Director Homi Adajania makes a successful OTT debut with a perfect mix of emotions and thrills.
A poster of 'Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo'. (Twitter)
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo (Hindi web series)
It is always refreshing when the stories are headlined by women — whether they are movies or web series. More so, when they are well made.
Homi Adajania’s debut OTT show Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo is one such tale. The director presents four inimitable women who are a treat to watch.
What makes the web series even more refreshing is the saas–bahu dynamics avoiding the clichéd tropes that you generally see in Indian television shows.
This web show is set in a remote village called Hastinapur, somewhere in Rajasthan.
Savitri (Dimple Kapadia) runs a company named “Rani Cooperative” which trades in various products. Some of these include jari–booti (herbs), balms and textiles. However, there is also a dark side to this company — drugs.
Deepak Dobriyaal in ‘Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo’. (Twitter)
“Flamingo” is the name of the drug Rani Cooperative deals in.
Savitri operates out of a haveli (mansion) and is surrounded by a team of women, including two daughters-in-law Kajal (Angira Dhar) and Bijliee (Isha Talwar). There is also the rebellious daughter Shanta (Radhika Madan).
These four women together run the business with a firm hand and live life on their terms. They are always ahead of their enemies, including The Monk (Deepak Dobriyal).
Savitri also has two reckless US-returned sons — Harish (Ashish Verma) and Kapil (Varun Mitra). They both have zero knowledge about the nature of their mother’s business. But soon enough, they find out.
Things take a turn when Savitri announces that she would soon name a successor to her company. What follows is a thrilling tale that keeps you invested for the most part.
Fierce, ferocious and full of swag – that’s Rani Baa for you 🔥#HotstarSpecials #SaasBahuAurFlamingo now streaming.
Watch now: https://t.co/qxpf2ufS1R#SBFOnHotstar #DimpleKapadia pic.twitter.com/PDFH0BQ9Ol
— Disney+ Hotstar (@DisneyPlusHS) May 12, 2023
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo grips the viewers from the start.
There is a spine-chilling scene at the very beginning. Not many details can be revealed here but it sets the stage for an engrossing drama.
There is a certain authenticity to the way the village has been presented and no artificiality in the rustic makeover of the characters.
A major highlight of Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo is how Homi Adajania uses the palatial haveli of Dimple Kapadia’s Savitri. It is a character in itself. This is a palace filled with many secrets.
A poster of ‘Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo’. (Twitter)
The story written by Saurav Dey, Karan Vyas & Co has many moments of tension and unpredictability.
It isn’t just high on thrills but it also packs in some strong emotional moments. The case in point is the characterisation of Dimple Kapadia.
Savitri is extremely brutal and menacing. But at the same time, there is also an emotional gravitas that makes the viewers empathise with her.
Another characterisation worth mentioning here is that of Isha Talwar. Her character has an additional layer of homosexuality which, thankfully, has been dealt with sensitively.
Director Homi Adajania also pays homage to Shekar Kapoor’s Bandit Queen (1994) and Ketan Mehta’s Mirch Masala (1987) with some brilliantly executed action scenes where the women take on Deepak Dobriyal and his henchmen.
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo also works because of its strong antagonist.
Deepak Dobriyal’s Monk hasn’t got many dialogues but the actor makes a solid impression with his eyes and expressions. He exudes menace without breaking a sweat.
This web series has some laugh-out-loud moments, thanks to Ashish Verma who plays one of Savitri’s sons. He raises many chuckles with his understated humour. His moments of bickering with Kapil are a delight to watch.
The Queens are here, and they are here to rule! #HotstarSpecials #SaasBahuAurFlamingo is now streaming. #SBFOnHotstar
Watch Now: https://t.co/JlnoyUAd2E#DimpleKapadia #Deepakyahanhai #RadhikaMadan @itsishatalwar pic.twitter.com/ZlZn9QwjhK
— Disney+ Hotstar (@DisneyPlusHS) May 4, 2023
Talking about the women characters, Dimple Kapadia is brilliant in exuding both raw power and the required vulnerability in equal measures. With this power-packed performance, the veteran actor shows that she is only getting better with age.
Dimple Kapadia in a still from ‘Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo’. (Twitter)
The other actresses who stand out are Isha Talwar and Angira Dhar. They deliver a class act and more than hold their own opposite Dimple Kapadia.
Radhika Madan’s Shanta isn’t different from what she played earlier but she too makes an impression.
The one slight flaw in the series is the underutilisation of Naseeruddin Shah. Much like his last release Kuttey (Dogs, 2023), here too, the senior actor packs a punch despite his limited screen time. But as viewers, we want to see more of him.
Talking about the music, Sachin Jigar’s score goes perfectly with the tonality of the show. Even his background score enhances the drama by several notches.
Cinematographer Linesh Desai does a spectacular job of capturing the parched and arid land through his lens.
Overall, this group of women in Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo leaves the viewers with a solid high making you look forward to Season 2.
(Views expressed are personal.)
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