In the unveiling sequence of Season 3’s trailer for the family crime saga Aarya, director Ram Madhvani divulged that the lead character, portrayed by Sushmita Sen, undergoes a gunshot. The ensuing narrative unfolds retrospectively, prioritizing not the circumstances of the shooting, its method, survival, or the identity of the assailant. Amidst these enigmas and revelations that provide ample room for suspense, the central query captivating Ram is this: Does Aarya attain resolution?
Within the realm of family crime dramas, a genre teeming with cinematic riches from Francis Ford Coppola’s monumental Godfather trilogy to Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s recent Bollywood triumph, Animal, there exists an abundance to absorb, chew upon, swallow, and digest. From the ceaseless excitement of its script to the underlying exploration of how one generation’s decisions shape the subsequent one, and how offspring often metamorphose into the very entities they disdain in their progenitors – a family crime saga offers an endlessly opulent banquet.
Aarya adeptly captures the essence of this genre, thanks to the adeptness of Ram and his co-directors Kapil Sharma and Shraddha Pasi Jairath in maintaining an exquisite equilibrium between thrill and drama. In contrast to the recent Prime Video India Original, Indian Police Force, distinguishing the scenes directed by Rohit Shetty from those helmed by his co-director Sushwant Prakash proves challenging. The thematic thread woven through all Aarya seasons, imbued with its distinctive ideology, bestows upon the series an enthralling identity of its own.
This doesn’t imply Aarya remains immutable. Like its leading character, the show undergoes evolution from its inaugural season in 2020 to its culmination in 2024. Sushmita Sen’s portrayal of Aarya Sareen, a fiercely protective mother with innate self-preservation prowess, exhibits tangible growth from the relatively vulnerable widow of Season 1 to the indomitable force of nature in Season 3.2. Aarya completes a full circle from skepticism regarding the world of crime in the initial and final seasons to being at the center of the storm in Seasons 2 and 3, and to a certain extent, embracing and owning it.
Recalling the poignant scene in Season 1 where an inconsolable Sushmita bites into shadi ka laddoo after her husband’s murder, Season 3 begins with her leisurely enjoying a cigar by the pool. However, Antim Vaar never captures her smoking; instead, she indulges in evening wine, reflecting on past life rather than scheming the next significant deal. Sushmita Sen navigates this demanding and challenging character arc with remarkable ease. She exudes tranquility when breaking down on the floor and matches it with ferocity when brandishing a sword. Sushmita preserves every facet of her character throughout the show, culminating in the unleashing of her inner Durga in the exhilarating finale.
This doesn’t imply Aarya remains immutable. Like its leading character, the show undergoes evolution from its inaugural season in 2020 to its culmination in 2024. Sushmita Sen’s portrayal of Aarya Sareen, a fiercely protective mother with innate self-preservation prowess, exhibits tangible growth from the relatively vulnerable widow of Season 1 to the indomitable force of nature in Season 3.2. Aarya completes a full circle from skepticism regarding the world of crime in the initial and final seasons to being at the center of the storm in Seasons 2 and 3, and to a certain extent, embracing and owning it.
The finale serves as a potent conclusion to an inherently disconcerting season. While much of Aarya is steeped in an ominous sauce of foreboding or burdened by the aftermath of a life-altering tragedy, the concluding season leaves a fresh emotional wound. Neither Aarya’s enduring benevolence nor her cunning, resourceful tactics can extricate her from the labyrinth of defeat that life weaves around her. A persistent sinking sensation, akin to an anchor weighing down one’s throat, permeates through most of the season – a feeling that everything is irreversibly altered. This sentiment only shifts in the final episode when Aarya confronts her destiny, embracing it, and unleashes her fury like a creature with nothing left to lose.
Nonetheless, some discordant notes persist – Geetanjali Kulkarni’s character, Sushila, anticipated to unravel in unexpected ways, is given short shrift this season, squandering the talents of a remarkable actor. Ila Arun, who engaged in considerable verbosity and posturing in the preceding installment, sees her menacing persona lose luster as her actions become repetitive, her son grows more irksome, and her English accent becomes more awkward. Sushmita’s repeated oath, “Maine jo bhi kiya, apne bachchon ke liye kiya,” becomes wearisome until Daulat implores her to act instead of merely stating. Breaking free from the verbal loop aids in escaping the narrative circles as well.
When witnessing Sushmita unleash her primal scream and strike with the prowess of a goddess, an instinctual, carnal response reverberates through one’s bones. Concerns about the fate of her family, the uncertainty of whether this is truly the culmination of arguably India’s finest show to date, and the hope that the latent predatory instincts within us do not meet a tragic end dissipate. Much like Aarya, the acknowledgment that the end is imminent prevails, yet the readiness to embrace it arises because closure has been achieved.