On that note, let us begin. Apt beginning to a thriller. So beginning with the car ride to Maya's mud bath.
Maya, a rather unique character, with a unique car number plate - 444. Well from what I have heard and read 444 has multiple meanings - spiritual awakening, support from gods on your new journey, journey on the right path, harmony with the universe, strong intuition, etc. etc. All in all, it means, ab Maya ka waqt shuru hone wala hai. What intrigued me is the location for her mud bath. It gave me the feel that here is where Maya's story had once ended, and it from here where her tale for revenge will begin. And the transition from Maya's muddy eyes to that of Ma Durga. Durga ke vidaai ke baad hi to Kali aati hai. Superb job 👏
Ok, so many people here had something to say about MJ's lone tear. Well as a Bengali, I would like to explain, that always happens when you bid Durga Ma goodbye. All Bengalis get rather emotional. And MJ being a Bengali, is self-explanatory. MJ's wife looks like the typical arm candy who does not have much say in the story or in their relationship because she failed to put her foot down when it was needed. Also, he needs to take it easy as the dad. He is just hyperventilating with Rishi almost drowning in the sea. Dude, what will happen, when you see him with Maya - seedha heart attack😲
Rishi, looks like the typical flirty and fun-loving character and too naive to handle someone like Maya. What I found incredulous was, how he caught one glimpse of Maya and told his dad "Aapki hone wali bahu". Really, sonny, I am amazed at your confidence thinking that Maya will say a yes to you. Well, carry on, that is enough for Maya to trap you in her mayajaal. And then the injection scene, I was saying, itna freak out kyun ho rahe ho yaaron, zinda hai abhi bhi, thankfully.
Rudra does not look too serious or too casual. He is a balance of both. He isn't too "angry young man". I was expecting him to be an egoist, which he isn't much. It is subtle and I like that. Not too much of anything. Rudra terms Maya as the "sanki chudail"😆, I like that. I mean, first applauds the way Maya fenced her way into Rudra's life. 2nd, he wasn't expecting to fence a woman, I guess he isn't used to seeing strong women - as there isn't any proper example in his home. The fencing scene is interesting because it shows that Rudra is reluctant to fight Maya, but when Maya starts attacking with full vigor, he does not have a choice but to defend himself. Rudra thinks it will be an easy win, but Maya proves to be a tough opponent. He too isn't ready to back down, just because Maya is a woman, but what is a sport to Rudra, is a real war for Maya and Rudra will have to bleed. But die, I guess not, because before that Maya just disappears, before he could act or say anything. And finally, the last conversation with his friend, when the girl said "Mere ilawa tere zindagi me kaun ayega" to which he jokingly added, "Aa to gayi hai, Maya Jaisingh". He has no idea, how he has to eat those words. Again the MJ scene with Rudra. Is MJ, Rudy boy's step daddy???. Lots of fire, mystery and no explanation.
The transition between the cake-cutting in Maya's home and MJ's home was beautifully done. Maya is all alone in her world and MJ is surrounded by people. Maya has already begun her moves with the boys, as shown in the flashes, which I was expecting. That too was good. Moving to MJ's party, the subtle clash of the moms with their sons. What stood out to me is MJ asking his mom to join for cake cutting and her prompt reply, "Aur tere saath zindagi nahi kategi beta" and Rudra's mom asking him that why does he leave her and go away, to which his prompt reply comes, "At least mujhme chodne ki himmat to hai".
Also, the bracelet scene is too predictable. I mean, just to support the mystery of the man on the portrait. Why CVs? And in the portrait, I don't know but it looks like Maya is hugging her Dad. Sorry, it does not look like a romantic hug at all people. It looks like a very fatherly hug. Could have tried to create a better portrait. Cutting back to Maya agonizing before her Lord Krishna - honestly, here I felt bad for her. I guess her situation is such that she cannot let go of her pain without causing pain to someone else.
So, at the end of Episode 1, I would say cracking start, with a sense of mystery, which keeps you asking for more. Maya does not come off as too villainous, she comes off as mysterious, which goes with her name Maya. Comes and goes, and nobody knows. Rishi, again, too naive, blissfully ignorant of the internal equations of his family, wandering into the unknown abyss of Maya-land. Hope his brother's akashvani isn't true, otherwise, we are in for a death which will bring in a major turning point to the story.
MJ is taking this "over-protective dad thing a little too seriously". Ab chod bhi do baccho ko yaar. Bade ho gaye hai dono. Ek to itna bada ho gaya hai ki bahu laane ki baat karta hai. I am waiting to see other shades, apart from being a helpless father and son. Rudra, again, is not too complex, has some issues with his family and will definitely have with Maya. But once Maya Jaisingh joins his publication, there will be a lot of fireworks, I believe. The three women of the Roy family - only questions - Why does MJ's mom have a sour equation with her son? Why does Diya live in that house and what is her relation with MJ? Why does Rudra's mom look so happy with MJ, when it is quite the opposite?
Too many questions, which future episodes will answer. I will now stop with the rambling. What are your thoughts on tonight's episode?
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