'Premature ejaculation', 'dream defects', 'secret diseases'. We have seen these words written in a very shady manner on the gray walls. If you travel by train to North India, you will see a lot. There are also commercials for quack doctors who are in danger. who are not actually doctors. And, even those who are actually doctors. degree holders. But when it is so rare to talk about it, who knows the difference between the two? Such characters have also been seen in some popular films and series, but those who were seen were shown in the same light. Like he's just the object of uncomfortable laughs.
Now a series has come on this topic. on sony liv. Streaming since 22nd July. The name is, 'Dr. Arora: Gynecologist'. There are eight episodes of 35-40 minutes. Story of Imtiaz Ali. Sajid Ali and Archit Kumar have directed. Sajid Ali is Imtiaz's brother. The lead role is played by Kumud Mishra, in & as Dr. Vishesh Arora. In the series, you will also get to see great actors like Vidya Malvade, Vivek Mushran and Sandeepa Dhar.
We saw all in one sud. So now let us tell you what is deposited and what is not.
The theme of the story is Jabber
Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Ali had earlier worked together in the Netflix show 'She'. Explores a woman's sexuality in 'She'. This time the story mainly talks on the sexuality of men, but the story is not just that. The story tries to see a man's sexuality in contrast to his masculinity. Dr. Arora has three clinics. in three different states. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The issue is the same, there are different characters and they have different problems. There has been talk on premature ejaculation, love, masturbation, dream defects. Through different characters. Among the patients there is a student leader type boy, a sex-worker, an SP and a Baba. Everyone has their own parallel story, one end of which is their life and the other end is Dr. Arora.
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| The series revolves around a single person, but from season one it is understood that there are layers to these characters as well. |
The story is searching for new truths through Dr. Arora. If a new truth comes in front of any truth, then there is friction. This is what is seen in the series. A set is a pattern, a set has definitions. Been going on for years. Balance is maintained, but very volatile. It is like an old fort, which is made of heavy stones, but when you look at its bottom, you will find dampness. Civilization flourished. Some people told that the era has become modern, but many things are still due. Like this thing. And, now these things have become a tree from the foundation of the fort and have entered the fort. It is spreading continuously in one room of the fort. has taken a shape. Elephant shape. This is what we call 'Elephant in the Room'.
The things we knew were there. We just weren't looking at them. This topic is the same. Uncomfortable. essential. Elephant in the Room. That's why the series says from time to time,
'As long as it remains secret, the disease will remain!'
The subject is appreciated. is necessary. This is a subject which we have very conveniently removed from our collective consciousness. Taboo. All the people. Together.
Kumud Mishra's work is top
The story is set in the late 90s. So you can imagine how much discussion would have happened on this subject at that time. What would the stigma be like? It has also been taken care of in the series, that the time in which the story is being told should be of that time. For example, the references of the late 90s have been caught well. In the series, it will be discussed that with which heroine Bobby Deol's pairing looks best or what effect did the advent of TV have on the newspapers. Both are events of that time. There are other references which have got their fair share.
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| Kumud is seen in many shades. Sometimes a desperate lover, sometimes a squeamish father, and sometimes a middle-age swagger (Photo - YT Screengrab) |
And, then comes Dr. Arora. Dr. Arora's character is well written. Can't say brilliantly, because his arc was predictable. However, Kumud enhances that character. For example, the way Dr. Arora takes his profession seriously. The issue around which the discussion is around, how sensitive it is, its knowledge is visible in the makers. There is a scene in the very first episode of the series where Dr. Arora says,
"Thunderstorm, storm, flood, drought.. Even if there is a fire in this building. Patient's dignity can never be broken! You know this thing, don't you know?"
And, moving forward in the series, Kumud Mishra convinces you with his payoff that Dr. Sahab was saying this with full confidence. As if they believe in this thing 100 percent. And, if a new truth is to be placed in front of the perceived truth that has been going on for years, then one has to be hundred percent sure. However, the patient-serious, one who values his profession, stands for values, calm and gentle type description is true only to the surface of Dr. Arora. The character of Dr. Sahab also opens with the story. Some of his unpredictable shades are also seen.
Two more things on 'Imtiaz Ali Touch'..
How can the story be of Imtiaz Ali and there is no balcony view! Old-school balcony romance is seen in almost all of Imtiaz Ali's pictures. Imtiaz Ali himself has said that he is a student of Shakespearean School of Love. In an interview with Netflix, Imtiaz Ali spoke about some of the visual themes that live in almost all his films. One of which is Juliet's balcony. You see the right touch of the typical Imtiaz Ali in the series.
Mixed feeling comes from Rajesh Shukla's cinemat. Some shots are very accurate, some cliche and some fuss.
Neeladri Kumar's music is excellent and used on precise occasions. Two great songs have come out. Arijit Singh's 'Mehram' and 'Empty' can be heard after coming home from office. Both the songs are written by Irshad Kamil, which gives more Imtiaz Ali feel to this series.
The most important thing in the writing of a character is to justify its crisis. What the character is doing, why he is doing it, it should be clarified. Either in his past or in the events happening together. It is not necessary that the details should be given but the direction should be given so that it can be explained. It seems to be missing somewhere in the character of Dr. Arora. And, especially on those extremes when you want to advance with that character.
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| This is a glimpse of Dr. Arora's past life, which appears in the series on occasion. |
Rest of the actors have played their part well. Gaurav Parajuli, Vidya Malvade and Pitobash Tripathi do justice to their characters. Vivek Mushran's part is very interesting in terms of experiment in the series, but he does not come out like that. Raj Arun as Firangi Baba is brilliant. One thing stands out in this part too that the series does not explore their stories much.
The story drags on at certain places. Loud acting is seen at some places, which does not fit the mood of the series.
Our colleague Shwetank wrote in a review, in the mainstream content driven cinema we are making here, such a topic is first ridiculed, then its seriousness is explained. Which is a toxic way to talk about any topic. But this toxicity is not seen in this story of Imtiaz Ali. He has made a serious cinema. Not serious in his words, but in his treatment. It's a good experiment.
The highlighting point is that the story is a sarcasm on the idea that manhood is confined to a man's penis and a woman's honor to her vagina. The story goes through different stages, touching on different levels of emotion, telling us that a person is much more than any one part of himself. No situation, no aspect of his life is greater than the aggregate of his life. The biggest thing in life is life. And, what do you let that be.
However, here's what happened. You can watch Dr. Arora on Sony Liv.
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