Swara Bhasker’s web series is well-intended but half baked

GB NEWS 24 DESK//

“Rasbhari” (series streaming on Amazon Prime)

Cast: Swara Bhasker, Ayushmaan Saxena, Neelu Kohli; Direction: Nikhil Bhat

Rating: * * and 1/2 (two and a half stars)

“Rasbhari” tries to be erotic and edifying at the same time. The idea is to set up a quirky, coming-of-age drama in smalltown India buoyed by sexual fantasy. Layered within is a subtext that teases with the paranormal, in a bid to leave a broader comment on the societal urge to scuttle a woman’s sexuality.

Nikhil Bhat’s series spreads its dual idea over eight episodes. You have Swara Bhasker as the sizzling English teacher Shanu, who arrives in smalltown Meerut with her husband and right away conquers all the male hearts, sending boys and men alike on a trip of fantasy.

Among Shanu’s besotted brigade is Nand Kishore (Ayushmaan Saxena) whose big dream — no surprises — is to lose his virginity before he finishes high school. The problem is Nand seems to develop brotherly vibes with almost all the girls he knows, and that includes the odd one who makes her advances quite apparent to him. Shanu’s arrival changes his life. Suddenly, Nand falls head over heels for the English teacher.

Shantanu Shrivatava’s writing adds a spin to the narrative here. As Nand is drawn to Shanu’s allure and even signs up for private tuitions to get close to her, he begins to hear unpalatable things about her. He learns that Shanu has been making out with many of the guys about town. As the town’s women prepare to lead a charge against Shanu for snatching their husbands, the mention keeps coming up of Rasbhari, the teacher’s alter ego who, we are told is the spirit of a courtesan.

Is Rasbhari to blame for the sexual transgressions that Shanu is blamed for? Or is she merely an imagination figment to let Nand protect his beautiful perception of Shanu?