What Is the Story About?
Ritu and Anuj are finally together in Mumbai after sustaining their long-distance relationship. While Anuj is making gradual progress with his acting gigs, Ritu is finding her feet with the new job. Anuj’s mother tries to iron out the rough edges during her brief stay in Mumbai, but the couple finds a way to send her back home, trying to strike a balance between love, career and responsibilities.
Performances?
Vishesh Bansal plays the sprightly young man with confidence and lends his character adequate vulnerability; he has a captivating screen presence that brings Anuj alive. Ashlesha Thakur, in her comfort zone, steps into the shoes of Ritu, the more pragmatic one between the two, with an appreciable lightness, and her low-key approach works in favour of her portrayal.
Cinderella (Anuj’s mum) owns the screen as long as she’s around and gets her authoritative yet well-meaning mother act just right. The supporting cast — comprising Aarian Sawant, Navneet Shrivastav, Tushar Shahi, Shubham Kumar, Shambhavi and others — has limited scope to shine, yet they fit into the proceedings seamlessly.
Analysis
Gutar Gu, the love story of two teenage sweethearts, created and directed by Saqib Pandor, is finally coming of age. If the first season was about how romance blossoms between them, the sophomore instalment took a new turn, testing their equation in a long-distance relationship. The latest season allows them to stay together under the same roof, during which they find time for love amidst the vagaries of adulthood.
Anuj is no longer the simple, wide-eyed, small-town boy from Bhopal; he’s finally getting used to the ways of Mumbai. He’s happier, for he has the luxury of spending more time with Ritu, thanks to her new job. His mother’s arrival initially hinders the couple’s plans of staying together. While the idea eventually materialises, it ushers in a new set of issues. Yet, they hang on.
Like most YA romances on MX Player, the effort here is to maintain a light, relatable, easily digestible exterior. There’s nothing high-stakes about Gutar Gu; all it takes is a well-thought-out conversation to resolve a conflict. These are good-at-heart, confused characters from higher-middle-class backgrounds who are just finding their way in life. Discussions on marriage and commitment can still wait.
The show starts considerably well. Anuj doesn’t let his mum know of Ritu’’s presence in Mumbai, and while she keeps everything in order at his house, the two find silly excuses to meet up. Finally, she gets wind of their relationship, goes house hunting with Ritu, and the duo spend quality time together. After a series of embarrassing situations, mum even gives a nod to their live-in idea.
The narrative loses steam once Anuj’s mum exits the scene. A typical set of issues crops up as they stay together: one gets caught up with their career, the other becomes slightly impatient, and they take turns, struggling with responsibilities and mundanity. There’s even tension around Ritu’s suspected pregnancy and the mandatory condom joke. One tries to live in the moment, while the other has grand plans for the future.
While retaining its frothy, breezy quality, problems resolve quite easily. Though the performances remain heartfelt, the innocence and quirkiness in the storytelling are amiss. The messiness is no longer magical or heartfelt. The story falls into a convenient pattern, staying away from tough conversations, too sugar-coated to truly strike a chord. Instant gratification appears to be its only aim.
The crisp, self-aware episodes, at times, make you look past its problems. One can’t have too many complaints with the backdrop for the season either; you just wish the writing made the characters struggle more to keep the relationship alive. If you’ve followed Ritu and Anuj through their journeys in Gutar Gu, the third season isn’t really a bad watch, but there’s no standout quality about it either.
Music and Other Departments?
Gaurav Chatterji’s vibrant, easygoing score complements the show’s mood well. Within the limitations of the backdrop, cinematographer Sriram Ganapathy does a commendable job in sustaining the liveliness in the visuals throughout, ably supported by the production design (Satyajit Deshpande) and the bright costumes (Shrutika Rokade). The writing, though breezy, feels contrived and lacks depth.
Highlights?
Breezy Storytelling
Relatable Premise
Good Performances
Drawbacks?
Writing Lacks Depth
Easy resolution of Conflicts
Did I Enjoy It?
In parts
Will You Recommend It?
If you’re Craving a light, Feel-good YA Romance, Go for it
Gutar Gu Season 3 Series Review by Binged Bureau