A Far Cry From Bollywood Heroes, Madhavan Changes The Concept Of Aging Like Fine Wine In ‘Decoupled’

Srishti Magan

I spent the last weekend going through various shows and movies (still not over Spider-Man) and thoroughly enjoyed most of them. And one of the shows I watched over the weekend was Netflix’s latest comedy-drama, Decoupled, starring R. Madhavan and Surveen Chawla.

Though I am yet to complete the series, what immediately struck me about the show was Madhavan’s inimitable charm despite playing a character who isn’t particularly charming. 

Madhavan’s character in the series, a misanthrope, is a far cry from the characters that we see most Bollywood actors his age play.

While most actors Madhavan’s age are busy romancing women half their age on-screen and doing stunts that I don’t see many men, or women, of any age, perform, Madhavan, as Arya Iyer, spent time griping about the world, contemplating his past, and failing at flirting. 

Yes, his co-star is over a decade younger than him, but in the world of Bollywood, that’s just how casting work. 

YouTube

Additionally, from his physique to his clothes to his mannerisms – he appears real and relatable, even though he spends most of his timing hating on society. In other words, he looked extremely comfortable playing a man his age, with his own set of characteristics, rather than a photoshopped version of the ‘ideal, forever young man’. And that is the kind of realism we crave to see on our screens. 

Of course, imbuing a sense of realism in his characters has been Madhavan’s expertise ever time he has appeared on camera – whether it was as a romantic hero (who, in hindsight, was extremely problematic) in RHTDM, a conflicted student in 3 Idiots, a seasoned fighter pilot in Rang De Basanti, or, a divorced misanthrope, discovering a way back into love, in his latest, Decoupled. 

Indian Express

Essentially, Madhavan has revamped the idea of aging like fine wine, appearing as a refreshing change from the streak of men who looked like carbon copies of each other. And much as my teenage self fell for his charm (that, in hindsight was a red flag) in RHTDM, my adult self has fallen for his charm, crankiness and all, in Decoupled.

All images from Netflix, unless specified otherwise. 

You might also like
Abhishek Bachchan’s ‘I Want To Talk’ Trailer Promises Drama, Dark Humour & A Deep Dive Into Modern-Day Relationships
52 Best Erotic Movies To Pick For A Steamy Night In That’re Sure To Ignite Your Passion!
Diljit Dosanjh’s Jaipur Concert Had a Fan Leave Her Roka & He Responded Like a True Rockstar
12 Tweets To Read Before Watching ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ In Theaters
13 Tweets To Read Before Booking Your Tickets For Singham Again
From Coldplay to Dua Lipa, Here’s Your Cheat Sheet to India’s Hottest Concerts This Season