29 July,2023 05:44 PM IST | Mumbai | Harshita Kale
Karan and Tara in `Made in Heaven`
The lavish Indian wedding spectacle has been a centerpiece of Hindi entertainment for a long time. However, what lurks behind this performative display of love has been far less examined - and Made in Heaven does exactly this - it self-reflexively explores the dark side of India's elite.
The show has been lauded for its fluid blend of plot, narrative and overtones of social commentary as well as its exquisite performances. But amidst the misgivings and dirty secrets of the rich that litter the show, one relationship truly stands out - and that is Tara and Karan's unusual and moving friendship.
Made in Heaven follows mainly two protagonists - Tara, who by marrying business tycoon Adil Khanna, has ascended the ladder of social mobility and Karan, a closeted gay man who is grappling with the emotional consequences of hiding part of his identity. Tara and Karan are founder-partners of Made in Heaven - a Delhi-based wedding consultancy and planning agency, who are tasked with designing and selling âheaven' to their uber-rich clientele. Each episode follows a different wedding where Tara and Karan don multiple hats of wedding consultants, organizers, advisors, negotiators and catastrophe-averters. The show uses the cultural subtext of each wedding to delve deeper into Tara and Karan's private dysfunctional, hellish landscapes.
Tara and Karan are supposed to be business partners but their bond goes beyond the boundaries of the professional. Right from the start, the two are in sync with each other's temperaments and fault lines - they balance each other beautifully during wedding pitches, Karan the sensitive, stable pillar to Tara's fiery personality and become each other's confidantes behind the curtains. When Tara finds out her husband has been injured in an accident, and subsequently cheating on her with her best friend, Faiza - Karan is the one who holds her tearstained face at the hospital and offers an understanding ear during her emotional turmoil.
A scene that particularly stood out to us is the night of Tara's birthday when the company is travelling to plan a wedding. Tara is distraught and the picture of loneliness lying alone on a massive bed. The doorbell rings, and Karan stands at the door at midnight to wish who in many ways, is his best friend. The following scenes where Tara, in a rare moment of weakness clutches Karan, who sleeps holding her that night - are unforgettable in their tenderness.
It is not just Karan who shows up time and time again. âMade in Heaven' explicitly states its stance as an ally to the LGBTQIA+ movement. The show is set in an India pre-abolishment of Section 377 -- an act that up until 2018, criminalized homosexuality. Karan's arc in Season 1 follows his acceptance of his queer identity, interspersed with incisively poised flashbacks of childhood non-acceptance and trauma. When Karan is arrested and abused in a local police thaana for illegitimate homosexual activity, it is Tara who rushes to his side and bails him out. When he begins to rally against Section 377, she stands behind him as not only a fierce supporter but also as a friend.
After hours of torture, when Tara finally meets Karan at the station, she rushes to hug him, but he stops her, saying he's âfilthy' - pointing to not only his physical state but also his internal sense of shame and âdirtyness' - reinforced to him by the police officers. Tara's âI don't care' and tight hug in the next shot say it all.
Made in Heaven portrays Tara and Karan, like all its characters, in their ambiguous greyness. Even when audiences might struggle to understand whether to root for them, these two never leave each other's side. At the end of the season, when all seems lost for both of them, Tara and Karan return to the vandalized rooms of âMade in Heaven' - and they laugh about it! The pair's natural conversations, ability to joke and cry together when their lives are falling apart and steady companionship makes their friendship truly remarkable. All the world might sneer at them - but they neither taunt each other nor âsave' each other - they stand with each other, observing, comforting, advising and trusting.
Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur outdo themselves with their brilliant performances and bring to screen a striking chemistry that rivets attention and invites empathy. Most of all, they embody what's often the only thing we need from a friend - their unwavering presence. We can't wait to see how their friendship develops in Season 2!
Season 2 of âMade in Heaven' will stream on Amazon Prime Video on August 10.
