Queen (Tamil-English Webseries)

Filmcompanion’s Baradwaj Rangan recently wrote about how trailers these days gave away too much that there was no surprise for the audience anymore unlike in the past, but rather it was intended to merely prepare us for what we were about to watch. 

However, the trailer of Queen breaks this unwritten rule to write a new one, just like what its protagonist Shakti Seshadri does in Queen. This was one trailer, interestingly, both prepared and surprised me. So when the trailer was released, I was as excited as a hard core cinema fan who was all geared up for a First Day First Show.

Even though the makers emphasize that Queen is not a biopic but a historic fiction, we couldn’t resist drawing parallel connections between fiction and non-fiction versions of Queen who ruled Tamilnadu for decades. For the first 2 episodes, the guessing game of the screen characters with reality made it even more interesting to watch.  Queen is a monumental attempt at exploring the formative years of a path-breaking actor-politician who takes the viewer through the 11-episodic series: a teenager who doesn’t get to celebrate her school achievements, a young girl who is thrown into the film world she despises, a rebellious adolescent who has a strained relationship with her mother Ranganayaki, an actress who has to deal with a complicated and varying equation with a matinee idol GMR,  a naïve lover who is being let down by a Telugu director Chaitanya Reddy, adversities knock her doorstep at every phase in life.

So measured is the unhurried pacing, so sinuous the back and forth moving timeline, so healing the performances are, that it almost feels like a therapy for our inner souls. I am a sucker for heart-warming stories. While watching Queen, I teared, sobbed and indeed at many instances paused the episodes to wipe my uncontrollable tears. But onscreen Shakti, despite the ordeal she faces, has broken down probably twice. Isn’t it quite obvious why we laud her as the Iron Lady?

Gautam Vasudev Menon (GVM)’s directorial touch

How much of GVM can we see in a series that is largely adapted from a book? In many of his interviews, he shared his desire to direct scripts written by others. Little did we know, he could create some phenomenal magic in that avenue.

There is an interview scene where Ramya Krishnan is intervened by an uninvited guest as he asks “Do you know Mr Reddy?” 

Slightly annoyed, Ramya asserts that she has no interest to know about her ex-lover, Mr Reddy and there comes the next line, clearly indicating GVM’s forte.

Having taken the liberty to explore old-school romance which is yet another space that shows GVM’s comfort zone, it is a visual delight to see some really good romantic track. GVM’s favourite moon-related line appears in the terrace scene and a lot more references of his previous works keep flashing in our minds, this time, only adding flavour and more prayers for Shakti to live a happy life though we know the lurking dangers she is about to face.

Friction in mother-daughter relationship

Undoubtedly, one of my favourite parts in this series is the portrayal of dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship. Intensely portrayed in both teenage and adolescent periods, the nuanced acting of Anikha-Sonia Agarwal and Anjana-Tulasi Chellamma is nothing short of brilliance. 

While the saying goes, “Niyaayam ellaru pakkam irukum, Aana unmai oru pakkam thaan irukum,” it is not easy to pinpoint right from wrong in any relationship. Even though the narrative is largely told from Shakti’s perspective, viewers are also allowed to see the grey shades of both characters, hence not able to label one person as right or wrong. Thus, that astute writing by Reshma Ghatala digging deep into every corner in the minds of both women, makes audience invested in the tale throughout the series. 

One of the reviews online criticizes the zen-like calmness carried by the characters even while they are angry. What is wrong with characters dealing with emotions in a subtle way? We don’t need flying jeeps and sickle fights to depict anger. This war, between Shakti and Ranganayaki, is an inner battle and a simple reply from a zen-like Shakti like “Punishment thambiku illai, unaku thaan ma” is more than enough to show what really happens in a strained relationship.

Financial Independence- A women’s necessity

Shakti’s mum leaves the home in anger, to stay somewhere else. There is chaos. There is misunderstanding. There are arguments. Despite this circumstance, there is peace in the house. There is calmness. All because of the fact that the house Shakti is in, belongs to her. 

Not many narratives give space for viewers to reflect on the importance of financial independence. It is mostly seen as a selfish act to own something of your own in our Indian family setting and Indian families talk very little about financial literacy and independence. However, a story set in the 1970s, has so much relevance to today’s necessity.

Dealing with Mental Health Issues

It is surprising to hear terms like psychiatrist and rehab centre for these topics, like financial literacy, are almost taboo even today in many families. Even though it may seem to be little period-inappropriate (are these commonly available in the 1970s?), it doesn’t hinder the progress in the flow. If not, all the more, it is shown as an important element in the healing process for Shakti. Once again, proving and making us reflect how and why we need to see mental health care as an essential part of our lives.

Threading back and forward, weaving together buoyant celebration of love and lots of needle pricks of sadness, both before and after becoming a politician, Queen elegantly pieces together a much-needed tale. The repeated theme music by Siva beautifully steeps the picture in a kind of luxuriant sadness and resignation. It’s a gorgeous, melancholy masterpiece.

Whenever friends ask  “Recommend me a good Tamil web series.”

Usually, I stumble.

Today, I have an answer- “Queen”