Review: The Fame Game
The Fame Game, created by Sri Rao and directed by Bejoy Nambiar and Karishma Kohli explores the facets behind stardom, the harsh truths of the film industry, and how everything is more than what meets the eye.
It explores the life of Bollywood superstar, Anamika Anand, who goes missing after an awards show. Marking the web debut of Madhuri Dixit, this family drama slowly transforms into a whodunnit.
The episodes move back and forth in time, 6 months prior to the awards, showing facets of Anamika’s ‘perfect’ life, her past with her mother, and her complex present relationships with her shady producer husband (Sanjay Kapoor), and her children (Lakshvir Saran and Muskkaan Jaffery), that lead up to her sudden disappearance.
Rajshri Deshpande plays Shobha Trivedi, who investigates the case, with a palpable dislike for the Bollywood crowd. Shobha’s antipathy to the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown slowly morphs into a warm respect for Anamika as she uncovers the actor's past.
As we delve further into Anamika’s life, we get a glimpse of the various roles she plays – a daughter, wife, mother, actress. We are also witness to the obsessive fans that throng Bollywood superstars today as if they’re Gods, played here by a boy called Madhav (Gagan Arora).
My favorite part of the series, however, in which its soul lies, is not Anamika’s star behavior or her external interactions or talent. It is the way in which, she as a mother deal with her children, Avi and Amara, played by fresh faces Lakshvir Saran and Muskkaan Jaffery.
The delicacy into which a mother consoles her son’s past, and the way she deals with him going to a shady club, or even coming out as gay is so beautifully portrayed in the series, that it almost made me tear up at the sheer sensitivity at which Saran and Dixit deal with the characters.
Amara, who wishes to be an actor just like her mother deals with body positivity issues and how she is ‘not beautiful enough’. She as a daughter emerges from her mother’s shadow to challenge her at the end.
Madhuri Dixit as Anamika Anand with her children Avi (Lakshvir Saran) and Amara (Muskkaan Jaffery).
Additionally, almost every character of this series has a definite arc to them, which is great.
Along with Saran and Jaffery, Madhuri is more than ably supported by the terrific Manav Kaul as Manish Khanna, who plays Anamika’s lover. (Kaul just keeps getting better! I’m still not over his character Kabir, from Ajeeb Dastaans). His portrayal of a disorder and his loneliness with an ache in his chest can almost be felt through the screen.
Nambiar and Kohli use high-speed shots, lush interiors, designer wear, and drama at every corner. The series has the dressings of unhappy marriages, abuse, exploitation, same-sex love, casting couch, mother-daughter dynamics, and coming out all packed into eight 45 minute episodes.
The hugely talented Makarand Deshpande seemed wasted in the character, that could at best be played by any other junior artiste. The series buzzing plotline will keep you on the edge of your seat, until the last episode – where everything seems to be crashing down.
However, Dixit does it all. From singing, dancing, to lighting up the screens, to stepping out in the spotlight to face her reality. She gets wounded but comes out stronger, especially to protect her children. All of her avatars are strong, smart, and sensitive.
Watch it, but only for the portrayal of Anamika’s relationship with Avi and Amara – it is what’ll steal the show!
