Mahesh Bhatt.

Pop the name and one conjures images of magnificence, brilliance and perfection. However, Bhatt’s latest brainchild on Star Plus, Naamkarann, is a far cry from the master filmmaker’s genius.

May be this is going out on a limb based on only the first episode, but Naamkarann needs quite a bit of fine tuning to create the desired impact on the audiences, given the expectations and hype around it.

The story, well it’s Zakhm on television. The scene where Asha (Barkha Bisht) shuts windows while awaiting arrival of Ashish (Viraf Patel), draws parallel from a similar setting in the movie featuring Pooja Bhatt.

Ashish is in a relationship with Asha and the two have a love child, Avni (Arsheen Namdar). The first episode acts as exposition introducing the prominent characters and also highlighting the dilemma of Ashish, who is battling the world at one hand to be in a ‘taboo’ relationship, and on the other convincing his mother (Reema Lagoo) to accept his wife and child.

Torn between two worlds, Viraf as Ashish displays maturity and control in his performance. Barkha, a woman stung by stigma, looks stunning and plays her part well.

Young protégé Arsheen brings in required energy in an otherwise sedate scene transition and Reema Lagoo thumps her authority the moment she gets airtime (experience matters).

The sets, though crafty, is a blemish in an attempted realistic portrayal of everyday emotions. It’s like wearing a corset to a Ganpati visarjan... ostentatious!!!

Overall, the first episode seems average. Slow and steady it is...but will it win the race?

As the wise man says, expectation is the mother of all disappointment. But when Bhatt saab makes a show, hope hits the ceiling.

Namkarann has a good concept, promises to be a tear jerker. However, something’s missing. What is it?

Well, passion and energy, which Bhatt saab is known for. There is performance, but not soul. The emotions are there, but not sublime and poignant enough. You flow with the characters, but not live their part. You experience pain, but from a distance. You are there, yet not there.

Bhatt saab is involved, but his brilliance not imbibed. If Naamkaran is an adaptation of Zakhm, then we deserve better.

We wish power, energy and success to the show!!!