Amazon Prime Spotlight: The Girlfriend

I watched The Girlfriend because most of my married (girl) friends praised it. After seeing it, I understood why. The story includes the classic “evil mother-in-law” angle, which many of them may relate to on some level.

What’s It About?

A psycho (but beautiful) real estate agent meets her boyfriend’s equally psycho (but rich) mother, which kickstarts a gruelling, intense face-off between two psychos.

Thoughts

I found the series average, probably because I’ve watched so many psychological thrillers in my 40+ years that nothing feels new anymore. But women in my age group seemed to love it.

I suspect it’s because the show portrays the partner’s mother as nauseatingly interfering, exactly how many wives and girlfriends see that figure in their lives – an overbearing presence who threatens their relationship.

To me, both sides, my female friends and their mothers-in-law, seem equally psycho, so watching that dynamic as an outsider feels different. And the guy is just there, unable to take sides. If you’re not in that sort of relationship, the series may not hook you as much. But for someone who’s personally caught in that kind of power struggle, the series would definitely hit harder.

I found the personality arcs of Cherry and Laura interesting. They keep going after each other, yet in many ways, they are alike. When you look at it more closely, it feels as if they are really battling a version of themselves.

The Girlfriend is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The series has six episodes, with each one running for about 50 minutes.

Netflix Movie Review: Saiyaara

Saiyaara poster with Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday

I’ll start by saying I’m in my 40s, so I’m not exactly the target audience for this film. Still, I enjoyed seeing fresh faces on screen. Actors who look natural, expressive, and free from the usual heavy Botox work.

What’s It About?

Saiyaara opens with the female lead at the registrar’s office, ready to formalize her marriage. She’s a dreamer and a poet, someone who finds inspiration in life’s fleeting moments. Even in the office, she pulls out her diary to capture the beauty of what she believes is the start of a new chapter. But life takes an unexpected turn.

She soon crosses paths with the male lead, an angst-ridden singer determined to make it big. The film traces their love story and the way they navigate the highs and lows of their relationship.

Thoughts

The story felt like a mix of Aashiqui 2 and Rockstar. As I’m not drawn to melancholy, tragic romances, it didn’t resonate with me as much as I’d hoped. That said, it was refreshing to see young, expressive talent on screen.

Director Mohit Suri specifically sought an actress without cosmetic enhancements (a “botox-free beauty”), and I think that was a brilliant choice. As an audience member, I’ve found lip jobs and other obvious procedures very distracting, so the natural look was a welcome change.

The lead actress (Aneet Padda) is adorable, and the actor (Ahaan Panday) is quite charming, too. Their chemistry was lovely. Personally, I would have loved to watch this pair in a light-hearted romcom instead. Hopefully soon. We need more youthful, happy, meet-cute romantic stories in Bollywood.