What Is the Story About?
Ashutosh is a budding journalist who works under a snooty superior Nikki at a television channel. When a popular presenter is thrown out of the channel, the boss is keen on finding a replacement and ropes in Ashutosh and Nikki for the primetime slot. While their verbal banter ensures good TRPs for the channel, they fake a marriage to uncover a scam at the registrar’s office.
Performances?
Rishab Chadha, who has considerable experience in films, television and web shows, is an ideal choice to play an ambitious youngster, who’s a softie at heart. He displays a good knack for comedy and has impressive screen presence to carry a show on his own shoulders.
Abigail Pande provides him with formidable company, stepping into the shoes of a bickering boss, who falls in love with a junior. The supporting cast – comprising Akanksha Saini, Chaitali Jadhav, Pankit Thakker, Keshav Uppal to name a few – are decent within the limitations of their roles.
Analysis
Divorce Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, directed by Ankush Bhatt, reminds you of the fun Hindi comedies popularised by David Dhawan, Priyadarshan, Anees Bazmee in the 90s and 2000s, which were non-sensical yet irresistibly hilarious. While good actors can make it look effortless, it takes a capable writer and director to extract such spontaneous performances from them.
ZEE5’s new show tries to reimagine the classic ‘opposites attract’ trope, setting the story within a television channel around two colleagues. Ashutosh is a subordinate to Nikki in the same company. In an attempt to grow professionally, both try hard to outdo each other, during which they forge a strange love-hate equation and also resort to a sham marriage as part of an undercover operation.
The series progresses on predictable lines – where, in the middle of a fake marriage and a real divorce, the lead pair starts falling in love with one another, but remains in denial mode. They need to work hard to hide the news about the marriage from their respective families, appear in courts, work with counsellors, resulting in several comedy-of-errors situations.
While the story is as old as the hills, it generally remains watchable due to a fast-paced, crisp screenplay. Though the show can be slotted under the rom-com genre, there’s more comedy than romance (the opposite could’ve worked better maybe?) While attacking each other as professional rivals, the leads understand each other better and realise they can’t do without one another.
The tone of the show is generally over-the-top – the situations are exaggerated beyond the necessity for laughs. However, it scores better with the establishment of the lead characters. Though it has a lighthearted exterior, the director explores each other’s innermost concerns, desires and ambitions sincerely, justifying why Ashutosh and Nikki are tailor-made as a couple.
After a point of time, the spark in the screenplay fizzles out and the team employs tried-and-tested tropes to unite the lead pair against all odds. The newsroom sequences lose their bite, populated with excessive cinematic liberties. However, the sequences with the counsellor are entertaining, with her questions helping the duo realise their love for each other.
Divorce Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega has a handful of moments where it’s nearly a laugh riot but falls short because of its limited ambitions and its inability to offer something new to the viewer. The lively chemistry between the on-screen lead pair, a few catchy dialogues infuse a new lease of life into the proceedings occasionally. On the whole, the show leaves you with mixed feelings.
Music and Other Departments?
Udbhav Ojha’s background score is decent but nothing out of the box to win your curiosity. Cinematographer Krishna Ramanan mounts the story well, choosing the right colours and backdrops that complement the mood of the show and the situations. Ghalib Asad Bhopali, who has drafted the screenplay and dialogues, makes a genuine attempt to revive the 90s-style humour in the proceedings – though the writing and performances lack the necessary spunk.
Highlights?
Performances of the lead pair
Interesting premise
A few funny situations
Drawbacks?
The loud treatment
Too many cinematic liberties
Remains predictable
Did I Enjoy It?
In parts, yes
Will You Recommend It?
If you don’t mind no-brainer comedies, give it a try
Divorce Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega Series Review by Binged Bureau
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