His women lack agency, with their lives almost always being governed by the choices the men around them make.Īll eight episodes of Dr Arora began streaming on SonyLiv from July 22, and it will find viewers. Having said that, it becomes apparent that Imtiaz Ali hasn’t written a decent female character in years. The two actors bring out the turmoil and vulnerability these characters face quite well. The two obvious names that grab your attention are Vidya Malavade, who plays Dr Arora’s ex wife, and Sandeepa Dhar, who plays the troubled wife of a police superintendent.
The support cast, sadly has little to do, but a few manage to stand out. If it wasn’t for him, the show would probably have been unbearable. And he shows why it’s the right choice too. It’s so good to see an actor usually classified as a ‘character actor’ being entrusted to lead the show. We want heroes who don’t manipulate and gaslight, and if they do, probably not be glorified for it. It’s high time our filmmakers and writers understand the difference between love and obsession, and probably google consent some time too. All his growth is spoiled with his parallel track where he stalks his ex-wife who left him 17 years ago. But then he learns from them and makes amends. He makes mistakes too, judges his patients at times. The way his Dr Arora deals with the stigma and taboo around sex and with his patients is refreshing and can actually be a lesson for many in this country. But all of them are largely reserved for Kumud Mishra’s character.
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A still from Imtiaz Ali's new series Dr Arora. The background music in some ‘comedy’ scenes would be a better fit in The Benny Hill show probably, and the track about a spiritual guru with that god-awful accent is a big turn-off (pun intended). The acting goes over-the-top, the jokes don’t land well, and the show’s attempt to be slapstick in some scenes is downright cringeworthy. Being set in the 90s does not mean it had to ape that tone as well. It makes the odd choices of infusing needless humour, titilation, and innuendos in places, making it reminscent of a 90s Govinda comedy in parts. The show lacks the subtlety and sensitivity needed to tackle this myriad of touchy issues.
Dr Arora, sadly, will not join that list. Badhaai Ho and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan immediately come to mind. Indian cinema has dealt with sensitive subjects around sex and reproduction and made some gems. And as he attempts to solve the problems of his patients-a young man with erectile dysfunction, a high-profle escort with STDs, and a dabangg top cop with premature ejaculation-he must also deal with the demons of his own failed marriage and a smear campaign against his profession. It shows how a self-proclaimed well-intentioned sexologist Dr Arora (an effortlessly charming Kumud Mishra) tries to solve people’s ‘sex problems’ in a world that refuses to even talk about it. Also read: She season 2 review: Imtiaz Ali’s wannabe Breaking Bad is undone by male gazeĭr Arora is set in 1999 and flips between three cities-Jhansi, Morena, and Sawai Madhopur-situated at the juncture of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The show meanders through eight episodes in trying to figure out what exactly it wants to say, only to be somewhat salvaged by the acting chops of Kumud Mishra and a competent support cast.
And that is where Dr Arora falls flat on his face. But as our high-school math teachers would say-there are no marks for attempts alone, execution matters. The series, based on a small-town sexologist from the late-1990s, is a bold attempt at humour on a sensitive subject.
Dr Arora, the latest web series from the mind of filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, is a lot like many of its characters-fails to perform at crucial junctures.