Aarya (S3/P1): Is It Still A Good Drama?

The Aarya (Season 3, Part 2/2023) Hindi series is about the proverbial lioness versus the hunters. Notably, in a pride of lions, the lioness is the primary hunter. Actress Sushmita Sen plays the lioness Aarya, the leading lady, with great aplomb. In fact, the Former Miss Universe won the Best Actress award for this show.

The Lady Lioness Is Out For Hunt, & She Is Attacking Hunters

Spoiler-Free Review of the Aarya (Season 3, Part 1/2023) Series

The synopsis

When her world suddenly turns upside down, will Aarya (Sushmita Sen) become the very thing she hated? How far will she go to survive and protect her family?

Adopted from the Dutch series Penoza

This crime series from India is an official adaptation of the Dutch series Penoza. This Hindi series is produced in India by Endemol Shine, which started as a Dutch production company, the same company also produced the original Penoza series from the Netherlands.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that the word called penose (Dutch: penoze and perhaps a derived title here Penoza of the Dutch series) is the organised criminal underbelly in Amsterdam and other major cities in the Netherlands. Thus, Penose usually refers to organizations formed by criminals of Dutch descent.

Creative collaboration between Ram Madhvani and Sushmita Sen

The creator of the series, Ram Madhvani, wanted to make the Dutch series Penoza into a film, but it did not work. So, he went ahead and made the Neerja movie in 2016. But four years later, he made this web series in 2020 with Sushmita Sen playing the lead role. Looking at movie star Sushmita Sen’s filmography, one will realise that she has not done anything of note since 2010. Until she made her comeback to the acting job on the screen after almost a decade with the series in 2020. In other words, the collaboration between Ram Madhvani and Sushmita Sen has worked out for both of them.

So, what is Aarya all about?

Like Penoza, its Indian-adapted version Aarya also deals with the (not that) organised crime family based in Rajasthan state. It narrates a tale about Aarya, a loving housewife busy tending to the needs of her husband and three young children. But her life goes haywire after her husband is assassinated. Then, the housewife reluctantly has to take charge of the criminal business of her family. So that she can save her kids from all kinds of threats. During three seasons and twenty-one episodes, we get to see her transformative character arc.

She is willing to do almost anything to survive and protect her kids from the big bad world of crime and the underworld in India. As a result, she steps into the deadly world of criminals. However, the well-established (Indian and Foreign) gangsters rule the illegal drug businesses in this dangerous crime field.

But the big question remains: what kind of price is she and her family going to pay?

Susmita Sen plays Aarya with style and finesse

This show portrays her as a lioness with lethal claws and bites. As a result, she is certainly not depicted as the trigger-happy. She is shown as a caring and thoughtful lady. Despite managing the illicit drug business, she likes to call herself a working mother. Whether dealing with the complications in her family or doing drug business with hardened criminals, she never loses her cool demeanour. We have, no doubt that Susmita Sen plays the lead heroine with great style and restrained finesse.

To be honest, we have not seen the original Penoza show. So, we are unsure about the ongoing storyline of this crime series set in India. We do not like the fact that its writers and directors are trying to paint her character as a compassionate working woman. She has chosen to step into the criminal world; it is time to show another ruthless side of the lioness. Hopefully, they will rectify it in their future episodes and seasons. Only then will they be able to make it a much more intense and interesting crime show to watch.

The conclusion

Season three of this series is primarily a revenge drama. We get to meet actor Indraneil Sengupta (who plays Sooraj Raizada – Nandini’s husband and Udayveer’s son-in-law) as the key antagonist. He has played the sinister role with subtlety. Furthermore, actor Vikas Kumar (ACP Khan) continues to impress with his dogged acting, too. Besides, we learnt that this series was shot completely with a handheld camera to give it a natural feel. And we consider this aspect. Also, it seems that they have truncated this season, as the number of episodes has gone down.

Maybe it has something with the health scare of Sushmita Sen during the shooting of this season. Here is wishing her the best of health. To conclude, this is a good show with a strong female lead. Our only wish is that the Team will take more risks with its script to make it an unpredictable crime show from India.

Ratings: Aarya (Seasons 1, 2 & 3, Part 1) Series

Posters: Aarya (Seasons 1, 2 & 3, Part 1) Series

This series is at the number 21 in 50 Most Popular Indian Web Series. 

Key Details: Aarya (Seasons 1, 2 & 3, Part 1) Series

Trailer: Aarya (Season 3, Part 1/2023) Series

Also, check out the YouTube video links of the Aarya Series:

First Season ~ Aarya (Season 1/2020)| Official Trailer | Hotstar Specials | Ram Madhvani | Sushmita Sen,
Second Season ~ Aarya (Season 2/2021) | Official Trailer | Hotstar Specials | Ram Madhvani | Sushmita Sen, &
Aarya Recap | Hotstar Specials Aarya Season 3 (2023-2024) | Sushmita Sen | DisneyPlus Hotstar.

Awards Winners: Aarya (Seasons 1 & 2) Series

Spoiler Alert: A peek into the 21 episodes of Aarya (Seasons 1, 2 & 3, Part 1) Series

Tum Mujhpe Bharosa Karti Ho means Do You Trust Me?

Aapko Shaq Hai Kisi Par? means Do You Suspect Anyone?

Kaun Zimmedar Hai? means Who Is Responsible?

Apne Panje Bahar Nikaalo means Take Out Your Claws.

Kaun Chalaega Business? means Who Will Run The Business.

Ek Guru Chahiye means I Need A Teacher.

Aapki Mummy Don Hai means Your Mother Is A Gangster.

Grahan Hai Aaj means It Is An Eclipse Today.

Dharm Sankat means Religious Crisis.

Mujhe Yahaan Se Bhaagna Hai means I Want To Run Away From Here}

Ab Hum Vaapis Jaa Rahe Hain means Now We Are Returning.

Sangram Kahaan Hai? means Where Is Sangram?

300 Crore Ka Consignment means Consignment Of Rs 300 Crore

Phir Se Panje Baahar Nikaalo means Once Again Take Out Your Claws.

Isko Mere Raaste Se Hataa Do means Eliminate That Person Standing In My Way.

Kahani Abhi Khatam Nahi Hui Hain means The Story Is Not Yet Over.

Galti Ki Saza Maut means Punishment For Mistake Is Death.

Sherni Ka Shikar means Lioness' Hunt.

Bali Ya Balidaan means Sacrifice or Offerings Of A Prey.

Featured Image & Poster of the Aarya (2023) Series | Disney+ Hotstar.