By Joginder Tuteja




Two web series released this week - Hello Mini 3 on MX Player and Mai Hero Boll Raha Hu on ZEE5 and ALT Balaji.


Hello Mini 3 is one of the rare Indian web series that has actually gone into the third part. A trilogy about a young woman Mini [Anija Joshi] and her mysterious stalker, as known as 'Stranger', it had a cracker of the first and the second season. That itself had ensured that the buildup was just right for the third season since it was all about the eventual revelation of the man behind the mask.


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Streaming on MX Player, this one has actually come pretty quick, what with the second season released just a few weeks back earlier this year. This time around, the dramatic quotient has turned all the more sinister, though the erotic quotient (something which actually set things right for the web series when its first season was released) has been comparatively toned down. However, the third season works as a climax of sorts, what with the first season setting up the stage, the second season igniting the mystery element and now the third as a grand finale.


Based on a trilogy by author Novoneel Chakraborty, this Applause Entertainment production is primarily an entertainer for the young adults who are getting more and exposed to the content from the West, courtesy the booming of the OTT offerings in the last couple of years. That said, to really get a hang of the third season, it is prudent for a viewer to watch the first couple of seasons as well since this one is designed to work in continuity instead of being standalone.


On the other hand Mai Hero Boll Raha Hu is primarily for the gentry, what with bhais, their bhaigiri, cops, gangsters and the city of Mumbai coming to the fore. A few months back Ekta Kapoor had come up with Mumbhai which was about the rivalry between a gangster and his mentee, who emerges as a cop. This time around it is about rivalry between two gangsters, one [Parth Samthaan] who finds his place in the city and another [Arsalan Goni] who mentors him. With Patraleka playing an actress, it also ends up forming a love triangle.


As is expected from the genre, this web series streaming on ZEE5 and ALT Balaji also carries bright colors, over the top dialogues, swag element and moments that may seem seen-before but going well with what the series had promised to begin with. Though this isn't the kind where one expects an entire family to sit together over dinner and catch all the action, for those who dig into the likes of Shootout franchise or Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai series, it turns out to be a satisfying affair.


Coming soon


Coming week sees the arrival of a couple of web series, His Storyy and Out Of Love - Season 2.


His Storyy is yet another offering from Ekta Kapoor on the subject of homosexuality, and this time around it's the story of two men. While she has also brought to fore a story of two women just a few weeks back [The Married Woman] with Monica Dogra and Ridhi Dogra, for His Storyy she has roped in Satyadeep Misra and Mrinal Dutt. The promo of the web series, which plays on ALT Balaji and ZEE 5, promises a sensitive tale in the offering with some credible performances. Moreover, it is also quite apparent that homosexuality hasn't been trivialized here.


On the other hand Purab Kohli and Rasika Dugal come together for the second season of Out Of Love. Set to stream on Disney+Hotstar, this one takes off from where the first season left where a man was caught cheating by his wife. While the first season ended with the two going their separate ways, it has to be seen what happens from this point on, now that the duo is separated. On its release, the first season found quite some appreciation coming its way and worked well with the class audience. One expects the same target audience to give it a dekko.


Release dates (for next week)


His Storyy - ALT Balaji and ZEE5 - 25th April


Out Of Love - Season 2 - Disney + Hotstar - 30th April


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