Created by Arunabh Kumar and Apoorv Singh Karki, 'Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt. Ltd.' offers a perfect glimpse into the life story of an ordinary middle class woman who is not educated enough and is groomed to "serve" the charming man who will take care of all of her needs after marriage. Her life is turned upside down when her husband, her primary supporter, abandons her and leaves her to fend for herself. For a homemaker whose life used to revolve around her family, it is difficult to get life back on track after her divorce.
Set in the backdrop of Daryaganj and other locales of Old Delhi, this 6 Episode series follows Suman and her hardships as she embarks on an ambitious journey to become an entrepreneur in order to provide a good life to her children-daughter Juhi and son Rishu, who are currently living with their father. She is uneducated and lacks confidence, so this will not be an easy road for her. But, no matter the challenges Suman faces, she remains strong and overcomes them all.
The writers (Abhishek Srivastava, Akansh Gaur, Arunabh Kumar) beautifully crafted the story around the protagonist and her struggles especially when she has to rebuild her life from scratch. She only has her mother-in-law and the neighbour Shukla Ji for support; who believes she is naïve but still capable of accomplishing something worthwhile in life. While later episodes are well-written, the first few take a while to make sense of everything.
The screenplay by Abhishek Srivastava, Swarnadeep Biswas and Manan Madaan immerses you directly into Suman's world and her life challenges. Her day-to-day experience will easily resonate with audiences while also being encouraging. Although there are times when the pace slows down, still it never drags or becomes boring. The narrative is divided into two parts that cover Suman and Dilip's past, present, and evolving relationship dynamics. The ease with which the drama portrays the bittersweet relationship between the characters is fantastic.
The close-ups shots of mango pickles being prepared and people tasting them appear enticing. Arjun Kukreti's DOP beautifully captured the locales of old Delhi. The streets, people's generosity, and other minor details are well-presented. Delhiwalas will instantly connect with the dialogue and settings. The BGM by Nilotpal Bora heightens the drama's impact.
As the title suggests, the show is about the "Saas," who is expertly portrayed by Yamini Das. She embraces the role wholeheartedly. In fact, she has the best dialogue in the show and elevates it with her energy and enthusiasm. Then there's the "Bahu" played outstandingly by Amruta Subhash. She brings to life her character's ongoing struggles to establish an achaar business. Her kids are her world, yet she must part with them while she waits for her business to succeed. And their "Aachar" business, where these saas-bahu are each other's strongest supporters. Suman even gets help from her friendly neighbour Shukla Ji, who devises business strategies for her.
Anup Soni is convincing as Dilip, the self-centered man. As Juhi and Rishu's stepmother and Vivaan's mother, Anjana Sukhani's character is loving and caring. She has her own story, even after years of struggling with family acceptance. Manu Bisht, Nikhil Chawla, and Shreyansh Kaurav all win hearts with their innocent acts.
All said, the motto of 'Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd' is "as long as you're still alive, you always have the chance to start again." Although there are parts in the show when emotions run high, they are never overbearing. Instead, it has shaped up as an inspiring story of an ordinary woman who goes above and beyond her limitations for her family.
