“Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo” is a women-led crime drama starring Dimple Kapadia, Isha Talwar, Angira Dhar, Radhika Madan, Deepak Dobriyal, Varun Mitra and Ashish Verma.
Savitri (played by Dimple Kapadia) is the leader of a drug empire, residing in a grand mansion located in the fictional region of Rann Pradesh. Accompanying her is her capable team, consisting of her daughters-in-law, Kajal (Angira Dhar) and Bijlee (Isha Talvar), as well as her daughter Shanta (Radhika Madan). Together, this formidable quartet dominates their domain, utilizing state-of-the-art satellite phones, influential connections, and an uncanny ability to outsmart their adversaries, including the intimidating Monk (Deepak Dobriyal) and his henchmen, as well as the relentless cop Prashun (Jimit Trivedi).
Their alliances are complex, as they also keep a close watch on their frenemies: Savitri’s sons, Harish (Ashish Verma) and Kapil (Varun Mitra), who are visiting from the United States, unaware of their mother’s true “profession” and proving to be more of a burden than an asset. Additionally, a high-ranking politician (Naseeruddin Shah), who once assisted Savitri in her rise to power, frequently calls in favors but now prioritizes his own interests.
Right from the start, director Homi Adajania captivates the audience with a chilling scene that immediately grabs your attention. Without revealing too much, this scene sets the stage for intense confrontations and violent encounters to come. The dimly lit corridors of Rani’s majestic mansion create an eerie atmosphere that adds to the audience’s unease. In this palace, boredom is nonexistent, as the stakes are incredibly high and everyone harbors a hidden secret.
Adajania skillfully executes a screenplay brimming with action, ensuring that every minute is laden with tension and unpredictability. The characters are intricately developed, each with intriguing subplots that make it easy to follow the story, despite the presence of multiple storylines.
The title “Saas Bahu aur Flamingo” is somewhat ordinary for a series that dives headfirst into a whirlwind of a plot with multiple interwoven strands, occasionally meandering but always pulling together just in time. There were moments where I grew impatient with the show’s trivial and unclear detours, yet I never lost interest.
The vibrant storytelling team, led by creator-director Homi Adajania, along with writers Saurav Dey, Nandini Gupta, and Aman Mannan, clearly revel in the energetic narrative. The dialogues are lively, with only a few minor slip-ups here and there, such as when a character says “Yeh kya tha?” and it comes across as “What was that?” The sound design is exceptional, evoking a reminiscent flair of Sergio Leone, while the cinematography captures the vastness and expansiveness of the Rann region. It all becomes incredibly infectious.
The rich backstories provided for the key characters, including the formidable Savitri, add depth and make them more well-rounded. This is definitely a plus. Furthermore, the drama is sustained throughout the eight 50-minute episodes, heightened and at times even outlandish, fitting for a series of this nature. The performances from the entire cast are truly exceptional.
The eight-episode show, available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, represents the fifth collaboration between Adajania and renowned actor Dimple Kapadia. Starting with Being Cyrus (2006) and continuing with Cocktail (2012), Finding Fanny (2014), Angrezi Medium (2020), and now Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo, this filmmaker has consistently brought out the finest aspects of Kapadia’s talent. It is safe to say that Kapadia delivers her best performance under Adajania’s direction, whether it’s through intense action sequences or emotionally charged scenes. Kapadia’s charisma is simply impossible to overlook.
