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It is hard to begin describing the wonder that is Naagin. Where does one start? The singularly unoriginal plot, the lazy writing, the uniformly mediocre acting, the Subhash Ghai inspired music score, or the eye popping computer graphics?
The fantasy fiction show is produced by Balaji Telefilms and is telecast as bi weekly torture, every Sat-Sun at 9 pm on Colours. Like its many of its predecessors in this genre have enlightened us, there exists such a creature as the Ichadhaari Naagin. One moment a snake, another a woman, or a man, this shape shifting terminator is the Uma Thurman of the reptilian world. Predictably we only encounter them when they are out to get revenge for the snakicide of a family member. Fassscintaing...
Plot: The show introduces us to the Raheja family and their coterie of close friends and family members. Heir apparent Ritik Raheja and the pile on parivaar travel to their family mansion in spookytown Panchner for his engagement to Tanvi. However unknown to him, his family has buried many dark secrets there, more murderous than they can handle. Cut to twenty years ago, when Ritik's dubious Daddy Ankush and his buddies killed the Naag couple guarding the Shiv temple. Yes they marry like humans, and make ichadhaari babies as well. Wonder if the baby is born a snake or human. Never mind. Unfortunately for them, Mommy Naagin takes a quick picture of her killers with her photographic eyes and the couple's baby Naagin Shivanya sees this image of her parent's killers. 20 years of penance and a size too small blouse later, Shivanya has returned to get even. Joining her are a shrieking snake charmer mentor and a member of the Naagin sisterhood in Sridevi's clothes. The current track of the show sees her replacing Tanvi to marry Ritik but worrying that the moonlight might turn her skin to its snake form. Will she succeed in taking revenge or will human emotions and a potential love story get in her way?
Characters: The show must be awarded for creating the most stilted one dimensional characters of recent times. Protagonist Ritik Raheja (Arjun Bijlani) is a rich businessman (yawn) who has to get married before he turn 25 to avoid a glitch in his horoscope. Otherwise engrossed with his phone and laptop, Ritik's heart warms instantly to snake woman Shivanya ( Mouni Roy) posing as a poor maid at his palace. His Father, Ankush Raheja (ManishKhanna) gets facials, pumps iron and manhandles his wife to seem scary. Mommy Yamini (Sudha Chandran) spends time with priests and astrologers trying to appease them into forgetting her husband's snake killing past. Arjun Bijlani tries in vain to make his character interesting, and while the man is easy on the eye there is very little he can work with. Sudha Chandran tries earnestly to breathe life into her role but her flashlight bindis are more interesting than her role. Manish Khanna father is suitably evil looking and has rather reptilian eyes but needs to be told that acting cool or scary is not acting. The saaging supporting cast includes drinks a lot sister, nerd cousin, and other folks who don't contribute in any way to taking the story forward. In the middle of this mess is another Naagin (Adaa Khan) who serves as a red herring in the first couple of episodes but it's not quite clear whom she has her fangs set on. There is no emotional connect with any of the main cast and 5 episodes into the show, one can't wait for the killing to start to save us from watching their expressionless faces.
Script and direction: If the poor performances let the show down, a large part of the blame must go to some apologetic writing. Clearly having the Naagin handbook by heart can't ensure a decent script. The screenplay relies a lot on CGI, in place of actual action and emotional journeys to take the story forward. Red flashing eyes mean anger, background score replaces fear or anxiety and ridiculous chit chat passes of as romance. The dialogues sound like a thesaurus of Hindi words on revenge, religion and superstition. Especially charming are the insider jokes on how Naagins don't really exist and Ritik's dreams about snakes biting him. Very Freudian and deep.
The episodes are executed poorly as well, with shoddy camera work and direction from someone taking a nap. The humans are so comatose on this show that the fake snakes seem interesting, and have been executed quite well by the poor graphics team working overtime to scare us into caring about the fate of its characters.
It's a mystery why Ekta Kapoor chose such an oft told tale and created an entire show out it. It would have been refreshing to see a completely new take on the myth of shapeshifting women. That's the advantage of working with the fantasy genre. You can tell any story you want as long as the audience can connect to the character archetypes that emerge naturally from a well written tale. Slither away from this show if you can and just watch Anaconda instead if you really need a snake fix.
The fantasy fiction show is produced by Balaji Telefilms and is telecast as bi weekly torture, every Sat-Sun at 9 pm on Colours. Like its many of its predecessors in this genre have enlightened us, there exists such a creature as the Ichadhaari Naagin. One moment a snake, another a woman, or a man, this shape shifting terminator is the Uma Thurman of the reptilian world. Predictably we only encounter them when they are out to get revenge for the snakicide of a family member. Fassscintaing...
Plot: The show introduces us to the Raheja family and their coterie of close friends and family members. Heir apparent Ritik Raheja and the pile on parivaar travel to their family mansion in spookytown Panchner for his engagement to Tanvi. However unknown to him, his family has buried many dark secrets there, more murderous than they can handle. Cut to twenty years ago, when Ritik's dubious Daddy Ankush and his buddies killed the Naag couple guarding the Shiv temple. Yes they marry like humans, and make ichadhaari babies as well. Wonder if the baby is born a snake or human. Never mind. Unfortunately for them, Mommy Naagin takes a quick picture of her killers with her photographic eyes and the couple's baby Naagin Shivanya sees this image of her parent's killers. 20 years of penance and a size too small blouse later, Shivanya has returned to get even. Joining her are a shrieking snake charmer mentor and a member of the Naagin sisterhood in Sridevi's clothes. The current track of the show sees her replacing Tanvi to marry Ritik but worrying that the moonlight might turn her skin to its snake form. Will she succeed in taking revenge or will human emotions and a potential love story get in her way?
Characters: The show must be awarded for creating the most stilted one dimensional characters of recent times. Protagonist Ritik Raheja (Arjun Bijlani) is a rich businessman (yawn) who has to get married before he turn 25 to avoid a glitch in his horoscope. Otherwise engrossed with his phone and laptop, Ritik's heart warms instantly to snake woman Shivanya ( Mouni Roy) posing as a poor maid at his palace. His Father, Ankush Raheja (ManishKhanna) gets facials, pumps iron and manhandles his wife to seem scary. Mommy Yamini (Sudha Chandran) spends time with priests and astrologers trying to appease them into forgetting her husband's snake killing past. Arjun Bijlani tries in vain to make his character interesting, and while the man is easy on the eye there is very little he can work with. Sudha Chandran tries earnestly to breathe life into her role but her flashlight bindis are more interesting than her role. Manish Khanna father is suitably evil looking and has rather reptilian eyes but needs to be told that acting cool or scary is not acting. The saaging supporting cast includes drinks a lot sister, nerd cousin, and other folks who don't contribute in any way to taking the story forward. In the middle of this mess is another Naagin (Adaa Khan) who serves as a red herring in the first couple of episodes but it's not quite clear whom she has her fangs set on. There is no emotional connect with any of the main cast and 5 episodes into the show, one can't wait for the killing to start to save us from watching their expressionless faces.
Script and direction: If the poor performances let the show down, a large part of the blame must go to some apologetic writing. Clearly having the Naagin handbook by heart can't ensure a decent script. The screenplay relies a lot on CGI, in place of actual action and emotional journeys to take the story forward. Red flashing eyes mean anger, background score replaces fear or anxiety and ridiculous chit chat passes of as romance. The dialogues sound like a thesaurus of Hindi words on revenge, religion and superstition. Especially charming are the insider jokes on how Naagins don't really exist and Ritik's dreams about snakes biting him. Very Freudian and deep.
The episodes are executed poorly as well, with shoddy camera work and direction from someone taking a nap. The humans are so comatose on this show that the fake snakes seem interesting, and have been executed quite well by the poor graphics team working overtime to scare us into caring about the fate of its characters.
It's a mystery why Ekta Kapoor chose such an oft told tale and created an entire show out it. It would have been refreshing to see a completely new take on the myth of shapeshifting women. That's the advantage of working with the fantasy genre. You can tell any story you want as long as the audience can connect to the character archetypes that emerge naturally from a well written tale. Slither away from this show if you can and just watch Anaconda instead if you really need a snake fix.
Saraswati Datar,TNN | Dec 4, 2015, 12.34 PM IST | TV Series Review
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