DASTAAN - பாசாங்கில்லாத பாகிஸ்தான் காதல்
DASTAAN - பாசாங்கில்லாத பாகிஸ்தான் காதல்
Language Urdu
Country Pakistan
Originally aired in 2010
One season 23 episodes
I started watching Pakistani TV series primarily to improve my Urdu; to enrich the vocabulary and to learn the nuances of the language but I must admit that I was so impressed by the story value and the execution of the stories that I couldn’t stop with one. Unlike the saas bahu sagas of Star Plus or the two wives hungama of Sun TV, these series had strong story lines with solid values. Another important factor is that they don’t keep churning these stories for seven years, ten years and call that in itself as success. Maximum a series would be 25 episodes.
Dastaan is an epic series in its own right. Based on the events that occurred during the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan. Bano is engaged to Hassan who works in the Pakistani side in Rawalpindi and she is in Ludhiana the Indian state of Punjab. Her family is destroyed completely during the riots and did she survive to reach her finance in Pakistan is the rest of the story. Human suffering is the same whatever side of the border you are in, The trials and tribulations; the tears and anguish; the longing and the separations; the torture and humiliations are all the same. The drama does not make villains out of Hindus and Sikhs but only depicts how mob culture can destroy humanity in our own neighbors and friends.
Dastaan is a heavy subject to watch, I had to give a day’s break every now and then to compose myself, and still it shakes your very being. You are left with questions like was all this necessary? For what purpose? What did we achieve by cutting of an arm of the peninsula? Couldn’t they have done it without so much bloodshed? Were our leaders careless that they did not foresee such a calamity? Or were they indifferent? There are no graphic scenes of violence in the drama still it tears you apart.
Watch Dastaan to know the bitter history of India and Pakistan, what our people endured because of the egoism and foolishness of our leaders, because Bano is not just the daughter of Pakistan, she is as much our daughter too.
Padmini Satyanarayanan
BLACK SPOT - பிரச்சனையே தேடுவேன் கிடைக்கலன்னா உருவாக்குவேன்
BLACK SPOT/ ZONE BLANCHE
Language French
Originally aired in 2017
Two seasons 16 episodes
An honest cop with a troubled past, her loyal colleagues, a weird prosecutor, a small town with a close knit community, to top it all a Celtic god believed to be haunting the forest, what more do u want for a gripping crime thriller? Black spot is brilliantly engaging. If you want to break away from a bustling city life and go to a tranquil place, watch Black spot it will automatically transport you to a remote French town.
Padmini Satyanarayanan
McMAFIA - ரஷ்யன் மாஃபியா கதை
McMAFIA - ரஷ்யன் மாஃபியா கதை
Language English/Russian
Originally aired in 2018
One season 8 episodes
Macmafia is about a Russian mafia family who relocate to England and start a legitimate business. The son Alex Godman is brought up as an upright gentleman. Alex starts a business and wants to lead a calm and quite life with his girlfriend Rebecca until the past catches up with them and he is sucked into the world of crime. It is a gripping tale of someone who wants to be righteous but could not ignore family values. It’s a breezy watch of just 8 episodes, so happy viewing!
Padmini Satyanarayanan
INSIDE EDGE - டி20 மாட்ச் பிக்ஸிங் கதை
Language Hindi/ English
Originally aired in 2017
Inside Edge is Amazon Prime’s first ever original series. It is based on an imaginary cricket team playing league games modeled on IPL. Anyone interested in cricket and IPL should not miss it. Strong storyline, interesting screenplay, impressive performances and a racy climax makes it wonderful viewing. I finished all the 10 episodes in two days! While it shows the ugly face of betting and match fixing it also shows how some players uphold the spirit of the game. This is also the first Indian television series to be nominated for Emmy Awards.
ARTHDAL CHRONICLES - ஓவர் பில்ட்அப்பால் தோற்ற சீரியல்
Language Korean
Originally aired in 2019
One season 18 episodes
Arthdal Chronicles was touted as THE EPIC drama of all times and created a hype that almost killed the series. It received lot of flak for being too much like Game of Thrones. It is a gross injustice to the series if it is compared with the all-time greatest epic drama in television history. Korean viewers even called it embarrassing. But one should see the series to know that it is nothing like GOT. Of course it is an epic drama about mythological times with kings, monsters, magicians which would resemble other epics. Another big complaint was that it was slow. I would say every KDrama is guilty of this charge. They tend to grow on you. If you have the patience to go through the first few episodes you are definitely in for a treat. This is true for almost all KDrama series.
Arthdal Chronicles is breath-taking in its settings, visuals, locations, costumes, make-up; has a solid story and outstanding performances by the cast. I thoroughly enjoyed all the 18 episodes even though each one was about 80 mins long. If you love mythologies don’t miss this one. The final episode hints at another season. I personally would welcome a second season but it seems it is most unlikely due to low TRPs and the huge production cost. It is so disappointing to leave a story half way through like this. Hoping the producers would consider viewers like me.
Padmini Satyanarayanan
RESURRECTION ERTUGRUL - 22 நாடுகளில் பரபரப்பை கிளப்பிய தொடர்
Language Turkish
Originally aired in 2014
Five seasons 448 episodes
Available in Netflix
Diliris Ertugrul(Resurrection Ertugrul) is a Turkish historical drama which traces the life of Ertugrul the father of Osman I, founder of the Ottaman Empire. Engin Altan Düzyatan as Ertugrul and Esra Bilgiç as Halime Hatun are the lead pair.
Ertugrul hailed from a small tribe called Kayi tribe as the third son of the tribe’s chief. He went on to become the Uc Bey since he was the only person to face the Mongols and defeat them. His story is portrayed in this epic drama.
When it was first aired in Turkey in 2014 it became an instant rage throughout the Arab world. It’s been dubbed and aired in 22 countries.
The grandeur of the story, the cast, the locations, the sets and the stunt choreography are simply breath taking. The staggering number of episodes may put you off in the beginning but once you start watching you ll be sucked into the world of Ertugrul.
Happy watching!
Padmini Satyanarayanan
THE CROWN - ஒரு ராணியின் கதை
Language English
Originally aired in 2016
Two seasons 20 episodes
Third season starting on 17th Nov 2019
The Crown traces the history of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding day to the present. Claire Foy as the young Queen has done a commendable job. Everyone in the cast have performed very well, special mention should be made of John Lithgow who has played Winston Churchill. What amazes me is the boldness with which they have portrayed the characters, most of whom are still alive, with all the scandals and rumors intact. The Royal family has chosen to ignore the series, so they neither approve nor condemn it. We are left to guessing the authenticity of the scandals. I hate to say it but it results in a spicy and juicy watch!
If you love history this one is for you.
Actually if you start with ‘Tudors’, then see ‘Reign’ and then ‘The crown’ you would be watching English history in the chronological order. A new series ‘King’ about King Henry has come to Netflix, will watch it and let you know soon.
Padmini Satyanarayanan
இவரு இன்னொரு தனுஷ்
FINGERTIP - Review
FINGERTIP
Language Tamil
Country India
Originally aired in 2019
One season 5 episodes
Available in ZEE5
Fingertip is a series about the effects of social media. I was warned that after having seen Black Mirror I shouldn’t risk watching this but I was hooked well into the first episode itself. For one Black Mirror is a futuristic anthology whereas Fingertip is about now, the current scenario. Comparing these two series is a gross injustice.
Fingertip talks about five different issues in five different social media but uses crossover actors to show that these issues are universal and can happen to anyone. The one good thing about the show is that it does not moralize or sermonize about the actions of the characters, they are presented as individual actions stemming from individual circumstances.
Casting is a big plus and all the lead actors have done a good job.
This short series is definitely worth a watch since it leaves an uneasy feeling in the pit of our stomach since it very subtly leaves a strong message for us.
Padmini Satyanarayanan
FRONTERA VERDE/ GREEN FRONTIER
FRONTERA VERDE/ GREEN FRONTIER
Language: Spanish/ Brazilian Portugese/Native languages of the indigenous tribes
Country: Columbia
Originally aired in 2019
One season 8 episodes
Available in Netflix
Green Frontier is touted as a mystery thriller, it begins with Helena Poveda (Juana Del Rio) coming to investigate homicides of four nuns but soon becomes a spiritual and philosophical awakening for not only her but also to the viewer.
The lush green forest and the vast Amazon River gives a tranquil feeling though we are dealing with bizarre murders. The series gains momentum when Helena finds a fifth body that of Ushe. She turns out to be an eternal like Yua who have many special qualities.
The story moves slowly but keeps up our curiosity. It should be watched for the cinematography which captures Amazon in its splendor. We feel helpless along with the indigenous tribes who meet death and destruction in the hands of the white invaders.
Padmini Sathyanarayan
