When women write women characters, they bring a certain honesty and realism to the story. Aga Aai Aaho Aai is one such series. Writer Kalyani Pandit deserves applause for keeping the story real and bringing every emotion into it. There are scenes where you will bawl your eyes out and others where you will want to pick up the phone and call your mother.
Hruta Durgule is not just a pretty face, and she has proved that time and again. She ruled prime-time television for a while, then moved to theatre and films, and has made some unconventional choices along the way. Her choices have paid off. She is so natural in every character she plays that you start believing her completely.
Her chemistry with Nirmitee Sawant and Renuka Shahane is wonderful. You genuinely believe that they are a real mother-daughter and mother-in-law/daughter-in-law duo.
The best thing about Hruta is that she doesn’t carry any baggage as an actor. She has worked in television, theatre and films, but you can never tell that one medium overshadows the other. She doesn’t fit into a mould.
There couldn’t have been better Anish than Suyog Gorhe. From the Kolhapuri dialect to the physicality of the character and the way he plays an ardent boyfriend-turned-husband, he fits the part perfectly. Suyog is another good actor who doesn’t get enough credit. I would love to see him break out of the sweet-boy image and take on something more adventurous. He has a lot of potential.
Director Varun Narvekar’s take on relationships is amazing. I really love the way he portrays family dynamics, couple relationships and the equations between people. He understands these relationships and brings a warmth to the way the story flows.
Renuka Shahane is an actor whose choices I love. She is a smart actor who understands the craft and knows herself well. She is one of those actors who makes you feel every emotion. You laugh with her and cry with her too.
And then there is Nirmitee Sawant, who deserves an award. Over the past few years, she has done so many films and won our hearts in all of them. She is so good that no amount of praise feels enough. I loved the Sunita she plays. Honestly, I found myself wishing I had a mother-in-law like her. I just wanted to hug her.
Aga Aai Aaho Aai understands relationships and the emotions that come with them. It makes you laugh, cry and think about the people in your own life. And that, for me, is its biggest strength.
Aga Aai Aaho Aai is a warm hug of a series — the kind that stays with you after you finish watching it and makes you want to pick up the phone and call your mother.
