What Is the Story About?
Disney Plus Hotstar’s Aarya Season 3 picks up the story from where it left off at the end of Aarya Season 2. Aarya Sareen (Sushmita Sen) has finally mastered the tricks of the drugs trade, but faces attacks from multiple fronts – the Russians, Narcotics bureau chief Khan (Vikas Kumar), Nandini’s husband Sooraj (Indraneil Sengupta), new rival Nalini Sahiba (Ila Arun), and more. As the stakes get higher, her opponents get more vicious and blood-thirsty for vengeance.
Performances?
Sushmita Sen continues to be spectacular as Aarya Sareen. She owns the role, the screen and every frame she features in, radiating sauciness, swagger and sophistication in spades. She proves yet again that “once a diva, always a diva”.
Indraneil Sengupta is good as wronged husband Sooraj, out to get revenge. Vikas Kumar’s Khan is getting monotonous and repetitive, like a broken record. It’s not the actor’s fault, though, but totally due to the badly-written character, which hasn’t evolved beyond its one-note persona. Ditto with Vishwajeet Pradhan’s Sampat.
Ila Arun oozes power and personality in her short appearance. Wish we could see more Sikander Kher in the series, beyond the current blink-and-miss glimpses he gives in Aarya Season 3. The rest of the cast is decent, and delivers what is required.
Analysis
Aarya Season 3 is easily the most tense, taut and fast-paced of all three seasons. While the first two seasons suffered from an excruciatingly slow pace and erratic storytelling, Aarya Season 3 has managed to shake off all the flaws, emerging as a more compelling and gripping version of the previous seasons. The story moves ahead at blistering pace, throwing twists and turns every few minutes of runtime.
Even as events unfold at a fast clip on screen, the body count keeps pace with heart-thumping tautness. You watch the proceedings with your heart in the mouth, dreading the next killing in the narrative. The tension in the air is thick enough to be cut with a knife, while a sense of foreboding pervades the story.
The series is also bloodier and gorier this season, particularly the scenes involving the torture of a key character in the story. The plot goes round and round in circles, yet moves forward with alacrity. The writing is assured and audacious this season, keeping you invested in the characters and their shenanigans.
Overall, Aarya Season 3 is a well-made show, with excellent characterisations, production values and technical aspects. Unfortunately, Disney Plus Hotstar has done a disservice to the show and its fans by releasing only four episodes, leaving us hanging mid-season, with more questions than answers plaguing our psyche.
There’s no word on when Disney Plus Hotstar will release the remaining episodes of Aarya Season 3. It is hardly a good move to release a show as gripping as Aarya Season 3 in two parts. The taut momentum suspense and thrill set up by the first part will likely dissipate completely by the time Aarya Season 3 Part 2 comes around – a most foolhardy decision, if we may.
Music and Other Departments?
Vishal Khurana’s background score and music for Aarya Season 3 brilliantly complements the storytelling and character of the narrative. It isn’t too loud, but not a shrinking violet either. Kavya Sharma’s camerawork is good. Abhimanyu Chaudhary and Khushboo Raj’s editing is flawless.
Highlights?
Sushmita Sen’s charisma, breathtaking screen presence and scorching performance.
Fast paced and gripping storyline.
Drawbacks?
A few characters need reinventing, to make them more relevant and compelling.
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes.
Aarya Season 3 Series Review by Binged Bureau