PremiumMade in Heaven 2 review: Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti skillfully balance depth and grandeur with minor hiccups
In the seven-episode series starring Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur, four episodes make the series what it is known for.
Last Updated: 12.12 AM, Aug 10, 2023
In the second season of Made in Heaven, wedding planners Tara Khanna (Sobhita Dhulipala) and Karan Mehra (Arjun Mathur) are forced to adapt to a new status quo that is less comfortable for them as a result of financial difficulties, a diminished customer list, and the use of a deteriorating home as an office. Even if it has an effect on their personal lives as well, they continue to plan weddings that are like something out of a fairy tale. But underneath all of the flash and splendour of Delhi weddings, there are prejudices that are just as entrenched as their traditions.
The first season of Made in Heaven had episode titles that were mostly wedding terms, such as "A marriage of convenience," "Something old, something new, and "Pride and Bridezilla," to name a few. However, after four years, the show has come back with hope, just like in fairy tales. So why not have the titles also be related to the fairy tales? The second season begins with "Mirror Mirror on the Wall," and the premise of the episode is also similar to that of Snow White.
This time the weddings are indeed a conclusion to the fairy tales after a prickly start, bringing in the reality that you only get the taste of heaven, not the whole meal.
Although we waited for four years and more, the story was continued after six months in the series. It gets established in no time that their finances are depleting and the posh office is no longer in existence. In case you forgot, in the premiere season finale, their office was vandalised. However, we also get to know that the personal lives of the wedding planners, Tara (Sobhita Dhulipala) and Karan (Arjun Mathur), are as messy as they ended.
Tara is having her divorce proceedings with Adil (Jim Sarbh), and Karan, who has only loved one person in his life, that is, Nawab (Vikrant Massey), continues with his tryst of hook-ups and is also taking loans from everyone except banks.
Though the series retains its essence, it faces the challenge of meeting heightened expectations. Despite some balance issues and a slightly diminished intensity, the second season remains compelling. New characters are introduced to enhance inclusivity, but the charm slightly falters, possibly due to lofty expectations. Nevertheless, once started, the series captivates, offering eight hours of engrossing content.
This time around, the reality check the weddings give continues about what women face just to get through their dreamy special day while making everything obnoxious. From racism to working after marriage, casteism, ageism, and polygamy, there's no stopping this groundbreaking reality.
One of the major takeaways has been the stupendous performance by Mona Singh and the storyline given to her. Her character, Bulbul Jauhari, as the wife of Vijay Raaz and also the auditor of Made in Heaven, is shown as the only politically correct person throughout the series, and the arc given to her works incredibly well. There's a scene where she covers herself in a towel and sees her bruised back, hinting at the domestic abuse she has gone through in her marriage. There's suspense, but it also gives away the dark past she has, which has made her the person she is: stronger and no-nonsense. Hers is the character that stayed with me, something that Tara and Karan did for me in the first season.
The first episode sets up the pace beautifully, and the addition of Sabyasachi creations is just palpable to watch. Over the years, we have seen brides obsess over the Sabyasachi trousseau due to Bollywood. Showing a glimpse into it kicks off things in an ethereal way.
However, just like that, the obsession over fair skin also takes over the episode, and to shatter the ceiling, Nitya Mehra takes a softer beat, only for the series to get darker in the second episode itself.
The second episode is majorly triggering and gut-wrenching by addressing the topic of domestic violence. Gut-wrenching, why? Because of the conclusion it gets to. However, the weddings in the next two episodes just don't hit the mark, and I had the same reaction as Jazz (Shivani Raghuvanshi), "Yeh Made in Heaven hai?"
Then comes the Radhika Apte episode, which from the get-go screams direction by Neeraj Ghaywan. In this one, a Dalit Buddhist bride's decision to break the traditional notions of her fiance's family is heartbreaking as well as empowering. Halfway through the series, the episode brings much-needed depth and leads the way to the next episode, which is one of my personal favourites, "Warrior Princesses."
Out of seven, four episodes make the series what it is known for. However, this time, the voiceover by Kabir (Shashank Arora) becomes slightly insufferable due to the character development given to him. Just for the sake of making Jazz and him a part of the story, being the OG cast, the duo is stuck in a loop and stays there throughout.
Coming to the shoulders of the show, Tara and Karan, their obstacles don't seem to be surmountable, but watching them be fine with committing mistakes owing to the people they are is a treat. Tara's testing times, including her charming new love interest, Ishwak Singh, and her resilient approach to a divorce battle, beautifully showcase the depth of her character's duality. This is the Sobhita that has been anticipated, and only Made in Heaven can bring out the amazing performer that she is.
Karan's arc continues to be him dealing with problems and also getting seeped into them like quicksand. This time, the actor bares it all and brings on the darker side of his character, which seems like a cakewalk. However, there comes a point in time where it's exhausting to watch him being so escapist from his problems. But then it reminded me of Vijay Varma's dialogue in Gully Boy, "Aasaan kiske liye hai?"
But my major gripe with the series is that it creates a distance between Tara and Karan midway through. Although they lead their individual paths, the highlight and also the most beautiful part of the show is how their lives are intertwined and how they are never resistant to each other. That was lacking this time!
Talking about the other two major characters, Adil (Jim Sarbh) and Faiza (Kalki Koechlin), I wished to see more from them apart from the constant bickering they have been put into. The twists and the conversations, which also include Tara, remind me mostly of daily soap, and it takes away the "love to hate" charm that all the characters created from the beginning of the show.
The pressure is high for Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, and the benchmark is not easy to surpass. Whatever they did, it has worked, but their best has become better this time, not the other way around.
Despite a slight dip in intensity and balance, Made in Heaven 2 remains compelling, addressing powerful issues like domestic violence and casteism. Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti have continued to push boundaries, maintaining their essence while introducing nuanced themes.