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Jee Karda is an exploration of modern relationships in a metropolitan setting with the narrative being driven by the deep friendship that seven 20-somethings share. The eight-episode series keeps looking back at the pre-teen days of these school friends and at certain key events of their lives. The story tries to connect these past incidents with the complexities of their present life.
This format of storytelling is not entirely new. That apart, most streamers have a propensity to tell stories about broken characters and their messy lives. As the series tries to capture the lives of these friends, who are different from each other and dealing with their individual issues, it often veers towards high drama. While that grabs the attention, it doesn’t always create the desired impact.
The story begins with the cautionary one-line advice given to each of the friends by a face-reader at a Christmas carnival. The story fast forwards by over a decade when two of the friends, Sameer and Sheetal, are celebrating their third anniversary. During the celebrations, Rishab (Suhail Nayyar) proposes to Lavanya (Tamannaah Bhatia). That unexpected move by Rishab sets a chain of events in motion, duly adding twists and turns to the story.
As their wedding date comes closer, the long-time lovers and live-in partners find themselves navigating unforeseen problems. The close-knit friend group too goes through their share of troubles, mostly related to the heart and relationships. Jee Karda translates to ‘what the heart desires’. True to that, each of its central characters tries to follow their heart even though the desired outcome eludes them.
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With the cosmopolitan city Mumbai as the backdrop, the narrative touches upon culture clash, class conflict and the struggle for individual space. Yet, modern-day relationships remain its primary focus. Scratch the surface and it’s revealed that those seemingly perfect couples are battling multiple issues. Couple goals is merely a hashtag that’s not rooted in reality. Loneliness is unavoidable while confusion often takes a toll on companionship.
With a Punjabi rockstar Arjun Gill (Aashim Gulati) as one of the main characters, the Sachin-Jigar score features a number of peppy tracks and raps. The story written by Arunima Sharma, Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal brings out many intricacies of contemporary urban life. However, had they delved deeper into the psyche and concerns of the youths today, it would have made the story more compelling.
The series has got its casting mostly right. The actors make their camaraderie believable. Some of the scenes featuring Bhatia, Samvedna Suwalka and Anya Singh are relatable – be it when they are discussing the futility of dating apps in their fitness class or a drunk Lavanya talking about the perils of rushing into a marriage and motherhood due to social pressure. Simone Singh stands out as Lavanya’s alcohol-loving free-spirited mother who shirks away from giving any relationship advice to her daughter.
If Jee Karda comes back with another season, it should pay more attention to substance, not just style.
Jee Karda cast: Tamannaah Bhatia, Aashim Gulati, Suhail Nayyar, Anya Singh, Hussain Dalal, Sayan Banerjee, and Samvedna Suwalka
Jee Karda director: Arunima Sharma
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