Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Cast: Veeneet Kumar, Mukesh Tiwari, Vyom Yadav, Puneet Singh, Anurag Thakur, Disha Thakur, Pravesh Rana
Where: Sony LIV
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Taking a cue from 'Haasil', his most memorable and culturally relevant piece of art from nearly two decades ago, filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia returns with 'Garmi' (heat), the new web show that is now streaming on Sony LIV. In the context of the show, the term stands for the rage, restlessness and recklessness that dictates the lives and beings of rural India's youth.
While 'Garmi' largely succeeds in terms of delving into how student politics can affect the system at large, it falters due to the predictable nature of storytelling that avid consumers of OTT, have become accustomed to.
Arvind Shukla (Vyom Yadav) arrives at Trivenipur University to escape the mundanity of his life in Lalganj, with the sole intention of acquiring a masters' degree in political science and eventually, pursuing the IAS. Short-tempered and easily triggered, Shukla is fighting his own demons and external battles at every step, until he gets caught in between the ongoing clash involving opposing student unions at the campus.
Given how much of it is covered in everyday news and by every other film/show, it comes as no surprise that the value of life in Uttar Pradesh's badlands is abysmally low. Hence, the novelty that lies in telling a story from the Indian hinterland, is nullified. Written by Dhulia and Kamal Pandey, the tropes are very familiar. Political connections are forged with police officers, conniving financiers or fraudulent religious gurus. There is casteism, corruption, a general disdain towards homosexuality, Left ideologies barely existing by the sidelines, et al. Again, given it's largely male-dominant and patriarchal set-up, there is little room for reason granted to the women on the show. Shukla's few moments of calm and sanity with Surbhi (Disha Thakur) add to the much-needed pause, in an otherwise lengthy show.
Length is another crucial factor that threatens to derail the viewing experience, considering that much of the material is relatively known. While Sony LIV alone has 'Maharani' and 'Jehanabad' in the vault to give a fairer idea about hinterland politics, 'Garmi' could've cut to the chase, much sooner.
But, barring these glaring obstacles aside, the show is watchable due to the rooted performances by its ensemble cast, especially by the relatively younger actors, again put together by casting director Mukesh Chhabra. Vyom Yadav practically disappears into being Arvind Shukla. Such a phenomenal find. Puneet Singh and Anurag Thakur, who play Bindu and Govind, respectively, the opposing leaders on campus, are aptly cast as two misled, entitled and egoistic hotheads. Veeneet Kumar, recently seen in the Ajay Devgn-starrer 'Bholaa', brings his best act to the table as the manipulative religious figure.
As and when you're exhausted of options on what to watch, 'Garmi' is decent enough to binge, at leisure. Though, nothing out of the ordinary.
