By Troy RibeiroSeries: ‘Ranjish Hi Sahi’ (Streaming on Voot Select)
Duration: Average 36 minutes per episode
Director: Pushpraj Bhardwaj
Cast: Tahir Raj Bhasin, Amala Paul, Amrita Puri, Zarina Wahab, Paras Priyadarshan, Naina Sareen, Madan Deodhar, Saurabh Sachdeva
IANS Rating: ***
Though it is not blatantly spelt out, ‘Ranjish Hi Sahi’ which means, ‘out of resentment’, is a fictionalised, biopic slice of director Mahesh Bhatt’s life which details his relationship with late actress Parveen Babi.
With a timespan ranging from 1959 to 2005, this eight-episode series is narrated in a non-linear manner, through the maverick film director Shankar Vats’ point of view.
It starts on a literally and figuratively hazy note.
The 28-minute pilot episode begins in 1976 in Pune with Shankar Vats walking out of Ajnadham Dharamshala.
Later in conversation with actor Vinod Kumar in his car, we are given an insight into Shankar Vats’ obstinate personality.
Vinod cajoles Shankar to return to the ashram but is soon physically thrown out from there.
After some reflection, Shankar returns to Bombay, and soon the episode sketchily encapsulates what you will see in the series.
Thus, the series boasts many repetitive scenes, but these scenes do not bog down the viewing experience.
Through the episodes, we learn how Shankar after delivering three flops in succession, is struggling to keep his family afloat while trying to raise funds for his fourth film.We also get to know how he met ace actress Amna Parvez and developed a bond with her, Amna’s ruined relationship with actor Zubair, her mood swings, and her interaction with Shankar’s wife Anju.
Practically everyone knows about Mahesh Bhatt’s association with Parveen Babi, and thus it is the curiosity factor of how things panned out between them that would hold the viewer’s interest, and the series offers this in ample measure.Also, there are scenes in the series which you can associate with Mahesh Bhatt’s films, especially ‘Zakhm’.
The character of the “Watch Man – who repairs watches” is metaphorically and artfully used to depict conscience.
The series is mounted skillfully with ace production values.
The era is brilliantly captured, with kids playing with marbles, the bioscopewalla (the travelling hand-cranked cinema) on the cycle, dated advertisements in the interior of the buses, costumes, period telephones, typewriters, and locks.Also, the music transports you to the time.
The songs, ‘O Berehem Zindagi’, ‘Tham Sa Gaya’, and the Sufi number in the eighth episode, along with the background score, are situationally effective.
Consider it as the perfect casting or good acting, Tahir Raj Bhasin in a hideous wig – slips into the shoes of the self-deprecating Shankar Vats with ease.
He nails his character to the tee, playing the kind, considerate and honourable husband, friend, father, and son with kind fervour and abject honesty.
Amala Paul plays Amna Parvez with equal passion and conviction.
So does Paras Priyadarshan as Shankar’s brother Ganesh, Amrita Puri as Anju, Zarina Wahab as Shankar’s mother Zubair, Naina Sareen as Amna’s aide Mary, Madan Deodhar as Amna’s driver Adbul, and Saurabh Sachdeva as the industry mogul Jagmohan Seth.They all shine in their roles effortlessly.
Rajat Kaul as Zubair depicting Kabir Bedi is perfunctory in his histrionics and demeanour.
Overall, this series may appeal only to Hindi film fans who know Mahesh Bhatt and Parveen Babi’s history.troy/kr
Although it’s not obvious, “Ranjish Hi Sahi”, which literally means “out of resentment”, is a biopic of Mahesh Bhhatt’s personal life.It details his relationship to Parveen Babi, the late actress. This eight-part series spans 1959 through 2005.It is told in an unlinear fashion, from Shankar Vats, a maverick filmmaker.
The film begins on both a literal and metaphorically hazy note.
In the 28 minute pilot episode, Shankar Vats walks out of Ajnadham Dharamshala in Pune.
In a conversation later with Vinod Kumar, we get a glimpse into Shankar Vats’ stubborn personality.
Vinod urges Shankar to go back to the Ashram, but he is soon taken away.
The episode sketches out what Shankar will be seeing in the next episodes.After much reflection Shankar goes back to Bombay.
The series has many repeat scenes but they don’t slow down the viewer experience.We see how Shankar, after three failed films, struggles to support his family while also trying to fund his fourth movie.
He also shares how he met Amna Parvez, an ace actress, and formed a close relationship.We also learn about Amna’s broken marriage with Zubair and their mood swings.
Most people know about Mahesh Babit’s relationship with Parveenbabi.The series provides a lot of this curiosity.There are also scenes that you can link to Mahesh Bhatt’s movies, particularly ‘Zakhm.
Metaphorically, the character “Watch Man” – who fixes watches – is used to portray conscience.
This series has great production values and is beautifully mounted.It captures the era with children playing with marbles and the bioscopewalla, which is a traveling hand-cranked cinema.
There are also dated ads in the bus interiors as well as period costumes and telephones.The music takes you back in time.Situationally, the songs ‘O Berehem Zindagi,’ ‘Tham Sa Gaya,’ and the Sufi number at the eighth episode are all very effective.
It’s the ideal casting, or great acting.Tahir Raj Bhasin wears a horrible wig and easily slips into Shankar Vats’ shoes.With kind passion and abject honesty, he plays the role of the loving, kind and honorable father, husband, friend and father.
Amala plays Amna with the same passion and conviction as Amala.Paras Priyadarshan plays Shankar’s brother Ganesh.Amrita Puri portrays Anju.Zarina Wahab portrays Shankar’s mother Zubair.Naina Sareen portrays Amna’s assistant Mary.Madan Deodhar is Amna’s driver Adbul.
Saurabh Sachdeva plays the industry mogul Jagmohan Singh Seth.All of them shine effortlessly in their respective roles.
Rajat Kaul portraying Kabir Bedi as Zubair is apathetic in his demeanour and his histrionics.
This series is not for Hindi movie fans who are familiar with the history of Parveen Babi and Mahesh Bhatti.
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