Aarya Season 3 review: Sushmita Sen reigns in a thrilling tale of power play

Created by Ram Madhvani, and starring Sen alongside recurring characters like Veer, Aarya’s teenage son (Viren Vazirani), Sampat, her right-hand man (Vishwajeet Pradhan), ACP Younus Khan (Vikas Kumar), and his duplicitous colleague Sushila (Geetanjali Kulkarni), Season 3 marks the arrival of two new foes — Suraj (Indraneil Sengupta), who is out to seek revenge for the murder of his late wife Nandini at the hands of Maya (Maya Sarao), Aarya’s artist friend; and Nalini Sahiba (Ila Arun), another don who resembles Aarya in more than one ways.

The gaze that conveys power

The latest season goes the The Night Manager way as it releases only four episodes, making viewers yearn for what’s to come next as the 4th episode ends on a crucial note that fills us with curiosity. At the end of Season 2, Aarya had become a don, and shot her biological father to death, marking the river of blood that would flow through the hands of this once-scared mother, who transformed into this lioness to protect them. Yet, Aarya quivers at how easy it was for her to pull the trigger, taking life, and spiraling down the very path that she wanted to escape from even though it’s for her kids. This battle between protecting her kingdom and preserving her conscience becomes the overarching theme of the show.

For the better part of the four-episode long installment, Sen is a riveting portrait of grace laced with fearlessness, but there are fleeting moments of humanity that are reminiscent of the mother who had to rise to the occasion, showcasing just how far Aarya has come, and the price she has had to pay for the same. Sen’s dance between the two shades of her character is one to marvel at; her authenticity, recently seen in Taali as well, is something that feels so precious, that in the sparse but nevertheless poignant scenes that the camera focuses on her eyes, you see them speak volumes, even when most of the times it’s silent and succinct dialogues that deliver her power, it’s Sen’s piercing gaze that tug at your heartstrings.

In a spectacular scene between Sengupta and Sen, the latter accuses Suraj of being similar to a ruthless animal, only for him to turn around and proclaim that if he is an animal, then Aarya is no better. While the better part of the show is swift, and sudden, not missing a beat here or there, this scene makes us slow down, and adds a touch of vulnerability to an otherwise gritty, and rip-roaring thriller. You see Sen’s face go through a range of emotions, from anger to a realisation that dawns upon her. However, it’s Sengupta who is a masterclass in acting as he goes from a vengeance-driven husband to a grieving one, as his eyes become moist and he breaks down. You can see how all the ache that he has used to drive his revenge is tiring him as he crumbles and falls into his knees, wishing there would be an end to all this violence that’s in reality harming the ones they love.

A carefully created jigsaw puzzle

There is something about Sengupta’s performances through the ages, be it Kahaani, Human, The Fame Game, amongst others, that one finds captivating beyond reason. You see this repeatedly in Sengupta who can seamlessly navigate the emotional landscape of a character, effortlessly transitioning from moments of poignant vulnerability to bursts of electrifying intensity. A magnetic force seems to emanate from his presence, beguiling the audience in a spellbinding performance. Every movement, every nuanced expression, is executed with a deliberation that speaks of a deep understanding of his craft.

The strength of Madhvani’s filmmaking lies not only in its well-paced and suspenseful plot but also in the way the show attempts to portray its characters in a nuanced manner. The writers have created a cast of multifaceted individuals, each grappling with moral dilemmas and personal struggles. Aarya succeeds as a show even after three seasons because of its ability to balance the high-stakes criminal narrative with the complexities of human relationships. With vivid cinematography that allows each episode to unfold like a carefully created jigsaw puzzle, the Sushmita Sen-starrer is a well-crafted crime drama that oscillates between power and pain, kingdom and kin, tension and tenderness.

As the four episodes come to an incomplete end, you’re left asking for more. Madhvani, along with his lead actor, constructs a show that you can devour within hours. They keep you guessing, and that is the very first sign of a thriller done right. Sen is remarkable, the very definition of immaculate perfection, in her crisp-cut coats, and huge handbags even as things get down and dirty. It’s a juxtaposition of Sen’s own personality as someone so soft on the edges that continues to make an interesting but nevertheless effective choice for Aarya.

Aarya Season 3 is currently streaming on Disney + Hotstar