Aar Ya Paar Review: Aditya Rawal tries hard but the show goes neither Aar nor Paar

1.5/5

Aar Ya Paar, the latest show on Disney+ Hotstar, introduces us to two universes. One is the Degohati tribe, who although they may not use words the way we do, express a language of unity, love, and compassion. Despite the fact that they reside in a forest, their lives are free of the evils that have destroyed the rest of the world. On the other hand, there is the metropolitan environment, where individuals can fulfil all of their wants but are constantly on the lookout for more. a society where the threats of disease and hunger are outweighed by those of greed, power, and politics. Creator Sidharth Sengupta compares the two in Aar Ya Paar and illustrates what happens when their paths cross.

In the pilot, Sarju (Aditya Rawal) is introduced as a contract killer with a skill for archery that he has mastered for the somewhat nefarious goal of killing people. However, Sarju is not the story's antagonist. The seemingly ordinary-looking, sharp-dressed man is actually a member of a protected tribe from a deep-rooted forest that has been preyed upon by strong men with weapons. As a well-connected businessman who wants to take over the tribal people's forest after discovering that its rocks contain uranium, Ashish Vidyarthi plays the role. He attempts all the egregious methods from the Book of Unethical Practices without regard for the repercussions or the legal ramifications in order to accomplish this.

A side story involves a man (Dibyendu Bhattacharya) who owns a contract killing business and is searching for a new assassin to assist his business. He has verbal diarrhoea and spews insults and curse words constantly. It just so happens that Sarju is in the right place at the right moment. Sarju's backstory and metamorphosis are painfully slowly established in the first two episodes.

The writing is not flawed here, though. The handling of its individuals who live in these worlds seems understudied, despite the fact that the two polar universes are sufficiently separate from one another. Let's start with Sumeet Vyas since his voiceover introduces this story. Vyas is experienced in the world of online series. He has performed in a number of shows and has previously played quiet characters. But his most recent role as a Special Crimes Unit investigating officer is an intriguing avatar that seems most suited for the actor's fierce gaze and angular appearance. But sadly, his character doesn't have much depth.

The same is applicable with Patralekhaa, who plays the role of a nurse and a social activist. The writers don't allow the cast enough room to breathe despite having such a strong and promising ensemble. In the upcoming season, hopefully, their character arcs will progress further. But Rawal succeeds in proving his point. Given the history of his father, Paresh Rawal, the actor unquestionably has big shoes to fill. However, Aar Ya Paar offers him the room to simply himself. When his character Sarju is forced to fend for himself in a strange environment, his inherent instincts assist him in doing so. As for Ashish Vidyarthi, he plays the devil's hat as best he can. 

Sengupta's main point is that human greed may infiltrate any situation. Sarju is engaged in a conflict with a corrupt political apparatus in addition to the assassins of his tribe. He follows the path of revenge in an effort to avenge the evil done to his tribe, but he ultimately falls victim to the cycle of violence.

With Aar Ya Paar, the filmmakers hit close to home and portray life as honestly as they can. However, it falls flat and lacks the excitement and action that were promised. While the plot does occasionally become interesting or even entertaining, it is forgettable when it isn't attempting to be, which occurs rather frequently during the seven episodes that make up the story.