Decoupled, a Netflix series starring Madhavan (Arya Iyer) and Surveen Chawla (Shruti), is about a couple who wants to divorce but cannot express it to their 12-year-old daughter because they do not know how to break the news to her.
Director: Hardik Mehta
Language: Hindi
Genre: Comedy and Drama
Main Cast:
- Madhavan
- Suvreen Chawla
- Dilnaz Irani
- Atul Kumar
IMDb Rating: 8.0
Number of Episodes: 8
Series Trailer: Decoupled (2021) – Trailer
[Jwatchnow link=”https://www.netflix.com/title/81181080″ watchon=”Netflix”]
Overview of Decoupled’s First Episode
For the time being, Shruti (Surveen Chawla) and Arya (R Madhavan) are married couples. They are about to get divorced. However, they act as if they’re happily married, not just for their daughter’s sake, but because of the high-roller circles in which they socialize. Arya is a best-selling novelist, and Shruti is a successful entrepreneur. They’re a contentious pair to the point that Shruti swears in Punjabi when discussing their driver’s body smells.
Shruti and Arya are on their way to a restaurant to do a favor for one of Shruti’s most essential clients; his wife is an Arya fan, and he wanted to surprise her at her book club meeting, making it a public spectacle.
Review of Decoupled
Manu Joseph conceived the series, which Hardik Mehta directed. The plot is minimal since it revolves around a middle-aged independent couple about to divorce. The writing, acting, and script were all in need of extra effort, which we got in spades.
Even if you have no expectations for the program, the first episode will capture your interest right away. Of course, the dialogues are where it all begins, but the hilarious real-life circumstance quickly joins in the fun.
Humor, on the other hand, is a crucial aspect of enjoyment. It isn’t to everyone’s taste. Some may think it is obscene and over-the-top, but that is how it is. There is risqué humor, which the crew executed flawlessly.
The inclusion of related real-life topical occurrences, as previously indicated, adds spice to the proceedings. The satires on the husband and wife relationship, as well as the sex, are beautifully done. The mockumentary tone heightens the drama. However, it might feel overdone at times.
The music is persistently lively, making the events and incidents look funny. Dialogues mostly start with the word, ‘well…’., representing the doubtfulness around the characters.
While most of what appears in Decoupled works, some do not. Take, for example, the driver and his route. It has its moments, yet it occasionally misses the target. It has a dark, sarcastic truth, but it is not sharp enough.
Another excellent idea and addition is the meta aspect connecting Chetan Bhagat and Netflix. There are a few amusing scenes involving them. The final message is appropriate for couples who are having difficulties. What distinguishes this story is how it is delivered in a lighthearted manner.
Overall, despite a restricted cast of characters and a bothersome narrative approach, Madhavan’s outstanding performance and amusing scenarios keep our interest. Decoupled is a must-see for fans of series like Little Things.
Performances in Decoupled
Arya (Madhavan) is fantastic as a writer who is not afraid to voice his thoughts. He is unapologetic, arrogant, egotistical, and filthy, and comes across as a loudmouth who is not politically correct. The character may have easily been tedious and unbearable if played by an inept performer. Madhavan, on the other hand, makes it a delight to watch. The most pleasing thing is that, despite the unpleasant behavior, he manages to make it intriguing. It is a role that seems tailor-made for someone like Rishi Kapoor, who passed away recently. However, Madhavan effortlessly pulls it off and provides an outstanding performance.
The show’s writing contains a victimization aspect that Madhavan’s portrayal entirely overlooks. He portrays Arya as the privileged man he is, someone who revels in his fabricated social status—the type of guy whose mother most likely told him he was unique as a child. However, the narrative confines Arya to useless rants; he never laments about issues that genuinely matter. He’s arrogant and intolerable, creating problems out of nowhere yet mostly getting away with everything. Arya lives in a bubble he creates for himself, isolating him from the rest of the world and his family.
Madhavan in Decoupled.
Surveen Chawla is stunning, and she and Madhavan form a great couple. Their continual squabbles and skirmishes are entertaining to witness. The series highlights the absence of chemistry between the couple, making it exciting and realistic. As the cast is small, each character becomes instantly familiar. Each character jumps out: the Swamy, the director buddy, the parents, the Netflix agent, the economics laureate, the trauma specialist, and, last but not least, the adorable doting daughter. They all get their place, no matter how little it is, and provide the goods.
Suvreen Chawla in Decoupled.
Madhavan and Surveen Chawla on Decoupled
Other Departments in Decoupled
The tale is told in a mockumentary format; thus, there are few technical flourishes. It must, however, be done correctly. In this aspect, the editor performs a fantastic job. The frames are razor-sharp, and the cuts are quick, preserving the punches and impact. The writing is excellent, and it is one of the main reasons for one’s interest in the story to begin. The music in the background is adequate. It’s standard fare with no distinct flavor.
The Good in Decoupled
- Madhavan
- The chemistry between the lead pair
- Relatable scenes and plotlines
- Casting
The Bad in Decoupled
- Repetitive
- Dragging
- The humor falls flat
Conclusion
The primary problem with Decoupled is how similar it sounds to those familiar with Joseph’s work. He rejects masculine feminists and economists, as you are aware. You already know he believes Parasite is a bad movie. You understand his rage at the system’s elite when it becomes an underclass in another system. When Arya ponders the purpose of barriers on Indian roadways or the function of CISF security in airports, all of this baggage hinders the characters from coming alive as people; instead, they appear more like puppets.
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