Posted:
Having witnessed first hand how the Bengali original devolved into melodramatic mush in its final months, I was very skeptical of approaching the Hindi original. I know the story - what more could this treatment offer me?
And yet here I am a couple of weeks later, inexplicably hooked. Hard to explain what it is. I like simple stories told well. So far, I have no complaints in that department. The script is fairly taut - except for a couple of misses here and there. The acting is competent - excellent by Laajo's father, surprisingly good by Nikhil and sweetly endearing by Laajo. Laajo's mother has a tendency to overstep into excessive theatrics, but not too much thankfully.
Where the show's makers have hit the sweet spot is in creating subtle, delicate moments to build connection between the two. There's no screechy, signature background tune, no cheesy eye lock, no forced encounters.
The briefest of moment occurs when Laajo gets up and finds herself still bound to Nikhil by her gathbandhan - a trivial thing, but also symbolic.
When the ketchup sachet confounds Laajo, Nikhil simply and wordlessly steps up, opens the sachet and steps back. No words exchanged. None needed.
If they can provide such moments, not just between Laajo and Nikhil but in the interactions of other characters too, the CVs would find me a very loyal and very happy viewer.
Real Estate
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
