Friendship Day 2023: Tara and Karan’s riveting friendship 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 ndash and Made in Heaven does exactly this ndash it selfreflexively explores the dark side of Indiarsquos eliteThe 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 ndash and that is Tara and Karanrsquos unusual and moving friendshipMade in Heaven follows mainly two protagonists ndash 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 founderpartners of Made in Heaven ndash a Delhibased wedding consultancy and planning agency who are tasked with designing and selling lsquoheavenrsquo to their uberrich clientele Each episode follows a different wedding where Tara and Karan don multiple hats of wedding consultants organizers advisors negotiators and catastropheaverters The show uses the cultural subtext of each wedding to delve deeper into Tara and Karanrsquos private dysfunctional hellish landscapesTara 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 otherrsquos temperaments and fault lines ndash they balance each other beautifully during wedding pitches Karan the sensitive stable pillar to Tararsquos fiery personality and become each others 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 ndash Karan is the one who holds her tearstained face at the hospital and offers an understanding ear during her emotional turmoilA scene that particularly stood out to us is the night of Tararsquos 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 ndash are unforgettable in their tendernessIt is not just Karan who shows up time and time again lsquoMade in Heavenrsquo explicitly states its stance as an ally to the LGBTQIA movement The show is set in an India preabolishment of Section 377 an act that up until 2018 criminalized homosexuality Karanrsquos arc in Season 1 follows his acceptance of his queer identity interspersed with incisively poised flashbacks of childhood nonacceptance 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 friendAfter hours of torture when Tara finally meets Karan at the station she rushes to hug him but he stops her saying hersquos lsquofilthyrsquo ndash pointing to not only his physical state but also his internal sense of shame and lsquodirtynessrsquo ndash reinforced to him by the police officers Tararsquos lsquoI donrsquot carersquo and tight hug in the next shot say it allMade 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 otherrsquos side At the end of the season when all seems lost for both of them Tara and Karan return to the vandalized rooms of lsquoMade in Heavenrsquo ndash and they laugh about it The pairrsquos 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 ndash but they neither taunt each other nor lsquosaversquo each other ndash they stand with each other observing comforting advising and trustingSobhita 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 whatrsquos often the only thing we need from a friend ndash their unwavering presence We canrsquot wait to see how their friendship develops in Season 2Season 2 of lsquoMade in Heavenrsquo will stream on Amazon Prime Video on August 10