What Is the Story About?
Three childhood friends and stay-at-home parents Avinash, Radhika and Suman come to terms with adulthood, marriage and parenting in a metropolis, dealing with one blow after the other. While Avinash is in no mood to return to work soon, Radhika is in two minds about taking up a job. Suman, content with motherhood, struggles to take a stance for herself.
Performances?
Barun Sobti has consistently picked stories that have defied stereotypes and audience expectations around him – and Raat Jawaan Hai is no different. He’s comfortable in the shoes of Avinash, the stay-at-home dad. If Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani showed what Anjali Anand was capable of, this series further consolidates her position as a bankable performer, playing a modern-day mom.
Priya Bapat continues to have a great 2024 after two terrific outings – Visfot and Zindaginama. She makes a meal out of a superbly fleshed-out character here as well. Cast as the on-screen partners of the leads, Hasleen Kaur, Priyansh Jora and Vikram Singh Chauhan deliver the goods too.
Analysis
Most portrayals of friendship in Hindi cinema over the years are restricted to good ol’ days of childhood and college years – almost making adult friendships seem impractical and impossible. While Raat Jawaan Hai is also about three childhood pals, it explores an interesting phase in their lives – the late 20s and the early 30s – where a trio tries to make their friendship work as adults and ‘young’ parents (of infants).
The gender mix – focusing on friendship among two women and a man – adds an element of intrigue to the setup. Yes, there’s a cliche to lend familiarity to their bond. There was a point when Suman had a crush on Avinash, but they outgrew it in no time. Many years later, at a phase when there’s too much drama in their lives, friendship is therapy and they find solace in each other’s company.
More than a plot, Raat Jawaan Hai brings together a few quirky episodes in their lives – as they hunt for a nanny, find some ‘me’ time to watch a film, free themselves from the guilt of abandoning their children, escape the eyes of prying in-laws, trying to be their good ol’ selves sans any baggage. As one of them rightly puts it, making time for themselves is almost like ‘running a space expedition.’
Some aspects that bind the trio – are ranting like there’s no tomorrow, the need to be recognised as individuals (beyond parents), discussing their deep-rooted desires and making problems feel ‘less’ burdensome. The narrative, trying to understand three people who don’t need work to define their lives, benefits from fluid writing and poignantly empathises with their conflicts and everyday issues.
For obvious reasons, Avinash’s characterisation is one of the major wins for Raat Jawaan Hai, a welcome departure from the picture-perfect, saviour alpha males of mainstream cinema. He’s free from the guilt of not being the breadwinner of the house, enjoys being the go-parent of his son, happy bringing order to his household and not trivialising the problems of his female friends.
Both the director and the creator – Sumeet Vyas and Khyati Anand Puthran – come up with a neat, slice-of-life screenplay where the individual identities of the characters are explored as much as the friendship, bringing in a good mix of humour, drama and conflict. There are no dramatic, convenient solutions to the problems but they still do a good job of making the viewer think.
The free-flowing dialogues and imaginative situations ensure that the narrative never runs out of fizz. There are no unnecessary subplots or complications in the story and it’s delightful how the makers tap into a ‘niche’ space and lend it a vibrant and peppy exterior. Raat Jawaan Hai is all about keeping the kid in you alive, even as you raise one of your own.
Music and Other Departments?
Anurag Sakia’s music score retains the easy-going, free-spirited vibe of the show. Cinematographer Jay I Patel livens up the ambience with picture-perfect framing (helped by the superb costumes and production design) using an eye-pleasing blend of bright, vivid colours. Fresh after Angry Young Men, editor Namrata Rao adds another cherry to her cake, churning a coherent, seamless narrative.
Highlights?
Superb writing, classy execution
Top-notch performances by the leads
Treats pertinent issues with a feather-light touch
Drawbacks?
Gets slightly predictable after a point
The ‘caricaturish’ treatment of the partners of the lead characters
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Certainly
Raat Jawaan Hai Series Review by Binged Bureau