Review by j@ck : AASHRAM

 

“ Shows how a god-man builds his cult using the gullible and the poor. However, the web-series, starring Bobby Deol, spends too much time explaining the workings of such cults and their socio-political influences and not enough on its plot. “

 

           Aashram is Prakash Jha's first foray into the digital space and it is an ambitious one. The nine-episode web-series rests on the theme of the manufactured personality cult of Baba Nirala, played by Bobby Deol. 

                     Baba Nirala was a small-time crook who, with the help of a well-planned marketing strategy, has transformed himself into a 'god-man'. He preys on gullible people and uses religion to exploit the common people, especially the poor and the Dalits. Alongside BABA is a god-man too who helps the poor and the needy. His ashram houses a school, a college, a hospital, a sports training institute and an old-age home and finances many factories where his devotees work and earn a good living. To the outside world, the baba's ashram is like a dreamy la-la land for his devotees, but only few are aware of what is going on inside because the ashram is also a fortress where once you get in there is no way out.But when a skeleton is discovered near the ashram, it sets off a chain of events that sprouts multiple subplots.

                         Deol's Baba Nirala uses the same tactics. Pammi (Aditi Pohankar) is an aspiring wrestler belonging to a poor Dalit family. Chandan Roy Sanyal has done a fine job as the baba's assistant and friend. Other actors, including Darshan Kumaar, Anupriya Goenka and Tushar Pandey, have all delivered convincing performances. Aditi Pohankar, however, is unconvincing as a small-town girl.  Direction is absolute Prakash Jha style detailed direction. Sreenplay performs well with story and background music is fresh n really gives you feel of the theme. 

                      

   The web-series does a good job of showing how such babas earn the trust of their devotees. They first identify a marginalized community like the Dalits, who have been victims of societal discrimination, and give them a helping hand. In return, they win their complete devotion. 

                                Written by Kuldeep Ruhil, Aashram is an ambitious show, both in terms of narration and themes. However, Jha and his writers spend a lot of time showing the inner workings of the ashram and its far-reaching influence on state politics, the police and the anti-narcotics department. Sprawling over nine episodes with an average length of 45 minutes, it explores all themes in detail and presents a realistic view of the current socio-political scenario without being biased towards any one side. 

 

# J@ck’s  REviEW :  Time Worthy.