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Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo Review: Dimple Kapadia Outshines As Drug Lord In This Unusual Quirky Thriller Series
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo Review: When we think about crime shows, it's always a man who heads a family business and is powerful. But unlike the atypical crime stories, in Homi Adajania's series, the business is not only run by women, but they are bold and unapologetic. The women living in this borderland from above look innocent and regular, but they are deadly when it comes to safeguarding what is rightfully theirs.
The series that is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, is action-packed, filled with twists and turns, maintaining the appropriate balance with some melodrama, the vulnerability of characters, and love and lust. Known for making lively movies like Cocktail and Being Cyrus, the filmmaker has brought something contrasting to what he does, and yes, it is what will surprise you the most. But is the eight-part series worth your time? Here are some points for you to consider:
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo: Plot
Penned by writers Saurav Dey, Karan Vyas, Nandini Gupta, and Aman Mannan and directed and created by Homi Adajania, Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo is a little dark and villainous, and you also see a lot of bloodshed.
Set in a distant fictional village in the extreme north-west of India, Savitri (Dimple Kapadia) runs a cottage industry that produces a range of items, ranging from handicrafts to medicinal herbs. Godmother to many womenfolk in Hastipur, Savitri's real business is not what appears on the surface. She is the frontrunner of a legitimate, well-functioning drug cartel with the cooperation of her two daughters-in-law, Kajal (Angira Dhar) and Bijlee (Isha Talwar), and daughter Shanta Radhika Madan). And this happened to be the biggest drug cartel operating in South Asia.
After an adulterated version of the drug Flamingo, which is Savitri's product, puts a politician's son in a coma in Mumbai, here's when all the game begins. Savitri, aka Rani Baa, realises that her rivals are circling against her, including an anti-narcotics officer named Proshun (Jimit Trivedi) and a cruel enemy named 'Munk' (Deepak Dobriyal). She also has two biological sons who have no idea about their mother's life and live in the US, and things start to unfold when they arrive to meet Savitri. Rani Baa's adopted son, Dhiman, who strongly remains a royal aide to her, has soft feelings for Shanta.
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo: What Works
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo is woven around a dysfunctional family, with each character on their own path of self-discovery and having their own world carried by the main screenplay. Every character is layered and has an interpersonal relationship, which makes for a fun and intriguing watch. Meanwhile, there are several interesting twists and backstories thrown in between, making us sympathise with them. The fight for the succession to acquire Savitri's power in this dystopian world makes for a worthy watch.
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo: What Does Not Work
Although the screenplay keeps you hooked to the screen, the series takes time to build the characters, which might come across as a little stretchy. While it is a crime thriller, I wanted more action and less melodrama.
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo: Performances
Dimple Kapadia as Savitri, aka Rani Baa, has just nailed her role. She binds the series together and overshadows everyone else with her amazing acting skills. The veteran star, Savitri, is formable but tough. Dimple emotes the language of a Gujarati woman with perfection while performing the action sequences; she simply shines.
Ashish Verma and Varun Mitra, who play Savitri's son, are good in their parts. Both have less screen space, but Ashish Verma's comic timing adds the punch needed in this gritty series. Isha Talwar, Angira Dhar, and Radhika Madan are decent in their portal, though more could have been shown for them. Nasseruddin Shah and Monica Dogra have little to serve on a plate. And Deepak Dobriyal is one actor who can do any role. After proving himself in comedy, the actor is now hell-bent on showing that he can be the deadliest villain ever. Udit Arora, who plays the adopted son of Dimple, does well in the little frame he appears in.
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo: Direction and other aspects
Homi Adajania needs to be lauded for bringing something unique and quirky like this to the streaming market, which is female-dominated. His work is flawless and captures the nitty-gritty of the characters and the atmosphere in every way. Despite its minor weakness, Homi's direction doesn't make you get bored and adds the edginess required for a thriller crime show.
The tone of the desert land is well captured and maintains the murkiness. The costumes and production designs are also positive additions. Sachin-Jigar's music is remarkable and flows easily with the scenes.
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo: Verdict
Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo is filled with several elements that make it a binge-watch show. The performances definitely bring life to the story, while an attempt like this should also get the needed attention from the audience, which likes all the spice and something unique. The climax sequence might leave you wondering what the second season may have for you.
