The Fame Game (Netflix, Hindi) - 4 STARS
Anamika Anand (Madhuri Dixit) is an ageing superstar who needs to remain relevant. Her husband Nikhil More (Sanjay Kapoor), a producer, needs to remain in business. Amara (Muskkaan Jaferi), their daughter, needs to create her own image and emerge from the shadows of her mother. Avinash (Lakshvir Saran) is fighting depression, acutely aware of the potential fallout of his sexual orientation. Manish Khanna (Manav Kaul), the reigning but also ageing superstar, desires to rekindle his romantic life with Anamika and finds a fantastic opportunity in signing up a project with her that can reestablish their popularity.
In all this, Anamika has secrets. She is in an abusive marriage and has to balance the sensitive equation with her children. She hasn't forgotten her past with Manish as it continues to haunt her. She has also recently become aware that the family has lost almost all its wealth due to Nikhil's bad decisions. She must make things right. But just as she starts to take the corrective actions, she is abducted and almost vanishes without trace. The police are investigating with Nikhil as the prime suspect but pretty clueless as they have no leads. Is Anamika dead or alive?
The Fame Game, directed by Sri Rao, is Madhuri Dixit all the way. It gives her ample opportunity to showcase her vast reservoir of talent, which she is superbly supported in by all her co-actors. Manav Kaul, Sanjay Kapoor and Suhasini Mulay bring out myriad characteristics of her nature, and her relationship with her children is commendable. There are ample twists and turns to keep the interest flowing through the series, although at times, the space drags, but the last episode more than makes up for it. Season 2 is perhaps in the offing, but I would prefer if the makers left it as it is.
Anamika Anand (Madhuri Dixit) is an ageing superstar who needs to remain relevant. Her husband Nikhil More (Sanjay Kapoor), a producer, needs to remain in business. Amara (Muskkaan Jaferi), their daughter, needs to create her own image and emerge from the shadows of her mother. Avinash (Lakshvir Saran) is fighting depression, acutely aware of the potential fallout of his sexual orientation. Manish Khanna (Manav Kaul), the reigning but also ageing superstar, desires to rekindle his romantic life with Anamika and finds a fantastic opportunity in signing up a project with her that can reestablish their popularity.
In all this, Anamika has secrets. She is in an abusive marriage and has to balance the sensitive equation with her children. She hasn't forgotten her past with Manish as it continues to haunt her. She has also recently become aware that the family has lost almost all its wealth due to Nikhil's bad decisions. She must make things right. But just as she starts to take the corrective actions, she is abducted and almost vanishes without trace. The police are investigating with Nikhil as the prime suspect but pretty clueless as they have no leads. Is Anamika dead or alive?
The Fame Game, directed by Sri Rao, is Madhuri Dixit all the way. It gives her ample opportunity to showcase her vast reservoir of talent, which she is superbly supported in by all her co-actors. Manav Kaul, Sanjay Kapoor and Suhasini Mulay bring out myriad characteristics of her nature, and her relationship with her children is commendable. There are ample twists and turns to keep the interest flowing through the series, although at times, the space drags, but the last episode more than makes up for it. Season 2 is perhaps in the offing, but I would prefer if the makers left it as it is.