shot-button
Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi
Home > Entertainment News > Web Series News > Article > Aarya 2 Web Review Slow narrative with a beautiful end

Aarya 2 Web Review: Slow narrative with a beautiful end

Updated on: 14 December,2021 07:52 AM IST  |  Mumbai
Mohar Basu | mohar.basu@mid-day.com

The realisation that she doesn’t wish to escape anymore, comes early on. How far can you escape from the loss of a soulmate, from the law keepers who hold the reins of her life, the mafia and the Russians?

Aarya 2 Web Review: Slow narrative with a beautiful end

A still from Aarya 2

Aarya 2
On: Disney+ Hotstar
Dir: Ram Madhvani, Vinod Rawat, Kapil Sharma
Cast: Sushmita Sen, Sikandar Kher, Vikas Kumar
Rating: 3.5/5


At one point during the second episode of Aarya, I almost gave up on it. The fact that its high-on-anxiety narrative moving at a tedious pace was making it hard to sit through. However, I stayed for the wonderful Sushmita Sen, who lures you in with a flawless performance. She doesn’t miss a single beat making it such a delight to watch her on screen. At the end of episode 8, I was glad I did because the explosive finale of the season is easily the best I have seen in a desi OTT series. 


Watch Video


Designed as a slow burn, the only thing creator-director Ram Madhvani asks of you is your patience. The pay off is quite sumptuous as Aarya’s character evolves from a wounded tigress on the run to a woman who takes charge of her destiny and life. The realization that she doesn’t wish to escape anymore, comes early on. How far can you escape, after all - from the loss of your soulmate while your children replay his videos everyday, from the law keepers who hold the reins of her life while she plays puppets at their orders, from the mafia who are bloodthirsty for her and the Russians who won’t let go off their drugs worth 300 crores…

What Madhvani does interestingly, is weave the stories of her children into the narrative. Aarya’s eldest Veer is now her mother’s support system. Together they hold through the vulnerable Arundhati, who is battling the demons of her past. Her suicide attempts take a toll on them emotionally. The impressionable Aditya is still adjusting but he has his eyes on guns and wants to avenge his father’s death. It is slightly triggering to watch a 9 year old ask his bodyguard to teach him how to use a gun. Aarya has to be a mother first, and she must keep her family safe. But she also must tackle old-allies-turned-foes like ACP Khan (played beautifully by Vikas Kumar) who are waiting for her to slip, her family members who have proven themselves to be untrustworthy and rivals like Shekhawat, Russians et. al. There’s a lot that writers Anu Singh Choudhary and Sanyukta Chawla pack in. Some subplots tremble while others layer the story beautifully. There are fleeting moments of unlikely friendships. Some heartbreaks that shake you to your very core. Some dark old secrets that make this thriller even more twisted. And some passing moments like Aarya bonding with a fellow parent from school over a bowl of khichdi, that give us a glimpse of how simple her life could’ve been. 

With every episode, Sushmita’s Aarya comes into her own as she weathers relentless storms. Desperate to protect her children, she metamorphoses into a Devi. Or as Sikander Kher’s Daulat says, “Mujhe chinta hai unki jisne iss sherni ko cheda.” Claws out, Aarya goes to battle as the narrative inches towards a soaring end. As Godfather fans, we all thought we knew what Dons are like. Aarya gives us an alternate tale of what happens when a woman rules the show.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!

Register for FREE
to continue reading !

This is not a paywall.
However, your registration helps us understand your preferences better and enables us to provide insightful and credible journalism for all our readers.

Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK