Fine moments: Kuchh Is Tara-Review

The soap's heroine Kanya, is a typical Balaji girl-next-door who has been asked by her employer to double up as one Miss Shanaya and humour a richie rich boy Ayaan Nanda, who's visiting the hotel she's employed in. However, in the game of playing parts, Ayaan falls in love with Kanya masquerading as Shanaya. To make matters worse for the lovesick dumbette, pops in Aakashdeep Saihgal aka Ranbir Nanda, Ayaan's philosopher, mentor and uncle who appears single and just can't stand Kanya for even a glance.

Bad news first - the lead pair just can't act with the nervy, squeamish, sissy boy Ayaan looking anything but a business tycoon (he should revert straight to play school or his mother's lap), while Saihgal hams big time. But the good news, which far outweighs the bad leads, is that the show has a fabulous ensemble cast - one of the best coming from Balaji in a long time with well written parts helmed by proven veterans like Rajendra Gupta, Jayati Bhatia and Usha Nadkarni.

But the soap's top draw undoubtedly is Kanya's elder sister Pooja played by a confident and very much in character Tarana Raja, who as a trainee executive producer working in Balaji Telefilms simply rocks. Giving credit where it's due, Tarana as Pooja Godbole steals the show courtesy Ekta's ability to laugh at herself and her creations (read the K-soaps, its characters and generation jump formulas) - with liberal digs on the sloppy plot lines of soaps at large. Breaking the K-series' monotony of fighter bahus and scheming women, Kuchh Is Tara stands apart for its genuine and simple laugh moments.

And we don't bother what it will eventually evolve into and play along with the unfolding narrative; even its laughable leads would appear tolerable… Perhaps the so apparently miscast pair was actually penciled in to evoke some extra mirth after all!