PremiumSweet Kaaram Coffee Review: Lakshmi, Madhoo and Santhy's road trip is a formulaic fare with some formidable performances
This series helmed by Bejoy Nambiar, Swathi Raghuraaman and Krishna Marimuthu takes the tried-and-tested route, but is entertaining nevertheless
A poster of Sweet Kaaram Coffee
Last Updated: 10.35 AM, Jul 06, 2023
Story: Three women of different generations living under the same roof decide to go on an impromptu journey. Will the journey change their life?
Review: Women going on soul-searching trips and returning home as a brand new person is a trope that we have seen dime a dozen. However, the twist in creator Resha Ghatala's Sweet Kaaram Coffee is that here, the women are members of the same family that belong to three different generations. The series helmed by Bejoy Nambiar, Swathi Raghuraaman and Krishna Marimuthu, is backed by a power-packed cast who do not disappoint.
The plot revolves around the matriarch of the family Sundari (Lakshmi), her daughter-in-law Kaveri (Madhoo) and granddaughter Nivi (Santhy Balachandran), who have all reached a tipping point in their life. While Sundari is exasperated of living in a shell, thanks to her overprotective son Rajaratnam, Kaveri is dejected after she finds herself to be relegated as a glorified maid in the family. Nivi is torn between making the huge decision of choosing between her boyfriend Karthik and her passion, cricket. They are all at a tipping point in their lives, when they devise an impromptu plan to escape from their mundane and overbearing life.
The way the three women come up with their own set of rules and chalk out the plan is exciting. The journey, too, begins on a light note as they finally take a breath of fresh air, without being cowed down by the responsibilities. As expected the road trip is laced with misadventures, which turn out to be life lessons for each one of them. The friends they make during the trip play a huge role in chiselling their personalities and help them outgrow their previous versions.
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Sweet Kaaram Coffee though starts off on a fun note, soon becomes a tried-and-tested fare. The episodes of the eight-part-series, get needlessly stretched as the series progresses, and do not have anything refreshingly new to offer. For instance, the wedding between Robert (Alexx O'Nell) and Julia (Ayesha Kapur) becomes a long-drawn offer that begins to test our patience after a while. A few other episodes, especially the flashbacks, could have done with some trimming to make them more engaging. The twist in Sundari's tale is an interesting one, but that, too, soon loses steam after a while.
Lakshmi is yet again seen as a free-spirited grandmother, something we have already seen in films like Jeans and Oh! Baby and the role is right up her sleeve. Madhoo, on the other hand, is apt as a person who puts her family's needs ahead of her interests and happiness, a sort of extension of her roles in Vaayai Moodi Pesavum. Santhy, whom we have seen in strong characters in Jallikattu and Gulmohar, is impressive as a character who has to choose between the two most important things in her life. The supporting star cast, too, have come up with some gripping performances.
The music of the series deserves a mention as Govind Vasantha uses different instruments to represent the characters of Sundari, Kaveri and Santhy and how they represent the idea of opposites but make for an ideal combination like Sweet Kaaram Coffee.
Considering the series had some big names in his kitty in almost all departments, Sweet Kaaram Coffee could have been a much more engaging affair, only if the plot had been more well etched. The predictability and stretched scenes relegate it to a one-time watch.
Verdict: With some big names to its credit, Sweet Kaaram Coffee could have been a thoroughly entertaining fare, but the series is marred by many predictable moments, thus relegating it to a one-time watch.