Ketchup Cut: Made in Heaven, Tara's journey of class and acceptance

Check out how Tara's character was able to define the storyline in the Amazon Prime Original Made in Heaven.

Indian series and shows have broken the periphery of what entertainment in India was about. The vast expansion of platforms has opened doors to new, incredible storytelling that audiences have accepted with open arms. The influence of international shows has helped creators in India deliver and give Indian audiences better stories beyond the constraints of censorship. The success of Indian shows like Made in Heaven is an example of this growing digital industry. And this edition of #KetchupCut plans on understanding two powerful scenes from the series that left a mark among us audiences in two parts. The first one discusses Tara's story.

A story that follows two wedding planners, Karan and Tara, who try to keep up with their dream of having their own business while giving their clients their dream wedding. The show explores different stories throughout the season touching upon various aspects of making marriage happen.

About the show:

Creators – Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti
Cast – Arjun Mathur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Jim Sarbh, Kalki Koechlin, Shashank Arora, Shivani Raghuvanshi
Writer – Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti and Alankrita Shrivastava
Where to stream – Amazon Prime Videos

Made in Heaven is based on one of the institutions that are considered to be fundamental in Indian society - Marriage. The show that reflects on various stories ends up unpacking the politics behind marriages. While they plan on giving their clients their dream wedding, Karan (Arjun Mathur) and Tara (Sobhita Dhulipala) deal with their own obstacles in life that put the complex phenomenon called life on-screen.

Ketchup Cut:

Marriages are considered the ultimate end to any bachelor's life in India. It is the celebration that people spend most of the savings on to try and please everyone attending them. Amazon Prime Video's show Made in Heaven was able to bring out the essence of this part of society into life. It wouldn't be wrong if we suggested that one thing that made the show Made in Heaven a hit was Tara's character. The scene in talks today is the one where Tara confronts Adil and finally comes clean about her relationship.

The show is all about exposing the ugly truths and hidden lies of marriage, society, individuals, and everything in between. Tara stands as an example of all these with her own uniqueness. A multi-faceted female belonging from the middle class and getting married into a rich family, her journey went from a dot to the peak. She is the epitome of the long-standing culture of the 'try to look good so you can marry into a better house' phenomenon. She was raised by a single mother who always reminded her and her sister that it is only with their beauty that they can do something to get out away from their life of poverty. Tara is not the oh-so-perfect female lead, who does everything right, had a beautiful love story with her husband, and is now planning people's weddings. He is equal parts manipulative and equal parts emotional.

Tara and Adil never really had a love relationship. The only reason she was able to get married to the almost married Adil, who was actually planning on his wedding with his then-fiance, was because she was able to tap on his hero complex. The man who was willing to help out the damsel in distress. The fact that Tara found an opportunity to live a life she and her mother always dreamt of even though she had to manipulate herself into it, is proof that he is not any regular heroine. Despite us getting to know about all her maneuvers, it is hard to not love her. It is the depth in her character that makes her lovable.

She was well aware of Adil's relationship outside their marriage, but instead of confronting it, she decided to try her luck at fixing things because she knew how important Adil is to her career and her life. Her trying to do her best, trying to give the family an heir so she can be accepted into the family, to deal with her mother-in-law's sweet reminders of her not belonging like the rest of them is all example of her trying her best. Although her relationship with Adil is built on lies, she gets deeply affected by the fact that her husband cheated on her. But she finally busts off and comes clean on how they 'fucked up' their relationship. And the climax scene where we see Tara covered in jewellery sitting inside the bathtub all alone gives her character the cathartic end. Showing us how the jewels were the only thing she might have chased all her life and was only left with it at the end. Maybe symbolism to her being a golddigger or her taking them as a reward or them representing the wealthy side over the unhappy story behind the grand weddings. No matter what it is, the scene definitely was able to give Tara's character an amazing closure.

It is always easier for the audiences to pick a side and hope, but Tara lives in the grey and confuses the audiences on what they should interpret of her. And that's fine. That is great and we are in for it. Her caring dearly for the peon while giving his daughter a lovely wedding but behaving completely opposite with her sister is what we are talking about.

Another scene that brings out the dynamics of her character is when she lets a victim choose monetary compensation over finding justice for being sexually assaulted. While Karan wants the victim to take the matter to the court and speak up about the wrong that happened to her, Tara suggests she take the money and keep quiet than fight over it. While it may seem insensitive and questionable on her part, like Karan did, it lets us see her in a new light. Tara knows the repercussions of being a woman, especially being a victim in a society that constantly judges and tries to undermine her. The episode is a true representation of how on one side the family is celebrated for promoting women empowerment while on the other a mehendivali is sexually assaulted. The mere instance when Karan demands her to do more because Tara is a woman and her saying 'Which is why I will not judge her' shows that she acknowledges the bravery of the victim to accept the money in silence. It gives us an insight into Tara's middle-class upbringing which forced her to welcome the harsh realities of a woman's life and the place that the girl comes from.

About Made In Heaven:

Zoya Akhtar talked about how her experience of directing the series, "Every episode was like a film with props and costumes, and it was mounted on a grand scale. So, achieving that scale and shooting that many pages in a day was quite challenging. Plus, our editor Apurva Asrani fell sick and had to leave midway. That was a setback." As reported in Mid-Day

While talking about how she interpreted the character Sobhita said to India Today, "Choosing to remain vulnerable and sensitive despite disappointments or heartbreak helps me stay authentic to my life. It is the hardest part. I do not morally judge any character and resist judging anybody in real life too. Sensitivity, awareness and conflict, these have catalysed my creative growth."

Fun Facts:

This is another noteworthy series produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani after Inside Edge and Mirzapur.

The series is directed by 4 directors Zoya Akhtar, Nitya Mehra, Prashant Nair and Alankrita Shrivastava exploring different stories.

Awards and Recognition:

• iReel Awards - Nominated for Best Drama Series, Best Actor - Drama, Best Actress - Drama, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Writing -Drama, Best Music
• International Emmy Awards - Nominated for Best Actor

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Which part about Tara's story did you find interesting? Let us know.

Also Read - Ketchup Cut: Tamasha, a unique take on love and dreams