The age of web series has prompted many directors to experiment with different kinds of genres on screen and capture varied audiences. In short, there is something new and something for everyone. What do we mean by new?
We heard of books turned into films that have ruled the big screen in cinema halls. But now take ‘The Suitable Boy’ and ‘The White Tiger’, both book adaptions which have turned into reel characters getting the audiences hooked onto the OTT platform, Netflix. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has given movie directors the opportunity to tap into movies online and web series that can be viewed by people across the globe and watched at their own convenience.
Hence the audience wants variety and scripts and characters that more than make up for missing out on the experience of watching reel stories ignite the big screen. Let’s look at Adarsh Gourav who plays Balaram Halwai in the Arvind Adiga’s book adaptation of ‘The White Tiger’ where he plays the main protagonist who talks about getting out of the rooster coop. In short, getting out from the poor mindset and climbing upto into the echelons of the rich class albeit a dark story of lost hope, the plight of the poor and the class divide in the hands of the rich. Adarsh Gourav, the new talked about hero plays the role with such conviction, you don’t know whether to judge him for his crime or empathize with his plight.
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Turning to Vikram Seth’s adaptation of ‘A Suitable Boy’, Tanya Maniktala plays the aspirations of an Indian girl who wants to break free from the rigmarole of traditional family mindsets of finding a suitable match for their daughter Lata Mehra. But in the centre of all the chaos of choosing between three suitors, is the clarity in Lata’s mind, that she will marry someone of her choice. In the background is the narrative of India’s history which also is a reflection of the times that defined India. Tanya lights up the screen with her effervescence as she plays out the hope in her heart, that thousands of girls in the era of portrayal would resonate with. It is not just about the story but the storytelling that enhances the experience of movie watching.
Whether it is Gourav or Maniktala, both actors display the maturity that the characters demand, as their play their roles to capture the audiences’ attention. The new age audience is looking for variety and a breath of fresh air, are the surprises spun by new age actors. Welcome to the world of new and niche!