INDIA: Bhuvan Bam’s Taaza Khabar put forth a magical take on the dramedy of his center-stage character Vasya. The journey from rags to riches carries this bulletin series on track with Bam and the team steering it perfectly, which is quite obvious due to their volumetric grip on the performance section.
Taaza Khabar is a rags-to-riches story with a dash of magic and miracle
Abbas and Hussain Dalal’s creative vision spawned Taaza Khabar with their catchy introductory dialogue, “Jaadu aur chamatkar me farak hota hai, jaadu dhoke se hota hai aur chamatkar yakin se.” (There is a difference between magic and miracle, magic requires deception and miracle needs trust.)
This whole line lays the cornerstone for Taaza Khabar under the directorial vision of Himank Gaur, which is brimming with magic and miracles. The writer duo has proven their worth in Vidya Balan’s Jalsa, Ajay Devgn’s Rudra, and, of course, the phenomenal Dhindora, which has earned them accolades for their work.
Similarly, in this show, they have been able to deliver a complete package of entertainment within a span of six episodes. Gaur has also handled the director’s chair with decency.
Taaza Khabar marks Bhuvan Bam’s OTT debut and oh boy! He has executed everything flawlessly, transforming the acting stage into a game of perfection. He breaks the YouTube barrier and sparks his aura in the OTT world penned by Hussain and Abbas.
Bam has carried out his role brilliantly, which makes us feel like we are witnessing Vasya on the screen instead of the YouTube star. On every level, whether action or emotion, he has provided a completely different character from his previous one.
Vasya adds another new and unique character to Bhuvan Bam’s repertoire. The dramedy kicks start at a fast pace shaping his character where we became part of his journey. Vasya’s character arc, from completely good to a certain gray and a slightly negative one is brilliantly carved out by Bam.
Besides Bhuvan Bam, the show is full of a talented star cast. It has Shriya Pilgaonkar as Madhu, love interest of Vasya, though her character is more than that in the story. She has, as usual, given a strong performance suitable to each scenario.
Deven Bhojani, Prathamesh Parab, JD Chakravarthy, and Atisha Naik round up the ensemble. All are seasoned artists well-versed in acting skills that form memorable and emotionally linked characters.
Taaza Khabar is high on technical set pieces with Remy Dalai’s rich and eye-pleasing cinematography. Music adds another engaging factor to the series which hooks us in each scene. The entire album of the dramedy is a gem in itself.
Mohan Kannan and Nilotpal Bora’s “Sab Dhuan” along with Dev Negi, Aditya Dev, and Zaman Khan’s “Haseen Raat” will definitely ride on our playlist for months.
However, the show lags in its story pacing. The way the plot not just moves but accelerates with each episode feels rushed. Every character has been perfectly penned out; it would be the icing on the cake if the story could have been moved at a balanced pace.
Suggestion:
Spoiler ahead! At the end of episode 6, we witness that someone will murder Vasya in the near future, which assures the arrival of Season 2. It would be interesting to see if, like Vasya, another character with a similar ability is introduced, played by a popular YouTuber such as Harsh Beniwal.
He will be a proper fit for the role, and in his story, Harsh’s character will also witness the same news or fate as Vasya. It will be obvious he will try to change his fate, and this will set him against Vasya.
The fate of both characters will depend on eliminating the other. Consider the Internet frenzy that would ensue if popular YouTube stars squared off.
Verdict:
Bhuvan Bam’s Taaza Khabar offers a complete package of entertainment despite its fast pacing. It’s a fun as well as motivating phenomenon to watch BB climb new heights from YouTube to OTT, and this show manages to utilize his mettle on every level.
Transcontinental Times rating: 3.5/5
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