The Ba***ds of Bollywood Review: Noisy Parody, Little Fun

BOTTOM LINE
Noisy Parody, Little Fun

RATING
2/5

PLATFORM/RUNTIME
Netflix – 5 hours 17 minutes, 7 Episodes

What Is the Show About?

Aasman Singh is an overnight sensation, having made a remarkable acting debut and working wonders. He gets into a salty banter with Karishma, the daughter of a star, Arjun Talvar, at a roundtable interview. Cashing in on the controversy, Aasman and Karishma are paired in a new film, and love is in the air. Yet, their romance struggles to take off, thanks to an ugly tiff, an underworld deal and a long-buried secret.

Performances

The choice to cast Lakshya and Raghav Juyal as friends (as opposed to Kill, where they were pitted against each other) is smart; their infectious bromance ensures a handful of lively moments in the show. Sahher Bambba has the good looks, though the part hardly requires her to do anything beyond. Bobby Deol’s snob-like avatar is just alright; no real surprises there.

Analysis

Every actor and director dreams of crafting their ode to Bollywood. Some, like Farah Khan, celebrated its flamboyant spirit in Om Shanti Om. Raj-DK took a wry, satirical jab in Happy Ending, while Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance captured its chaotic, unglamorous reality. The list runs long, with other notable additions being Kaagaz Ke Phool, Rangeela and Fan.

Now, Aryan Khan, the son of Shah Rukh Khan, turns to direction with a seven-episode series, The Ba****ds of Bollywood, lending a glitzy upgrade to tinsel town tales. From a rapid-fire take on critics, nepotism, the insider-outsider rift, and the obsession with Punjabi raps, to a classic tussle between a new talent and a fading star, the show is built around the gossip that keeps the industry in the news.

Within an accessible premise of a newcomer falling for a star daughter, Aryan crafts a bloated screwball comedy, creating a potpourri of flashy, oddball characters that both jibe at the industry and celebrate its eccentricities. It is an unabashedly over-the-top, self-aware, and exaggerated take on a film buff’s perception of B’wood.

Right from the start, the show feels like a ‘spot the reference’ contest, alternating from one cameo to the next (until it tires you), amidst scores of industry clichés, popular folklore, and true incidents. It pokes fun at the drama that surrounds showbiz, ticking every box on a viewer’s checklist for a tale set in Mumbai without ever taking itself too seriously.

For every tale of a veteran producer, a delusional director, and the incestuous bunch of industry insiders, there’s also a subplot around a background dancer giving up on her dream, an ageing Punjabi musician still waiting for his big break, and a forgotten actor inching to bounce back. A turbulent love story marks the collision of two worlds that are unlikely to meet.

Aasman’s familial situation lends the much-needed rootedness to the show. The mother remains wary of his promising start in the industry, the ailing father is enormously proud of his son, the uncle is a rock that always stands tall, an all-heart friend doesn’t mind playing a sidekick to see his mate succeed, and a manager wants to be a friend first, without milking his newfound fame.

The other side of the story – of the industry finding comfort in its own cocoon- is all too familiar to be amusing. A star-son drowns in his privilege, a daughter seeks to break free from her father’s shackles, the producers make a beeline to milk the popularity of a young star, and an ugly fight steals the spotlight at an awards show. Among all the cameos, SRK and Emraan Hashmi’s irreverence wins hearts.

To top it all, there’s a climactic twist that turns the love story on its head, giving an inkling of why the romance was destined to fall apart. The Bads of Bollywood intentionally tries to mirror the chaos of the industry with its overwrought narrative. Beneath its flashiness, it is briefly poignant, has a handful of cleverly written episodes, but is a largely a bloated product with nothing new to offer.

Performances by Others Actors

In a show about a love-struck couple, the supporting cast lends depth and a dash of ‘joie de vivre’ to the proceedings. Besides Raghav Juyal’s flair for humour, Manoj Pahwa and Vijayant Kohli excel at playing the friendly uncles. Rajat Bedi sportively parodies himself, while Mona Singh and Anya Singh carry their personas with assurance. Manish Chaudhari, Gautami Kapoor pass muster.

Music and Other Departments?

Despite an eclectic list of composers at the helm – Ujwal Gupta, Anirudh Ravichander and Shashwat Sachdev – the songs and the score suit the show’s mood, though hardly striking a chord in terms of their musical value. It’s too superficial to make an impression.

Jay Oza’s intentionally over-the-top, flashy, bright colour palette is overwhelming at times, with the costumes, production design also resulting in a similar gaudy aftertaste. At over 5 hours, the tale overstays its welcome and tests your patience after a point.

Highlights?

Clever premise

Provides a few laughs

Few good cameos

Drawbacks?

Too many cliches, no novelty

Overstuffed with pop-culture references

Lacks much depth

Did I Enjoy It?

Only in parts

Will You Recommend It?

Only if you are a compulsive Bollywood enthusiast, the rest won’t miss much

The Ba***ds of Bollywood Series Review by M9