Dil Dosti Dilemma

Currently, OTT platforms are filled with thrillers, gangster dramas, and serious subjects. This is where this light-hearted drama stands out amidst it all.

The story follows Asmara, a young, rich, and spoiled brat who is forced to spend her summer holidays with her grandparents in a local neighborhood of Bangalore as punishment. To maintain her image, she lies to her friends, claiming to be in Canada, while she navigates her life with new challenges, relationships, and explores love in her new environment.

It's a simple story that doesn't claim to be unique, yet it's the performances and execution that truly connect with you. With just 7 episodes, it doesn't demand much of your time, but you'll find yourself thoroughly invested. The writing is tight, allowing every character to make a special place in your heart. A few liberties must be overlooked, such as how Asmara seems to know everything, giving life lessons despite being portrayed as confused herself, or how her friends suddenly shift from being brats to becoming inclusive.

Anushka Sen, as the lead, is the right choice for the role. She looks beautiful, and her mix of chirpiness and innocence is perfect for the character, though she stumbles a bit in emotional scenes. Kush Jotwani has a dashing personality and performs well. Vishakha Pandey is a treat to watch with her cute antics. Tanvi Azmi and Shishir Sharma as the grandparents perform brilliantly, as expected from seasoned actors. Revathi Pillai and Elisha Mayor, as friends, embody their characters well. A series of other supporting actors provide strong performances and are fine in their roles.

The nuances of the small neighborhood are captured well, allowing you to connect with the characters. The styling of Anushka and her friends is spot-on, and the transition from rich to middle-class through their clothing is well-executed. The way the title montage appears in each episode is a nice touch. The series ends on a note that hints at a second season.

This comedy-drama deserves your time, and you should definitely give it a shot, despite a few liberties. Don't expect an out-of-this-world storyline, but it certainly won't bore you.

#pranureviews #DilDostiDilemma #DilDostiDilemmaReview.

1. Contemporary, relatable storyline 2. The screen adaptation, I'm sure has been made to look more 2024 than 2016; and it has worked.

3. There is a sense of snobbiness in the main characters but at the same time a lot of refreshing innocence, making them even more likable 4. The dialog delivery, the acting is more natural than stage acting influenced exaggeration.

5. It's feel good but not so idealistic that it's almost impractical.

6. The class struggle, especially between the people who are entitled and the world they were not a part of and too embarrassed to acknowledge being connected to, is all too real in any society where the class divide is massive, especially in the contempary India. It's very relatable.

7. The acting by senior actors like Tanvi Azmi and Shishir Sharma is a delight but the younger ones brought a refreshing combination of maturity and innocence that was magical.

8. The dialogs in Urdu but not so chaste that it's impossible for a normal Hindi speaker to understand was mellifluous while being practical.

This show is a very fun and easy breeze to sit through and watch in one sitting. Having read the book Asmara's Summer by which it has been adapted recently, this show fleshes out those characters in they way that they deserved.

The comedy was fun and my whole family sat through it and watched it together.

The young cast shows off that they can stand against the veteran actors during the drama sequences of the show.

The music that has been composed for this show stands out and delivers when it is needed and the songs are some of the best recent original Hindi songs I have heard in a long time.

" Dil Dosti Dilemma" streaming on Prime Video is a series depicting the disconnect between the older generation and the Gen Z... and how it is bridged once the youngsters realise that they can make a difference by playing an active role, rather than remaining apathetic and indifferent...has all the ingredients for a heartwarming tale of friendship and camaraderie and about the culture and traditions... it's directed by Debbie Rao and based on Andaleeb Wajid's YA novel, "Asmara's Summer"... this Series is set in Bengaluru...we get to see glimpses of it... Anushak Sen as Asmara is a delight to watch...a natural and blends into being Asmara with absolute ease...she holds her ground firmly even in the scenes with the more experienced Tanvi Azmi.... Shishir Sharma is absolutely adorable as Naanu...absolutely natural...and so is Tanvi Azmi, she looks so graceful... special mention must be made of the few romantic scenes between Tanvi and Shishir ...sooo cute... Kush Jotwani, as Farzaan, has a good presence and is charming as the young man whose life takes a different turn after the entry of Asmara...they make a cute couple... Vishakha Pandey playing Rukhsana is a treat to the eye too ...Suhasini Mulay as the grumpy grandmother Akhtar Begum is brilliant...Asmara's 2 friends Tania (Elisha Mayor) and Naina (Revathi Pillai) are good in their respective roles too... This Series doesn't want you to rack your brains in over the top drama, but instead has you laughing, having fun, crying and falling in love with your family in the simplest and yet complicated ways... plus the characterisation of the 3 friends and how Debbie Rao explores the complexities of teenage friendship, is perfectly displayed... Overall it's a low-cal, feel-good entertainer that gradually draws you in, just the way Asmara is drawn into Tibri Road...and leaves you dangling in anticipation for the next season...

Adapted from the YA novel Asmara's Summer by Andaleeb Wajid, Dil Dosti Dilemma on Prime Video is a youthful and entertaining series that showcases Anushka Sen's talent in the lead role as Asmara, a privileged girl from Bengaluru whose planned summer trip to Canada gets unexpectedly rerouted to her grandparents' middle-class neighbourhood. This sets up a coming of age narrative filled with humour, life lessons, and emotional moments.

The supporting cast, featuring talented actors like Tanvi Azmi and Shishir Sharma as Asmara's grandparents add significant warmth to the storyline. Their interactions with Asmara are the best parts of the show. Unfortunately the subplots involving Asmara's best friends tend to derail the flow of the story. These story tracks are woefully underdeveloped and lack the same depth and charm as the core narrative that they constantly keep interrupting - not to mention the majority of the cringe humour is to be found with Asmara's interaction with her BFFs.

Ultimately, this is a cute series that strikes a balance between humour and drama while exploring themes of family, tradition, and self-discovery. Anushka Sen has a successful career ahead of her!