nothing is perfect about KarnSangini at all; but that doesn't mean that the show isn't a compelling watch. Courtesy the novel factor as to what is Uruvi's role in the Karn-Arjun feud and Tejasswi's supreme anchored performance, KarnSangini is still a show to be looked out for.