What Is the Story About?
SonyLIV’s new series ‘Dr Arora: Gupt Rog Visheshagya’ is set in the backdrop of small town Madhya Pradesh of the late nineties. The story is centred on a sexologist, Dr. Arora (Kumud Mishra), who practices his trade in the Tier II cities of Morena and Jhansi in Madhya Pradesh, and Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. Small town India of 1999, the time that the story is set in, was quite averse to men acknowledging their sexual issues, let alone seeking treatment for them. In the midst of the rampant ignorance, Dr. Arora proves to be the saving grace for men with sexual problems….until he himself needs saving towards the end.
Dr. Arora is created and co-written by Imtiaz Ali, and directed by Sajid Ali and Archit Kumar.
Performances?
Kumud Mishra is both the shining light as well as the saving grace of Dr. Arora. Skilled actor that he is, he makes the best of a confusingly-written character that oscillates between caring and callous; sensitive and scornful; thereby managing to salvage it from descending into absolute sleaziness.
Vidya Malvade gives an efficient performance as Dr. Arora’s ex-wife Vaishali. Gaurav Parajuli stands out as the beefy Devendra Thakur, all ripped muscles on the outside, but flaccid where it counts. Vivek Mushran hams his way through the role of a harried newspaper-owner with questionable morals. Sandeepa Dhar, Ajitesh Gupta, Pitobash, Raj Arun lend good support. Shekhar Suman, Himani Shivpuri, Shakti Kumar are wasted in inconsequential roles.
Analysis
Once upon a time, The Times Of India’s daily tabloid Mumbai Mirror featured a column by Mumbai’s, if not India’s, best sexologist Dr Mahinder Watsa. The good doctor addressed myriad anonymously-shared sexual issues of Mumbai’s boys and girls, men and women — always in a sensitive and kindly way, embellished with oodles of good-natured humour; never once being judgmental, scornful or preachy, as he recommended sensible remedies for common sexual problems.
The writers and creator of ‘Dr. Arora: Gupt Rog Visheshagya’ would do well to go through several of the legendary Dr. Mahinder Watsa’s columns, if not all, to understand how best to create the ideal Dr. Arora for their show.
To be honest, when the show first introduces the viewer to Kumud Mishra as Dr. Arora, you get all the right vibes from the character. Soothing tone, mild demeanor, calm confidence and a comforting smile in place, Dr. Arora proceeds to placate a raging bull of a man, and give him calming reassurance that his problem of “namardi”, aka erectile dysfunction in medical terms, is quite common, nothing to be ashamed of, and most importantly, curable. The first episode is nuanced, well-structured and genuinely promising.
But very soon, a bizarre baba called Firangi Baba (Raj Arun) is plonked into the narrative, and you begin to realise that the promising beginning was a smoke screen – to hide the sleaze beyond. Apparently, the baba (modelled on a certain Pune-based Godman?) pleasures hundreds of sexually unsatisfied women each night, helping them attain ultimate satisfaction. Of course, the strain of all that ‘performance’ takes a toll on his body; but he has Dr. Arora to the rescue. The episode ends on a ludicrous naked run through the streets of the town; and suddenly you know the first episode was a mere aberration.
The rest of the series descends into tackiness; though interspersed with a few genuinely enlightening, affecting moments – for instance, the young teenager, his problem with nightfall, and his educated ignoramus of a father, whose first and only instinct is to be disgusted with his son.
Strangely enough, not just the tone and tenor of the narrative, even the kind, gently understanding character of Dr. Arora undergoes a sea change as the story progresses. He is outrightly judgemental towards a girl who has multiple sexual partners (Is she a sex worker? The script implies it, but never voices it clearly). Judging your patient for their sexual preferences is cardinal sin for a sexologist; and Dr. Arora’s distinct scorn and disgust for the girl is contrary to how he’s been depicted in the series until then. As if this is not enough, quite perplexingly, the writers suddenly bestow him with stalking tendencies, which border on sexual harassment. The story never recovers after that, slowly turning into a chaotic mess after a point.
Erratic writing aside, the series displays inherently problematic traits – its endorsement of extra-marital sex, sexual romps with godmen, seducing a young wife when the husband is away on tour, and so on. And yes, the worst – an ‘Oedipus Complex’ of sorts in a teenaged boy.
Finally, Dr. Arora limps to a weird ‘climax’ over eight, 35-40 minute episodes, but the ordeal is far from over. The end suggests a Season 2 for the show. Hope the writers take a cue from the advice we’ve freely dealt above, and read up Dr. Watsa’s columns voraciously. Dr. Arora Season 2 might just be able to redeem itself.
Music and Other Departments?
Coming from the pedigreed stables of Imtiaz Ali, one thing Dr. Arora gets right is the music. Lovely mellow numbers, put to music by Niladri Kumar, offset the tacky descent of the storytelling to an extent. The cinematography is average, nothing extraordinary about it. Editing could be sharper and more ruthless.
Highlights?
Kumud Mishra
The concept
Drawbacks?
Fails to leverage the innovative concept and opening episode
Descends into tackiness as the story progresses
Bizarre characters and subplots
Did I Enjoy It?
Not much
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but with reservations
Dr. Arora Series Review by Binged Bureau
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