Firstly, I cannot help but mention how refreshing it was to watch young, fresh faces that can actually act. Both Adrija Sinha and Saumya Uniyal deserve applause for their flawless performances. The way they have portrayed characters that are on the verge of exploring adulthood while keeping their innocence intact is an absolute delight to watch. I hope this is just the beginning of two promising journeys in the world of entertainment. Talent like theirs deserves to be seen, celebrated, and nurtured.
Moving on to the subject of this short series, I feel that filmmakers should make more series and films for teenagers that discuss sexuality, drugs, peer pressure, exams, relationships, and other relatable topics concerning growing children. Very few are doing it right, and Matargashti is one of them. It touches upon a subject that, once again, needs a lot of debate and discussion. What happens when parents fail to establish healthy communication with their children, especially when they are at an age when they need support and guidance, not judgement?
Matargashti puts the spotlight on a strained relationship between a father and his teenage daughter, who wants to experience sex. What pushes her to do that? Peer pressure. And why does she feel that pressure? Because there is no one back home to talk her out of it. All she has is her best friend, who is as confused as she is. So, both girls become each other’s support system and do what they feel is right.
And what does her father do? He follows her like a detective, and even when he realises that his daughter might end up doing something she shouldn’t, he doesn’t sit down and talk to her about it. Because how can a father talk to his daughter about adult stuff?
What I loved the most about Matargashti is how effortlessly the makers have handled a subject like this without making it a bitter dose of gyaan for kids this age (teenagers, mostly). Sometimes, you have to simply let them be and let them figure things out in their own way while being there to guide them in the right direction, not forcefully but by becoming the trusted ally they have been looking for outside their home.
If I had to categorise this show, I would put it in the same category as Gullak, Yeh Meri Family, and Tripling. It is a show you wish would be renewed season after season, one that can grow on you and actually become your comfort show. I am secretly wishing that they renew this gem for a second season.
Where to Watch? Netflix
