'The Fame Game' Is Intriguing But It Somehow Fails To Do Justice To Madhuri Dixit's Craft!

Anamika Anand, a veteran actress with a stellar career is hoping to revive her standing in the film industry and do so with a bang. Sounds too close to home, doesn¡¯t it? The Fame Game¡¯s plot is not so far from reality as Madhuri Dixit is also treading on a similar path.

Unfortunately, just like the plot, it isn¡¯t really working out in real life as well.

This might be an unpopular opinion but many would definitely agree that she deserved more. Much more than a shoddy attempt of making her click with the digital audience with a stale presentation. Some would say that it¡¯s old wine, in a new bottle but if you look closely it¡¯s a dismissible concoction with just a glossy appearance.

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The moment the show commences you will know that it¡¯s only going to go south. We see a glamorous Anamika Anand walking down the red carpet with clicks and flashes in tow. In the voiceover, a journalist asks her the most cliched question - what is it like being Anamika Anand? To which she gives a well-rehearsed answer and says, "it¡¯s nice. Honestly, even after all these years, I can't believe it¡¯s true - this life. I feel very blessed". She then goes on to paint a perfect picture - her family, kids and how together they make a glorious life.

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By now, anyone who has even an iota of interest in cinema would predict what¡¯s in store for eight long episodes spanning an average of 40-45 minutes. In case you are wondering, I did not jump the gun just yet. Like a true optimist, I held on to the hope it would get interesting and guess what, it actually did. However, it didn¡¯t last that long.

By the fourth episode, I was ready to give up. If I get down to listing everything that¡¯s wrong with the series, I will break the most important rule of giving away spoilers. Therefore, I¡¯ll take the safest route and write about why I feel this series failed to do justice to the phenomena that is Madhuri Dixit.

Once you get over the excitement of Dixit making her digital debut, you will soon get flashbacks of several roles that she has done in the past while you are patiently soaking in the show¡¯s painful storyline.

The most predominant one being her ¡®comeback film¡¯ Aaja Nachle, which btw I found not-so-bad. She is seen sporting the same look and characteristics traits as Dia, the foreign-return dancer. Not just that, even her dance number and the vibe of it feels identical. Dixit who is known to be the best dancer in the history of Indian cinema has been made so redundant in the show that it¡¯s disappointing to say the very least.

One could still compromise on the superfluousness of it all but there are so many loose ends in the plot that after a point, you just go with it. The twists and turns aren¡¯t as exciting and there¡¯s a possibility that the makers anticipated way more than it delivered.

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So much so that even Manav Kaul who otherwise weaves magic on the screen regardless the duration of his role somehow doesn¡¯t create a lasting impact. The surprise package for me was none other than Sanjay Kapoor, who did a fabulous portrayal of a husband who is supportive during the day and a wife beater behind closed doors.

Special mention for Suhasini Mulay who plays a domineering and an overly critical mother to Anamika Anand. Instead of supporting her daughter¡¯s struggles she adds more to her miseries. The kids have their own parallel tracks in the background including nepotism which just leaves you irritable.

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The big twist that is supposed to make the audiences gape in awe is convoluted and not properly conceived or executed. The cliffhanger hints at another season in the offing but whether it¡¯ll keep the intrigue blazing or not remains to be seen.

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It would be wrong to conclude without pointing out the good parts. The Fame Game has tried to be in sync with the existential problems of the world right from sexual orientation acceptance, inclusivity, mental health, toxic relationships and perils of not being conventional among other things. All the actors have portrayed their roles with conviction and precision, be it Rajshri Deshpande who plays a cop or Gagan Arora who plays an obsessive fan.

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Overall, it isn¡¯t the worst of the lot and there is still a salvageable quality to it if the makers and writers tighten the script and come out with a stronger second season.

The fact remains - Madhuri Dixit deserves a story that has gravitas and a certain newness instead of some monotonous storyline which fails to leave a lasting impact in the audience¡¯s mind.

(To read more such stories related to movies and shows releasing on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)