The Ba***ds of Bollywood is not just a debut, it's a declaration.
Mainly because rather than presenting itself as high art, the series embraces cinema’s primary role: which is to entertain. Every fiction stems from some contextual facts and this series is an ode to that.
But this isn’t your usual feel good show; it isn’t your typical glossy, glitzy drama; and it is not even everyone’s cup of tea or coffee. It’s a nostalgic mirror to Bollywood’s toxic nexus and moral bankruptcy. It’s a beverage that might wake you up with a jolt, especially for those enamoured by the glitz and the glam of the film industry.
This was long overdue. So kudos to the Nepo Kid who not only dug into the bottom of the Bollywood barrel of gossip, but also handed us a shovel!
But here’s a statutory warning- The foul language. The entire series is littered with abuses. With a vulgar mix of hardcore desi crassy slangs seasoned with brash and brassy angrezi lingo, for the unseasoned ears, this can be a total cringe fest. I’ve never heard so many cuss words in my whole life as I heard in this series.
While one could argue that this barrage of profanity, mirrors the raw realities of the industry’s underbelly, at times its overuse feels unnecessary and forced. So it might risk alienating the viewers looking for substance rather than sensationalism. The generational drift notwithstanding, at times even I found myself literally squirming on my seat. So, yes, a ‘family watching’ needs to be done with caution.
But if you put on your censorious earplugs and take a deep dive into the glorious disasters of Hindi Cinema wanting to hear its hilarious heartbeat, the cringe soon turns into comedy. Since it also includes that ‘wink at the audience’ energy, its sharp, bold and unapologetic scenes, despite the blushes, will pull you straight into the madness of the industry.
You get to know how real artists with fresh perspectives are either ignored or pushed out, while the same faces are recycled in shallow, soulless projects. With a razor sharp wit that is both goofy and self offensive, it navigates with playful roasting showcasing friendship, politics, clash of egos, loyalty, casting couch, star tantrums, pressure from distributors, some ‘me too’ moments and a few dark secrets of star families- of how they are all kept well hidden because of the limelight.
The series navigates through the glamorous facade, with playful punches at everything from nepotism debates, to media scrutiny in a gutsy and stylish way. Anyone who loves layered storytelling without any sugar coating will understand the clever digs at real life scandals that often recreate the viral moments.
Along with the tittle-tattle and the countless inspirations drawn from the many realities of the industry that I’ve read in magazines like Stardust and Filmfare, I found to my surprise that EVERY conversation or sequence was somehow related to a movie or an event.
Forgotten stars are once again brought to life through their iconic dialogues and songs. Tributes are paid to non-consequential bystanders. For viewers not steeped in Bollywood gossip and culture, many of the jokes and nuances might fall flat. But those familiar will appreciate the self-deprecating humor and clever nods. It is a treat, like a cocktail of everything we love (and will now hate) about Bollywood.
Sometimes the series takes jabs at the B-Town, while sometimes it shows its vulnerable moments. Thus it becomes a delicious dish of strength, power and weaknesses, all served with satire, not sermons. And the final dessert of cameo appearances by most talked about Stars, felt like the cherries on the cake.
That’s not all. Its irreverent and cheeky tone also has the ability to take potshots at everyone. Filled with self- referential jokes, it is the ‘cherries’ themselves that don’t shy away from revealing their own frailty. So many incidents, situations, experiences from an array of lives have been weaved so meticulously, showcasing the unfiltered, dark, dramatic, and sometimes shocking truths of the tinsel town.
Aryan not only pokes fun at Bollywood but turns the mirror on himself too, referencing his own controversies. And the ‘execution’ is done with remarkable honesty and humour. That takes a LOT of guts! For apart from earning some brownie points from your admirers, it also gives more fodder to the Trollers.
Then there’s the title- ‘The Ba***ds’- like a puzzle hiding clues until the suspense is finally revealed. Some found this climactic ‘twist in the tale’ as contrived, but knowing Bollywood I sincerely feel it is plausible. But masking the letters with an ‘asterix’ is a unique marketing genius, making it stand out in a sea of similar content.
Being a celebrity itself is a double edged sword but doing an expose of the fraternity that you come from is an even more difficult task. And on that front, even if it’s a difficult genre to crack, Aryan proves he’s not just stepping out of a famous shadow but carving a new creative path of his own.
Sometimes it’s less about perfection and more about a fresh voice daring to poke fun at an industry that usually takes itself too seriously. The parallels, the coming of a full circle, the Easter eggs, the plot twists, the references, the irony, all have been dealt with so much precision that it shows privilege over purpose, and creativity with a conscience.
The intent of this show is NOT to whitewash nepotism, drug abuse or the role of the underworld mafia. It is to highlight it. Therefore the subtle brazenness of this bold messy series, feels truly remarkable.
Sure, it stumbles at times with too much happening at once, but that’s also part of its chaotic charm. If one moment it’s just full throttle chaos and honesty choking you, in the next it gets to your emotions. This new genre feels like a silent revolution that can change the face of Bollywood. For all said and done, real cinema can be kept alive only if we learn not just to ‘see’ but also ‘understand’ it.
That done, I wonder when some Nepo Kid is going to do a big expose on Pollywood in such a lethal way; because in the political jungle out there:
The ‘woods’ are equally Dark and Deep
with umpteen promises to keep
and miles to go before we wake up
and miles to go before we wake up!
Courtesy: BBC (A Bollywood Buff and a Citizen)
Nargis Natarajan, based in Orissa, is a columnist and author. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.