Masterpeace review: Nithya Menen, Sharaf U Dheen series is fun, but unnecessarily stretched

Following an intense altercation between Riya and Binoy, their parents become aware of the situation and decide to visit the former’s apartment unannounced to “resolve everything”. However, from the outset, it becomes evident that for Riya’s father Kuriyachan (Ashokan) and Binoy’s mother Aniyamma (Maala Parvathi), this isn’t merely about their children’s fight but more about asserting their dominance in the system. Despite efforts by their respective partners, Lisamma (Shanthi Krishna) and Chandichan (Renji Panicker), to ease tensions, their submissive nature, which the former two have cultivated over the years, hinders them from making any substantial contributions. Meanwhile, Riya and Binoy’s ego fuels the conflict, exacerbating an already strained situation.

One of the beauties of the OTT era is that makers are no longer expected to adhere strictly to soap opera formulas while crafting dramas, providing them with extensive freedom to experiment with the genre according to their own vision.

Watch Masterpeace trailer here:

While humour serves as the primary vehicle for delivering the story, director Sreejith and writer Praveen S amplify the comedy multiple times, rendering it truly over-the-top and ultra-dramatic, mirroring the ambience found in many Indian households.

At the same time, the makers also utilise exquisitely designed interiors adorned with vibrant colours and distinctive objects and attribute caricaturish behaviour to the characters, ensuring that every moment, action and reaction stands out. This approach sheds light on the tendency of people to exaggerate situations unnecessarily for the sake of apparent and short-lived triumphs.

By incorporating Wes Anderson-esque aesthetics and borrowing certain styles from Lijo Jose Pellissery’s fantasy comedy Amen (2013), the makers offer an intriguing and distinctive viewing experience that is seldom encountered.

Through its meticulous portrayal of conflicts and chaos within a framework of symmetry, the show challenges the fundamental facade of Indian families that often strive to maintain the illusion of domestic harmony despite resembling a dormant volcano on the verge of eruption.

Masterpeace stars Nithya Menen, Sharaf U Dheen, Ashokan, Maala Parvathi, Shanthi Krishna and Renji Panicker in key roles. (Image: Nithya Menen/Instagram)

Spread across five episodes, each lasting over 30 minutes, a significant portion of Masterpeace’s narrative unfolds within a single day and primarily within Riya and Binoy’s apartment. Despite the series centring around only six characters, the presence of priest Father Savourias (Jude Anthany Joseph) is pervasive, constantly disturbing the family’s peace to gather content for his holy mass speeches and finding satisfaction in intruding where he isn’t welcome. Similarly troublesome is the residents’ association chief Viji sir (Srikant Murali), who remains oblivious to the concept of personal boundaries. By also incorporating aspects of elders’ religiosity and misogyny and examining their impact on families, the series aims to confront several prevalent issues within Indian households.

However, these issues become clear within the first three episodes, and the rest of Masterpeace is an unnecessary stretch that could have been easily removed, or the overall duration of the show could have been trimmed. Cutting a few minutes from each episode would have prevented the show from starting off as an engaging watch but eventually descending into a tiresome experience by the end.

While each shot maintains a distinct appearance, thanks in part to director Sreejith’s excellent work as the production designer too, the moments quickly become dull due to repetitive behaviour, dampening the initial mood it had established.

This is particularly evident during moments when the series addresses the topic of elders’ intense religiosity and misogyny. After a certain point, it raises the question of whether the makers are genuinely addressing these issues or merely mocking the discussions condemning such harmful practices. On the other hand, the sporadic presence and absence of a voice-over narration also detract from the experience.

Apart from the exquisite frames, Ashokan and Maala Parvathi’s exceptional performances also compel viewers to stay engaged with the show and not abandon it midway. Despite the passage of years since Ashokan last received significant roles, Masterpeace clearly demonstrates that his charm and talent remain intact, ready to shine when the opportunity arises. His impeccable timing in comedic moments, as well as his use of facial expressions and voice to enhance the humour, is evident here as well. In fact, his repetitive self-congratulatory dialogues, highlighting his pettiness, are the only thing that remains engaging until the end. Maala Parvathi’s portrayal of the manipulative and controlling mother also deserves commendation, as she adeptly embodies a character that extensively utilises physical comedy.

Though Shanthi Krishna’s Lisamma is often overshadowed by other characters, she demonstrates her full acting prowess, even in subtle expressions that catch the camera’s attention. On the other hand, Renji Panicker, by stepping slightly out of his comfort zone of rigid, emotionless characters and embracing the ‘loving and understanding father’ archetype for which he was previously acclaimed, delivers a decent performance in contrast to his recent disappointing ones.

However, both Nithya Menen and Sharaf U Dheen, unfortunately, disappoint. While their handling of the narrative’s exaggerated behaviour, skillfully incorporating their comedic abilities, is praiseworthy, it seems as though they were not fully convinced of their respective characters. Eventually, they become somewhat detached from the roles of Riya and Binoy. While the senior actors in the ensemble navigate the fine line adeptly, the younger actors appear to struggle, seemingly after attempting to portray their characters too superficially.

While Bijibal’s music, perfectly attuned to the series’ tone, complements cinematographer Aslam K Purayil’s frames, providing audiences with a distinctive experience, Riyas K Badhar’s seamless editing also enhances the show, particularly in slow-motion shots and those with multiple consecutive actions.

In short, Masterpeace is an interesting watch that could have been even more engaging if the makers trimmed it more effectively.

Masterpeace cast: Nithya Menen, Sharaf U Dheen, Ashokan, Maala Parvathi, Shanthi Krishna, Renji Panicker, Jude Anthany Joseph
Masterpeace director: Sreejith N
Masterpeace rating: 2.5 stars