Posted:
I am well aware that Hindi soaps and cliches go hand in hand.
And Rang Rasiya is no different. The plot, at its core, is one that we've all seen a million times. The character archetypes too.
So far, it's been a fun ride. Despite the hype, I honestly hadn't been expecting the moon. And a solid reason behind my tagging along so dedicatedly are some of the fun forum posts. Sure Ashish Sharma is hot, and makes a good Rudra. Yes, I've always been a fan of Sanaya Irani's. The supporting cast has been doing a good job too. But thus far, I hadn't subscribed very seriously to the show-- I'm afraid I hadn't been able to take it as seriously as the makers mean it to be taken.
Today, I took the episode every bit as seriously as anyone else.
The episode continued to live up to the show's OTT style. They do like taking the jackhammer approach where emotion is concerned. I really wasn't laughing today, however.
For the first time, I genuinely empathized with the characters. ALL of them. Paro, Rudra, even Vikram Singh's mother. And I can only put it down to how terrifically well the episode came together today. Rudra was absolutely brilliant. The fleeting changes in expression and that complex play of anger, hostility, vulnerability, grief, confusion, regret-- it was done super well.
And Paro really came into her own today. The despair, desolation, bewilderment, shock, mourning, agony, fear-- I could see it all. From a pretty bride with no opinion on anything except kachchi imli and embroidery, that is some serious progress in the matter of a couple of episodes. And dare I say it? I see the beginnings of her own brand of steel. The kind of agony and despair Paro is going through and is going to continue facing for a while-- no one comes out unscathed. And in her own quiet way, I'm hoping to see Paro tempered and emerging stronger for herself and for Rudra.
I didn't even giggle at the one-way mirror scene as I would probably have done normally. Paro and Rudra looked fabulous together and it was beautifully shot.
Overall, in terms of direction, acting, judicious use of background music, cinematography-- I feel this has been Rangrasiya's best yet.
I know it is foolish to hope for this sort of excellence everyday, but they've REALLY set the benchmark with this episode. Here's hoping to at least weekly or fortnightly episodes of this quality. I'll swallow all the bad CGI animals, inept border security, slow-motion action overdose, and screechy versions of Vande Mataram that the makers throw at us, in return.
P.S. The only incongruent bit was Sadia Siddique today. Her reaction was more 'Paro broke her leg while crossing over' and less 'Paro's baarat was brutally massacred, her new groom shot in the head, and Paro abducted and her fate uncertain.'
*India Forums, your refusal to support accents on letters is very annoying.
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