#Review: STOP watching all OTT shows, & put 'Silsila Badalte..' on your MUST-WATCH list

The perfect marriage of content and commercialization..

Published: Sunday,Jun 10, 2018 09:21 AM GMT-06:00

Kunal Nirmal Kothari

After cutting it absolutely fine with time and working at a really brisk pace, Colors' Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka went on-air last week, after generating a little less, but good hype overall.

Lot of things seemed positive from the get-go considering the fact that it is an alluring multi-starrer, Shakti Arora's comeback to TV, yet another Drashti Dhami special and a novel concept. So, one week later, here's what I think about the show, as I review it.

What's It About

Things are absolutely perfect for the in-love husband and wife duo, Kunal (Shakti Arora) and Mauli (Aditi Sharma), as they are what we can term to be the poster-guys for ideal couple. Both doctors by profession, Kunal is a child-specialist and an extremely righteous man who hates it when hospitals fool people into obtaining more money. And this is exactly why he decides to quit his job and begin his own clinic, which of course is a task. Supporting him at every step and decision in his life is his wife Mauli, who is a far superior and thus busier doctor than husband Kunal, but that doesn't come across as a concern for the couple in any manner. They love each other and constantly challenge the norms of the society in their own way.

On the other hand, we have Nandini (Drashti Dhami) and Rajdeep (Abhinav Shukla) who are the absolute opposite of the former couple. Rajdeep is as pathetic, vicious, cunning and dismal as a human being can be. He treats his wife as an animal he controls with his leash and the wife isn't allowed to do anything as opposed to her husband's will. Nandini is tired, bugged but gets a ray of small hope when she gets flickers as to how her best friend Mauli is back in her life, but every attempt of hers to get in touch with her goes in vain.

Amidst all the sequences, it is the friendship between two girls that binds the plot of the show, where Mauli and Nandini were the best of friends, and circumstances (which includes Rajdeep) led to them not being in contact with each other anymore.

But, that can change again, as Mauli and Nandini cross paths again and again, only a few moments away from meeting each other. Their meeting, the unwanted reunion of Rajdeep and Mauli, and the soon-to-be building bond of Kunal and Nandini will constitute the entangled lives of this quartet ahead.

The Good

When was the last time you saw a quintessential daily soap highlighting all the societal issues and even crimes set in a saga about multiple couples? The last fading memory of that can by Maryada - Lekin Kab Tak?, but it was gritty and serious overall. Almost all the mega issues in the lives of urban couples is highlighted in the show with such an ease you will find it hard to believe. From infidelity to challenging patriarchy, from the hardships of women trying a work-life balance to martial rape, everything is shown in such perfection, you are forced to change your notion about daily soaps.

The writing and direction of Silsila deserves a special mention here, where the dialogues, the screenplay and the execution of the scenes is spot-on. Be it the relatively raunchy love-making scene between Kunal and Mauli in the beginning or Mauli's confrontation with Nilesh talking about urban couples and their problems, there is not a single moment of hindrance to watching this on primetime TV. This is a certain step above in TV trends folks.

The chemistry between Shakti Arora and Aditi Sharma is so good that one can take lessons on how to portray on-screen romance effortlessly. Mind you! Both these individuals are married in their real lives with different partners, and it is their sheer acting prowess that leads exhibiting on-screen brilliance.

The Performances

Okay, I am one of those people who never saw Shakti Arora previously in his acting assignments ever. So, this was a first for me. And without any expectation or hope owing to have not seen his previous show, I was thoroughly impressed by him in this one. He is a good actor, but even more than that, he has a commanding presence on-screen as Kunal. Be it any emotion, Shakti aces in every department and the fans of the actor need to feel proud that upon his comeback, he has gotten better.

Drashti Dhami is no stranger to having perfected characters throughout her career. And this is yet another feather to the actress' already illustrious cap. Her expressions are so amazing, that during every scene where she is showing her plight to when she is happy-sad clapping on Mauli received the award, Drashti is truly amazing. We also get a sneak-peek into the dynamic and chirpy Drashti we know, when she plays Nandini in thr flashback.

Shakti and Drashti may be the popular ones and they do complete justice to the same too. But, for me, Aditi Sharma takes the cake of being the best performer in the cast with complete ease. There is a sense of effortlessness to her on-screen and not one moment does anything look pretentious ever. Her portrayal of Mauli will probably go unnoticed by many, but it needs special applause.

Abhinav Shukla as Rajdeep is the dark horse in terms of popularity and portfolio as compared to other actors, but he excels his character with complete conviction. There will certainly be moments, where you may get petrified of Rajdeep and that is because of Abhinav's execution of the character. His ruthlessness and Abhinav's baritone voice elevates Rajdeep as the bad man.

The Not-So-Good

In a show, where every aspect looks pitch perfect, there is just one hunch that you get as a viewer, and that is the extreme treatment to both good and bad. There are moments when the perfect life of Kunal snd Mauli seems too picture perfect, and there are moments when the pathetic life of Rajdeep and Nandini seems too excruciating and you may think, 'just why is she suffering even now?'

The Verdict

You may never find such an amazing balance of content and commercialization anytime soon, where the dash of realism to the treatment to the show is truly the winner. So, stop watching your OTT shows and get hooked on to Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka as soon as possible.

Just like every time, I fear that the show will succumb to the demand of ratings, as people, as much as they complain, love watching sick and OTT drama in daily soaps. But, hoping that doesn't happen, if it happens, put Silsila.. on your watching list till the best times last.

Rating - ****1/2 (4.5/5)

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Abhinav Shukla

Drashti Dhami

Aditi Sharma

Shakti Arora

Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka-Season 2

Colors

Comments (223)

drashtidhamiqqq @drashtidhamiqqq

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Drashti Dhami Only Drashti the best and Cute Drashti Dhami
Queen #Drashti_Dhami The best #Nandini and #kunal the best and Cute

5 years ago

kuldeepprakash @kuldeepprakash

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Drashti Dhami, all my best wishes are with you dear... wishing the show does well.

5 years ago

1 Reply

Raudatuljanah @Raudatuljanah

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Drashti Dhami killing us in Nandini character

5 years ago

1 Reply

KuNan @KuNan

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WHOLE TEAM IS DOING SUPER JOB
SILSILA BADALTE RISHTON KA LOVING IT
You are a real angel Drashti Dhami...U R AMAZING AS NANDINI

5 years ago

1 Reply

RM14 @RM14

+ 5 ⋮

Superb show and super cast ..great job done by all ..esp Drashti and Abhinav outshines and Drashti as Nandini is just amazing..her expressions ..her voice modulation..portrayal of shy ..meek ..Nandini ..really applaudable.

must watch show ..it shows complexities in realtaionships..and a awesome effort by team.
as evil Rajdeep Abhinav excels yes..

5 years ago

1 Reply