Classic Mild

Monday to Friday,7.30 pm

HH

What’s it about?

In his early twenties,Saraswatichandra Vyas is a competent businessman who begins his day with prayers and meditation. At a time when guests — millionaires from across the world — are waiting for him to join his father’s birthday celebrations,he chooses to instead do a puja for his father’s long life. The son of a Dubai-based businessman of Indian origin,Lakshminandan Vyas,he is a bag of contradictions,rooted in tradition. This,however,doesn’t go down well with Lakshminandan,who decides to have him marry his friend’s daughter,Kumud,who hails from a village in Gujarat. While Saraswatichandra doesn’t approve of the decision,he is given little choice. The girl,after initial hesitation,is more than willing as she sees in him the man of her dreams. The show explores this conflict and eventual love story.

Based on Govardhanram Tripathi’s classic Gujarati novel by the same name,Saraswatichandra has been adapted for the small screen by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. In accordance to the format,he has taken creative liberty,altered the plot and introduced new characters. So,much of the plot revolves around Saraswatichandra’s devotion to his dead mother and the unpleasant relationship he shares with his father because he remarried.

Who’s in it?

He has been in the industry for over a decade,having done key roles in shows such as Baa Bahoo aur Baby,Mata Ki Chowki and Parichay. Yet,Saraswatichandra is the biggest platform Gautam Rode has had as an actor. He surely looks the part — the hero of a larger-than-life television drama with a physique to show off. Jennifer Winget as his lady love,Kumud,does not match up in personality and is only passable as a village belle. A favourite of her father,essayed by Yatin Karyekar,she is a teacher. Chetan Pandit is Lakshminandan and Monica Bedi is his second wife,Gumaan — a calculative woman conspiring against her stepson.

What’s hot?

The show has been made on a grand scale,yet the costumes and make-up have been kept real. The characters dress sharp but never over-the-top. The writing team has provided an interesting dimension to the original story in order to adapt it to present-day television by bringing in Gumaan. Without this character with grey shades,it would have been only a love story. Also,treatment of a few scenes is interesting. For instance,the Internet server stops working each time Kumud tries to open the photograph of her prospective groom.

What’s not?

For a show that has been hyped as a Bhansali production,it is no better than any average television show. While other shows are trying to be real,this one goes back in time: a son who will never defy his father,heroine’s younger sister who runs about the house giggling at the news of her didi’s proposal,a heroine who will dive into a pond in all her finery to fish out the pearl her father gifted her for scoring well in Class X.

The sets,lighting and treatment are typical of Bhansali and one is reminded of Saawariyaa and Black. The heroine,especially,comes across as a version of Aishwarya Rai’s character in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam — the effervescent girl who is the darling of her father.

Should you be watching it?

If you are a Bhansali fan,it may be worth a shot.