Did you ever see Ghost World, that quirky comedy from Terry Zwigoff starring Scarlett Johansson that came out in 2001? It’s funny and sad and clever, and at the start features a few minutes of a dance sequence from the 1965 Bollywood musical Gumnaam. And that is about all I know of Indian cinema. Oh sure, I’ve seen clips on YouTube of crazy action sequences and snippets of “most beautiful” Indian actresses that splash social media every once in awhile, but that’s basically it. Ghost World. Indian movies. Reference filed.
Then, a couple weeks ago, I was having a conversation with an Indian friend who told me I should check out this show Made in Heaven, and because I owed her one, since she refused to watch La La Land until a practically forced her to, I did. And you know what, it’s funny and sad and clever and at the start … no. No Bollywood.
Okay, it’s also not Indian cinema. It’s a show on Amazon Prime. But still, it’s an Indian production. That counts. Right? Maybe not. But either way, the show is nine episodes and centers on two main characters, Karan (Arjun Mathur) and Tara (Sobhita Dhulipala), business partners in a new wedding planning ventured called, you guessed it, Made in Heaven. It caters mostly to the affluent and is in a competitive field, but they are gaining a foothold quickly. Tara is from a lower class but has worked her way up and is now married to a well-known venture capitalist named Adil (Jim Sarbh), a powerful and wealthy man whom she hopes to have a baby with. Karan is gay and enjoys the nightlife, meeting men and casual relationships.
Tara and Karan are very good together, smart and innovative, building a small but productive team that helps further establish the new company’s standing. But not all is well under the sheen of glamorous weddings and as the episodes unfold, we learn that what appears to be magic is only an illusion. Love is not what it seems and secret sex has its consequences.
I won’t spoil any of it, but will rather get into the writing and acting, in hopes of further enticing you to watch. Created by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, the show is very well balanced, combining compelling drama with many genuine moments of humor that feel authentic. This runs parallel with a story that peels away layer after layer after layer in a complex storyline that keeps you thinking one thing until it isn’t that at all. That’s the fun part of Made in Heaven, if fun is the right word, that you believe you have a character figured out before the plot spins something about to make you redefine what you know.
Each episode uses a new wedding (or weddings) as backdrop to the continuing story. This begins each show as we get introduces to the B plot of each new chapter, which involve everything from celebrities to politics to family disputes and more (much more). Tara and Karan are stuck in the middle of each and must try and solve the dilemma while dealing with some very real problems of their own that often reflect the themes of the weddings. What I liked best about these weddings was how well I was introduced and invited in a way to the culture of India, which was surprising because I was sure the show would be mostly contrived drama and lots and lots and lots of large-scale musical numbers. It’s not. Not at all.
Instead, it’s often an intense drama that tackles some serious issues, the entire series eventually serving as a battleground for gay rights, which it takes seriously and convincingly thanks mostly to the grounded performance of Mathur. But it’s not just that, Tara’s thread is no less impactful, the writers deftly chipping away at the luster her character initially brings to the show. Dhulipala is a statuesque beauty, something the series plays into quite well, making Tara’s evolution all the more pronounced. Rarely does a show make you want so much for something to “be” how you expect and then play with that expectation to an end that doesn’t necessarily go where most would want. The relationships of these people feel real.
That said, the show does have some limitations, I think mostly because the core audience is looking for some escapism in the drama and the themes the show puts on its shoulders isn’t always carried to the heights (or drops) it should. That’s most obvious in a thread involving a car accident, one that does have some intense consequences but is fairly glossed over for the sake of a confrontation rather than the emotional crossroads it truly could have had. I found that a little disappointing, not only with how the characters centered in that dilemma could have grown in different directions, but with how quickly it was sort of forgotten, even though that’s not really the right word. Either way, it’s a minor hiccup in a show that consistently finds the right beats and more so, the right dialogue. And that’s really key because so many shows sacrifice a quality script in favor of visual flair. Made in Heaven has some very poignant moments that work entirely because the characters are saying words that matter. The bonus is that show does feature some truly beautiful visuals. The weddings are amazing.
And now, thoughts on Kabir (Shashank Arora), the company’s videographer, who spends most of each episode with a camera in his hand filming the going’s on and interviewing wedding party members a lá When Harry Met Sally. I liked him best I think, his relaxed observation of the turbulence around him summed up nicely in a few episodes when he narrates his thoughts on the progress. One in particular about the women in his country was really touching. If anything, Kabir is why you watch Made in Heaven. He is the eyes that sees it all in the right way.
Made in Heaven is a pleasant surprise, and while it might not have the gunfights and explosions, car chases and super heroism that saturates far too much entertainment these days, it does have tremendous heart and a commitment to its final frames. Give it a look.