Review of Navya--Article

She's a sweet, shy girl, rooted in her family values; he too has his feet firm in the principles of his family. He is Anant and she is Navya, Star Plus' newest protagonist of the serial by the same name.

Navya belongs to an upper middle-class family. She lives with her parents (has an elder married sister and a younger brother too) and her daadi who feels education will only ruin her marriage prospects. Her father, like most fathers, is worried about his daughter's well-being, especially after she is caught in crossfire on Valentine's Day in college. A little misunderstanding on Valentine's Day makes her father upset who, in a fit of anger, stops her from going to college. So it's left to her mother to support her daughter.

Anant belongs to a traditional rich family where family values are upheld and there is no room for any modern beliefs. His grandfather is the spiritual Art of Living type who takes pride in Anant's upbringing. His father is the disciplinarian who doesn't want Anant to get involved with any girl.

So right now, the ladka-ladki seem to be having some feelings for each other yet are unable to express them, courtesy their strict family backgrounds.

What works for Navya are its simple characters, especially the two protagonists. After a long time, one sees a girl (Soumya Seth as Navya) on primetime who doesn't have to try hard to be all coy and innocent. She wears a perpetual babe-in-the-woods expression with a creased brow but fortunately it isn't forced! The boy (Shaheer Sheikh) is neither conventionally good-looking nor macho but works nevertheless with his lost-puppy looks.

We also love the other supporting cast, especially Navya's parents and her two girlfriends, Rithika and Appy. The tender moments between Navya and her father, the typical mother-daughter relationship or Anant's equation with his grandfather lends a warm touch to the show. The camaraderie Navya shares with her two best friends is also identifiable - making up stories to spend a night out or going moony- eyed at the sight of the best-looking guy in college –– all sweet stuff.

The only hitch is its slow pace. We would have loved quicker developments and here's hoping the show doesn't turn into a typical family saga but breaks some fresh ground.

Verdict: ***