Family Man fervour

Anti terrorism squad is a bunch of extremely intelligent people who are always on their toes to foil the plans of perpetrators through a stong web of informers and espionage system. But they too have a life outside the squad. It is the snippets of this life in the comedic teaser of Family Man that dragged me to watch the first episode of the first season. But a convoluted yet intriguing storyline, gripping action, and what's-next suspense soon left me enraptured at the edge of my seat, binge watching the series through late night. Sandwiched between politics and insurgency, the struggles of TASC force and their emerging as victorious underpin the saga of Family Man. Srikant Tiwari, portrayed by the consummate actor Manoj Bajpayee, is the protagonist who along with his team of experts save the iconic political figures of two countries from the clutches of death arranged by the fanatics during their bilateral talks. The thrusts and parries of the feud between TASC and terrorists culminate in what I can describe as a fiery flying death of the latter.

I hated Manoj Bajayee ever since he immaculately played the role of a beguiling young man to the hilt to become a bone of contention between two close siblings in Swabhimaan. Sunil, who he characterised then, was an embodiment of duplicity for me, thanks to his crackerjack acting abilities. His villainous role in Veer Zaara hardly helped me to appreciate him any better. But the same man in his middle ages magically redeemed himself in my eyes through his tireless devotion to his near and dear ones in Family Man. I believe it's his extraordinary display of variegation in lineament from hilarious scenes of learning insta from his children to indecisiveness when in predicament, from anxiety to affection, from being blackmailed by his son for pizza to being the pivotal player in nabbing a network of extremists connected globally and hellbent upon devastating India, from his manoeuvres in pursuit of terrorists to his manifestation of aquline precision in intuition that propelled the series to its most-watched status.  

Suchi, Sri's wife, played by the notable and versatile actor Priyamani, reprises the role of a contemporary working woman with ease. Her world is a welcoming hiatus from the violence and incessant imprecations. The challenges she put up with are pretty common, yet her limbo, her teetering between work and children, marriage and colleague-cum-friend, missing Sri and compromising her comforts for him are totally relatable and brilliantly rendered.

The children are a breeze for a segment of audience averse to barbarism even on screen. Dhriti's teenage angst and Atharv's puerile naughtiness bring out the camaraderie of siblings in a natural manner, kudos to their budding acting skills. Majority of it is on a lighter note except the moment where Atharv takes our breath away by accidentally pointing his father's gun precariously to his forehead during his playful adventure. Dhriti's performance on teenage attitude is laudable on one hand and her insanely terrifying escape from the talons of terrorism through a bloody sequence is totally arresting on the other.

JK, Sri's confidante and deuteragonist in the series, strikes a perfect balance between tenacity and insoucience reminding me of Sid the sloth in Ice Age, the crucial glue that ties the team together. Pasha's commitment to the squad and getting into the skin of the character beggars parallel. JK's comment: even in saree he'll look like a commando, can't be more suitable. While Puneet, the computer geek, tracks and traces secutity threats from the confines of a bank of computers, Muthu clearly grows to be an indispensable part of the raids outside the confines as the episodes progress. Nothing but Mr Chellum's omniscience saves the day in the end. He is our beloved Sidhu Jyatha, Tamilian though. Each of them plays their role so well that I'm sure many of us lost our heart with Zoya when the uber-attractive and dutiful Milind was brought down by the rebels.

While the good guys usually steal the show and this series isn't an exception, the bad ones aren't any lesser. Moosa with all his innocence and love for his mother captivates the viewers only to crumble their emotions as the most-wanted Al Qatil. Shajid, Sameer, Selva, boyishly handsome Kalyan aka Salman, and all others endow due ferocity to their roles as the fulcrum of several infractions that wreak havoc in the lives of people both associated and unaware of extremism. But among them Raji stands out.

How the charming Samantha metamorphose and segue into an unrelenting Raji, with all her makeover of appearance, physique, and moves of a fighter is beyond one's word of appreciation. Her talent isn't mellowed even in Raji's silence. For most part of her screen time she is expressionless - a silent soldier, a coating of calmness over her insides roiling in hatred. Aur meri kahani jhuth nahi hai in a resolute voice replete with resentment and nonchalance to the consequences is the clincher in her interrogation by Sri. Afterall, actions do speak louder than words. Thinking of actions - her thrilling display of parkour in an endeavour to dodge the TASC and police stalwarts outstrips her manifestation of effortless strength in murdering and brutally mutilating the body of her boss-cum-molester. Later when the hunter and the hunted prowl in the dark swathes of grass cover through tension impregnated sound effects, Raji almost kills JK leveraging an acute sense of cunningness. Her resolution to bring justice to her fellow soldiers and martyrs, fearlessness in the face of death, and her deft in guerrilla warfare tactics easily make her numero uno among the array of antagonists.

All other peripheral characters have been fabulous in their own roles to exalt the series to it's current popularity. This crack cast along with ingredients like sound tracks, cinematography, and a breath-taking pace makes the recipe of Family Man extremely palatable. The first season ends abruptly and leaves several strings loose. I'm lucky I decided to watch only after the release of second one. It saved me from suffering the insufferable nine-month-long Katappa-ne-Bahubali-ko-kyo-mara niggle. In the climactic pandemonium it's easy to forget, but the temerarious Major Sameer is still alive; Sri's team shouldn't drop the ball.

Overall it is a remarkable one to watch and I recommend others to go ahead for its electrifying sensation.

Dona, Sydney, June 2021