Okay, let's start with my review of the four episodes:
Made for Each Other - R. Balki I felt this chapter was the most ordinary of the four, and I do understand that culturally, in India, there's some shock value to the fact that a grandmother would be so racy and vocally conscious of the importance of sex and intimacy. That said, the episode just entirely relies on this gimmick and even though it's not bad, it does seem to have no point. It could easily have gone down as a random clip on social media which aims to provide some educative content, but a very superficial one, frankly speaking. Obviously, Neena Gupta is fun and does a good job, but this episode as a whole just doesn't leave a mark.
The Mirror - Konkona Sen Sharma Well, it's easily the strongest part of them all - in terms of story, script, direction, acting and execution, as well as the issues it addresses, from sex, loneliness to social class. Konkona does a fantastic job with an episode that so intelligently explores the desires of women from different strata of society. And their social class is not even a factor when it comes to their personal desires as they are equal. Tillotama Shome seems to have carved her own niche in the film industry with some wise choices, and she is fantastic here. After Sir, where she played the maid to perfection, it's interesting to see her assume the part of the employer. Doubtlessly though, it is Amruta Subhash who absolutely nails it in the part of the maid and gradually proves herself as one of the most impressive character actresses in India today. Her performance is a portrait of rage, honesty and compassion, which is exactly what this interesting episode ends up being.
Sex with Ex - Sujoy Ghosh Now this is a very basic sort of thriller, and it's quite intriguing, but it's also quite banal and formulaic. Vijay Varma can always be counted on to deliver the goods, and he's quite good here, but the episode as a whole is quite a thankless task. Tamanna Bhatia is equally effective in the part but the episode concludes on such a predictable note it's amazing a director as good as Ghosh would ever have thought this could pass as something even remotely original or impactive. It's watchable, but it's forgettable.
Tilchatta - Amit Sharma Well, anything for Kajol. Try to watch it and imagine another actress in the part, it will just not work. Kajol's presence indeed makes up for many of the flaws, for the dark and gloomy atmosphere, for the pacing, and for the story which relays hardly any positive or redeeming messages. Very well acted though. Kumud Mishra is plain excellent as the abusive drunk, really very good and very easy to hate. It is obviously Kajol though who carries the entire segment on her able shoulders. Her eyes reveal the complexity of her situation, and she so easily slips into the shoes of an ordinary, troubled woman. The final twist is quite upsetting, and it has various interesting messages, one of which relates to the two faces of plotted revenge. Sometimes the immediate solution is the good one.
Made for Each Other - R. Balki I felt this chapter was the most ordinary of the four, and I do understand that culturally, in India, there's some shock value to the fact that a grandmother would be so racy and vocally conscious of the importance of sex and intimacy. That said, the episode just entirely relies on this gimmick and even though it's not bad, it does seem to have no point. It could easily have gone down as a random clip on social media which aims to provide some educative content, but a very superficial one, frankly speaking. Obviously, Neena Gupta is fun and does a good job, but this episode as a whole just doesn't leave a mark.
The Mirror - Konkona Sen Sharma Well, it's easily the strongest part of them all - in terms of story, script, direction, acting and execution, as well as the issues it addresses, from sex, loneliness to social class. Konkona does a fantastic job with an episode that so intelligently explores the desires of women from different strata of society. And their social class is not even a factor when it comes to their personal desires as they are equal. Tillotama Shome seems to have carved her own niche in the film industry with some wise choices, and she is fantastic here. After Sir, where she played the maid to perfection, it's interesting to see her assume the part of the employer. Doubtlessly though, it is Amruta Subhash who absolutely nails it in the part of the maid and gradually proves herself as one of the most impressive character actresses in India today. Her performance is a portrait of rage, honesty and compassion, which is exactly what this interesting episode ends up being.
Sex with Ex - Sujoy Ghosh Now this is a very basic sort of thriller, and it's quite intriguing, but it's also quite banal and formulaic. Vijay Varma can always be counted on to deliver the goods, and he's quite good here, but the episode as a whole is quite a thankless task. Tamanna Bhatia is equally effective in the part but the episode concludes on such a predictable note it's amazing a director as good as Ghosh would ever have thought this could pass as something even remotely original or impactive. It's watchable, but it's forgettable.
Tilchatta - Amit Sharma Well, anything for Kajol. Try to watch it and imagine another actress in the part, it will just not work. Kajol's presence indeed makes up for many of the flaws, for the dark and gloomy atmosphere, for the pacing, and for the story which relays hardly any positive or redeeming messages. Very well acted though. Kumud Mishra is plain excellent as the abusive drunk, really very good and very easy to hate. It is obviously Kajol though who carries the entire segment on her able shoulders. Her eyes reveal the complexity of her situation, and she so easily slips into the shoes of an ordinary, troubled woman. The final twist is quite upsetting, and it has various interesting messages, one of which relates to the two faces of plotted revenge. Sometimes the immediate solution is the good one.