ZEE5’s ‘Forbidden Love’ Review: Anthology Of Four Love Stories Breaking Stereotypes

Since the nation went under lockdown and cinema halls and multiplexes were shut, there was a massive surge in the viewership of the OTT platforms because people shifted to these platforms to satiate their carvings for watching new movies and shows because in the past couple of months the producers and directors have been releasing movies on these platforms. Another addition in the queue of these new releases is ZEE5’s Forbidden Love.

Forbidden Love is an anthology of four love stories directed by Pradeep Sarkar, Priyadarshan, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and Mahesh Manjrekar starring Aditya Seal, Pooja Kumar, Ali Fazal, Omkar Kapoor, Patralekha, Aahana Kumra, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Raima Sen and Ranvijay Singh.

The first two stories of the Anthology, ‘Anamika’ and ‘Arranged Marriage’ was released on 9th September whereas the rest two, ‘Diagnosis of Love’ and ‘Rule of Games’ released on 24th September 2020. So audience can light up their weekends watching these four short love stories which are ground breaking.

1. Arranged Marriage

Arranged Marriage is the first in the row of four short stories. The story has been directed by Pradeep Sarkar and features Omakar Kapoor, Ali Fazal, Patralekha. The short story drama takes into account the issue of homosexuality and revolves around a homosexual couple Neel and Dev. Unable to get out of the closet of his parents, Neel, portrayed by Ali Fazal gets married to his partner Dev’s sister Keya. Hindustan Times rated it 3.8 out of 5 stars captioning ‘The first chapter of Forbidden Love is definetly successful in leaving its imprint’.

2. Anamika

Anamika is the second story of the anthology and is directed by renowned director Priyadarshan. Anamika is a romantic drama film starring Aditya Seal, Pooja Kumar and Harsh Chhaya. The story revolves around Anamika, a housewife deprived of her husband’s love and attention, who develops a close bond with a budding music director Ishaan. Will their unconventional love last? IMDB gave a 7.3 rating to this story.

The story has the key elements of love, infidelity and vulnerability. It subtely breaks the ‘Happily Ever After’ stereotyping of marriages.

3. Rules of The Game

The third story in the anthology of Forbbiden Love is ‘Rules of The Game’. The episode has been directed by Aniruddha Roy Choudhary and revolves around a couple Gaurav Gupta and Priya portrayed by Chandan Roy and Aahana Kumra respectively. The story is set in the backdrop of a couple who is married for seven years. But while Priya and Gaurav is committed to each other, their marriage has run out of excitement and much needed spice. To spice up their relationship the couple engage in role play, which eventually lands them in serious trouble.

The Qunit stated, “The best part about Rules The of Game is its unpredictability, for a 44 minute film, it manages to surprise you quite a few times, and much of the credit for this goes to director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.”

4. Diagnosis Of Love

The last one in the thread of four love stories is ‘Diagnosis Of Love’. The story has been directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. The episode is a medical thriller starring Raima Sen, Mahesh Manjrekar, Vaibhav Tatwawaadi and Ranvijay Singh. The story revolves around a complex web of relationships where a husband asks his cop friend to monitor the movements of his wife as he suspects her to have an affair with her colleague, who has had a dark past.
Hindustan Times rated ‘Diagnosis of Love’ 4.5 out of 5 and stated, “It is the perfect brew of love, romance, and extra marital affairs”.

The Forbidden Love portrays emotions that accompany love such as jealousy, suspicion, anxiety, anger, frustration and insecurity. Each story vividly elaborates societal problems associated with love which are difficult to discuss.