
BOTTOM LINE
Timepass Fantasy Tale
PLATFORM
Disney+ Hotstar
RUN TIME
8 Episodes, ~3 Hours
What Is the Show Power Of Paanch About?
Ignoring her mother’s warning, Bela visits Panchgiri and accompanies Ahaan to his basketball game. While earning an unexpected invitation to Ranveer and Jhanvi’s party, Bela is witness to a scary incident involving Ali. A shocking truth about her mother’s past and a connection with Jhanvi comes to light soon as Bela spends her birthday weekend with the Shergills.
Performances
Riva Arora, playing a pivotal role Bela, has an appealing screen presence. The other newcomers cast in the show – including Aditya Raj Arora, Jaiveer Juneja, Bianca Arora, Yash Sehgal, Tanvi Gadkari, Anubha Arora – may not have pathbreaking roles, but they serve the needs of the genre and the story perfectly, bringing relatability to the characters with their easygoing performances. Urvashi Dholakia and Barkha Bisht, cast in key roles, also create a strong impression.
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Analysis
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There are shows that try to be high quality art, taking themselves seriously and believe what they’re striving to tell has a larger purpose than entertainment. However, some stories are meant to appeal to a niche audience and are content catering to their tastes. Power of Paanch, out on Disney+ Hotstar, belongs to the latter, and is a simple teen fantasy tale with the aesthetic of High School Musical.
The story revolves around four teenagers who embody the powers of the primary elements – earth, wind, fire, water while there’s mystery around the fifth element. The powers are hereditary and have been passed onto the kids by their parents on the cusp of adulthood. However, the powers, once believed to be their assets, turn into a curse with time and the parents advise them to utilise it sparingly.
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Power of Paanch unfolds from Bela’s perspective, who’s cautioned from visiting Panchgiri by an otherwise friendly mom Tabu. Upon visiting the town with her friend Ahaan for a basketball match, she finds a new friend circle comprising Ranveer, Ali, Baggu, Jhanvi and Adeeba. Bela meets her mom’s doppelgänger Tanu and discovers mysterious truths about her family and her powers.
Meanwhile, the parents of Ranveer, Ali, Baggu, Jhanvi are wary of protecting their children’s powers from the public eye but Bela’s arrival complicates matters. Both Ranveer and Ali are in complicated relationships with their girlfriends. Adeeba emotionally manipulates Ali into staying with her though he clearly likes Baggu. When Bela decides to stay in Panchgiri, where’s the tale headed?
It’s advantage that Power of Paanch’s creators are very aware of its flippant treatment (which isn’t a complaint honestly). The silliness of the plot, the flashy exterior, frivolous characterisation, vibrant costumes make the show easily palatable. The scenes and the episodes are intentionally crisp, the twists unfold at a quick pace and the college ambience contributes to its vibrancy.
The strength is also its problem – it just doesn’t want to pause, hang onto an emotion and restlessly keeps moving on. It’s not a space where you can expect any logic, nuance or depth. As a result, the story works only on a surface level. The foundation to the premise too could’ve been better. There’s no effort to build a backstory around the powers and transport you into a fantasy world. The plot unfolds mechanically with tried and tested tropes, caricaturish characters.
The fantasy element adds mild excitement to the episodes though. This is something you watch for instant gratification and not for quality entertainment. With the newer episodes in the coming weeks, one can expect the plot to thicken with many more twists and turns. Power of Paanch is a lightweight supernatural tale with modest aims – don’t expect too much from it and you’ll do fine.
Music and Other Departments?
Though the music doesn’t play a crucial role in the tale, the score matches the tone of the show. Cinematographers – Raju Gauli, Ankush Ram Birajdar – are well supported by the costumes and the production design in creating a compelling visual ambience. The show, ideated by Vikas Gupta and Ekta Kapoor, has potential but it could’ve done well to rid itself off the flimsiness to an extent.
Highlights?
A captivating premise
Vibrant exterior
Crisp episodes, doesn’t take itself too seriously
Drawbacks?
Lacks any depth/strong emotion
Weak beginning
Caricaturish characters
Did I Enjoy It?
In parts
Will You Recommend It?
Not for everyone, only if you enjoy teen sagas with a fantasy angle
Power Of Paanch Web Series Review by M9