Hello everyone, it is I, your Feisty Indian Aunty who just binged all nine episodes of Netflix’s Navarasa and was blown away by every single one of them. The title, Navarasa, is a portmanteau of two Tamil words, “Nava” which means nine, and “Rasa” which means means emotions, or flavour. The combination of these words reflect the nine emotions which every human being will experience throughout his/her life. These nine emotional states are love, laughter, anger, sorrow, terror, disgust, wonder, tranquility, and courage.
This series was created by one of India’s most illustrious directors, Mani Ratnam (Thalapathi, Roja, Bombay, Dil Se, the list goes on and on), and shot in South India during the pandemic. The era of COVID seems like the perfect time to tell these stories as it feels like the one time when all of us, all around the world, can claim to have shared a common experience. And one that would have likely encompassed all nine of those emotional states. I can’t think of a more perfect time to tell these stories
The short stories in Navarasa reminded me of The Twilight Zone, that old American TV series from the 1960s, where every episode left you wondering as to the fate of the protagonist. I had the very same feeling watching this.
Here is my take on each of the nine episodes.
Edhiri: Karuna (Compassion) tells the story of the grieving Dheena who acts out in rage and kills the man who wronged his brother. He regrets his actions but is unable to get over his resentment and ends up seeking forgiveness from the widow of the man he killed. Deep-rooted anger and hatred can have a profound impact on our personality, often making us do things that unworthy and unforgivable. This short film makes the case that compassion, even from the unlikeliest of places, may be the only thing that save us from our darkest desires.
The writing is wonderful. The performances are great. And the director, Bejoy Nambiar, manages to create and maintain a sense of foreboding throughout. One that will have you waiting for the other shoe to drop and wondering how Dheena will atone for his sins. This is a great opener to the series and will no doubt have people clamoring for more.
Summer of 92: Hasya (Laughter) is about recognizing that our actions, no matter how harmless we may think they are, have consequences. This is the story of one Mr. Veluswamy – once an undisciplined youngster, now a famous actor – who while speaking to the students of his alma mater, realizes that he may have wronged one of his teachers in the past. His recklessness ended up changing a woman’s life forever, and this episode of Navarasa tries to balance guilt, with forgiveness, and the idea that our worst mistakes shouldn’t define who we are as people.
Project Agni: Adbhuta (Wonder) is about appreciating everything that you already have. This science fiction tinged episode takes us into the mind of Vishnu, a brilliant thinker who believed that his life’s work has potential for great disaster if it falls into the wrong hands. Watching this, it was very clear that director Karthick Naren took inspiration from movies like Inception and Interstellar, but with only 30 minutes to play with, was unable to give it the depth and scope that his story required. It was still a bold attempt though and one that left me with plenty of thoughts about leading a life of meaning.
In Payasam: Bheebhatsa (Disgust), the success of a young man creates a sense of unimaginable jealously his older, widowed uncle. All of this comes to a head at a wedding where, like in all family gatherings, everyone’s shortcomings and insecurities often peak. This is a story that takes you inside the mind of an incredibly petty human being and shows you just how disgusting it can be when grown men behave with such immaturity.
Peace: Shanthih takes place in Jaffna, in Sri Lanka, where a group of soldiers make some very risky choices for a young boy who claims to have been separated from his family and needs to save his brother. This fifth installment in the anthology is the most different of the stories we’ve seen so far because it takes on the tragedy of politics and war, and the human cost that comes with it. How do you find compassion and mercy in times of conflict? How much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice for the wellbeing of someone else?
Roudhram: Rudra (Terror) asks many questions. What would make one man assault another in broad daylight? What would inspire such rage and anger? And could there be any justification for such an act of violence? This short doesn’t necessarily try to force a particular point of view, but it does serve to remind us of the human price of this inequitable world, and how desperate minds often resort to desperate acts. Anger and rage can be generational. It can be passed on. God knows there is very little that is quite as dangerous or as damaging to the human psyche. This might be my favourite episode of Navarasa.
Inmai: Bhaya (Fear) tells the story of a beautiful girl who marries an old man, only to regret her decision, and then resort to witchcraft in order to find a way out. Fear is one of our most primitive emotions and this thriller cunningly toys with superstition and the supernatural, mysticism and folklore, belief and reality, in order to remind us that we can never really escape our past.
Thunintha Pin: Veera (Courage) feels like it is a familiar story. Or at least it takes a familiar approach to telling a story. A new police officer, who is tasked with transporting a rebel leader back to headquarters, finds himself in close proximity with his foe as the both of them are forced to re-examine their beliefs and ideologies. We learn a lot about these individuals in the brief time we spend with them, creating just enough emotional attachment with each one so that we feel something real by the time the climax comes around. Courage can come in many forms, whether its in upholding the system that is in place, or rebelling against it. This short makes the case that courage should be celebrated, irrespective of what or who it serves.
Guitar Kambi Mele Nindru: Sringara (Love) is the only love story in this lot. It is magnificently shot, with dreamlike sensibilities, and a soundtrack to match. Kamal is a musician who realizes that the only way to jumpstart his musical career is to leave home and move to London. There he meets a fellow musician, Nethra, and falls immediately and deeply in love. They make music together. They find meaning in each other. But the question this episode asks is whether or not love, even the fleeting kind, can indeed conquer all?
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