Amazon Prime's "Made in Heaven" Review

I just finished season one of Made in Heaven a few days ago, and I must say that I was quite impressed with this show. Here’s the trailer of the show if you’re interested in getting a glance of what the show is about, and I will provide a more comprehensive analysis of this season below.

Brief Synopsis of Show:

Each episode covers the planning and execution of a posh, classy Indian wedding replete with conflicts and systemic problems; in the backdrop, viewers are provided an in-depth look into the lives of the two protagonists and their own adversities and struggles that they must endure

Performances:

Every actor and actress in this show has given it their 100%; I couldn’t be more pleased with the performances that were on display in this show. Sobhita Dhulipala as Tara owns her role as the girl who has successfully emerged from the shackles of poverty and learned helplessness with her no-nonsense depiction of her elevated status and adoption of more “classy” behaviors. Likewise, Arjun Mathur owns his performance as Karan, depicting his internalized conflicts of expressing his sexual orientation with sheer authenticity that will really make you empathize with him. A particular scene in one of the later episodes in which he must really come to terms with the stigmatization that LGBTQ+ individuals in India must experience really made me understand the helplessness that he experiences throughout the show. The supporting performances from Kalki Koechlin, Jim Sarbh, Shashank Arora, and Shivani Raghuvanshi are all extremely well done and really aid in constructing additional layers of depth to the show, as they too must deal with their fair share of socially constructed barriers and conflicts. A word of appreciation for Shashank Arora’s character, Kabir, as I really enjoyed his reflective narrations at the end of each episode about the facades and hypocrisies that exist in the highbrow and working-class circles of Indian society.

Screenplay:

Zoya Akthar and Reema Kagti creatively craft engaging narratives that explore the drama, politics, and sheer work that goes into planning these royal, grandiose Indian weddings while highlighting the contrasts and dichotomies that exist with the protagonists being the esteemed wedding planners that they are. We soon learn about the everyday discrimination and shame that Karan must endure due to his sexual orientation, and we also learn more about who Tara really is as a character throughout her harbored dissatisfaction towards her family and seemingly contentedness with her husband and in-laws. Essentially, there are a variety of different facades that are presented and slowly broken down, and every character in the show possesses shades of grey that are impossible to ignore. There are certain subplots that I wasn’t necessarily a fan of, as they weren’t developed with sufficient detail and exposition; however, these are easy to ignore, as most of the viewer’s attention will be spent in awe of what’s taking place with the weddings. Again, kudos to Akthar and Kagti for being able to tap into the creative potential and portray the elaborate “Indian wedding” scene with realism and vulnerability.

Cinematography/Editing:

In my opinion, I felt that the cinematography was pretty solid overall. The use of lighting to convey specific emotions and particular atmospheric moods is appropriate, and everything taking place was shot realistically. There are some absolutely gorgeous shots of the many different weddings that take place, and a variety of different camera angles are utilized to convey the gravity of various incidents that take place throughout the progression of the show. The editing was decent; I personally felt that there were areas in which the transitions between wedding planning and the conflicts taking place within the protagonists’ lives were a bit choppy at times, but they didn’t significantly hinder the episodes. The show could have proceeded a bit faster, as some melodramatic scenes were drawn out a bit; however, these moments were few and far in between.

Costume Design/Setting:

Absolutely stunning; the wedding outfits that are worn by the brides in each episode are just jaw-dropping. Likewise, the families are dressed to the nines, and the wedding venues are aptly decorated and designed to ensure that everyone will have a great time!

Background Score:

Don’t think the music particularly stood out to me, but the score does accurately reflect the emotional atmospheres present in a variety of different scenes throughout the season. The music doesn’t really drive the show forward; it simply serves as a fitting complementary tool for the more emotionally evocative scenes.

Rating: 3.5/5.

Despite a few hiccups, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti deliver another successful work of entertainment that will certainly ignite some controversial but essential conversations in many Indian households regarding marriage, the social construction of sexual orientation, and the prevalence of class divides + the urgency to make it big in life. Season 2 is in the works, and I cannot wait to see what’s in store!