What Is the Story About?
Jio Cinema’s original series ‘Taali’ recounts the story of real-life transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant through six episodes. Sushmita Sen plays Shreegauri Sawant in Taali. The series starts from the time Shreegauri was schoolboy Ganesh, and then documents her difficult growing up years, transition into Shreegauri, her fight for equality for the transgender community, and finally her historic win in the Supreme Court.
Taali is created by Arjun Singgh Baran and Kartk D Nishandar, and written by Kshitij Patwardhan, and directed by Ravi Jadhav.
Performances?
Sushmita Sen is riveting as Shreegauri Sawant, with an electric screen presence to match. You simply can’t take your eyes off the accomplished performer, as she goes about making the character her own. She blows hot and cold, fire and fury, sugar and honey — as the sequences demand of her. Taali is Sushmita Sen’s show all the way, and will find place in cinematic history as one of her best performances ever.
Ankur Bhatia lends commendable support as gay activist Navin. Sheetal Kale is terrific as Nargis. Maya Rachel Mcmanus registers her presence as the foreign journalist looking to interview Shreegauri Sawant. The rest of the cast is good too.
Analysis
The real-life story of transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant is a powerful and awe-inspiring one. Sadly, the reel version of it, created by the team of Taali, fails to do complete justice to it. The six relatively short episodes barely manage to skim the surface of the hardships that Shreegauri must have faced in the overbearingly patriarchal India of her growing up years. Sushmita Sen’s towering performance notwithstanding, Ravi Jadhav’s Taali fails to render a gripping or honest portrait of a personality as decidedly intriguing as Shreegauri Sawant.
In trying to keep the series fast-paced and nippy, the writers skip large swathes of Shreegauri Sawant’s transition into a transgender activist of repute and power. How did a chit of a boy who ran away from home at the tender age of eighteen and tried to find his bearings alone in the big bad city of Mumbai not face any more trouble than a lecherous sculptor? How did Shreegauri become the powerful person she is shown to be in the series? What were the hardships she and her lawyers had to endure, to file a case in the Supreme Court, and ultimately win that case?
We will never know, coz the makers didn’t deem it significant enough to devote enough time, or go deep enough into each chapter in Shreegauri’s life, to deliver a nuanced, detailed version of her story. As of now, the series is like that timeless birthday party prank — gifting us a beautifully wrapped gift box, which is absolutely empty inside.
That being said, Sushmita Sen salvages the hollowness of the series somewhat. She’s a livewire in Taali, and makes the series worth a watch. The rudimentary, utterly basic screenplay is a major negative for Taali, but Sushmita Sen is a winner all the way.
Music and Other Departments?
Amitraj’s musical score for Taali is riveting. It suits the story to the T. Raghav Ramadoss’ cinematography is captivating, and captures the essence of the story well. Faisal Mahadik’s editing is fluid and crisp.
Highlights?
Sushmita Sen’s performance and screen presence
Shreegauri Sawant, the subject of the series
Drawbacks?
Very rudimentary screenplay that doesn’t go into the depth of Shreegauri’s story
Lacks nuance
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, for Sushmita Sen’s performance
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, for Sushmita Sen; and because Shreegauri Sawant’s story deserves to be watched
Taali Web Series Review by Binged Bureau
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