Triples – Hotstar Webseries

Triples

Genre – Comedy
Director – Charukesh Sekar
Starring – Jai, Vani Bhojan, Vivek Prasanna

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Triple the Trouble, Triple the Laughs: A Deep Dive into the Hotstar Web Series ‘Triples’

In the burgeoning landscape of Indian streaming content, where crime thrillers and intense dramas often dominate, a delightful wave of clean, situational comedy is a refreshing change. One such standout offering from the South Indian OTT space is the Tamil romantic-comedy web series, ‘Triples’. Released as a Hotstar Special, the series managed to capture the essence of classic Tamil comedy while adapting it for the episodic format.

Produced by acclaimed filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj under his banner Stone Bench Creations, and directed by Charukesh Sekar, ‘Triples’ is a frantic, fun-filled rollercoaster that tests the bonds of friendship against the backdrop of an impending marriage, a sudden re-entry from the past, and a dangerous mix of debt and mistaken identity.

Series Overview: A Comedy of Errors

‘Triples’ premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on December 11, 2020, instantly appealing to fans of the romantic comedy genre. The series consists of eight episodes, each running for approximately 22–30 minutes, giving it a total runtime comparable to a long feature film.

The core appeal of the series lies in its homage to a golden era of Tamil comedy, specifically the works of the legendary playwright and screenwriter, Crazy Mohan. The makers openly acknowledged this inspiration, aiming to replicate the chaos, wordplay, and situational humour that Mohan’s collaborations with Kamal Haasan were famous for. Even the names of two central characters, Maadhu and Cheenu, are direct references to Mohan’s iconic theatre sketches.

The series was released in its original Tamil language, along with dubbed versions in Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Kannada, Bengali, and Hindi, highlighting Disney+ Hotstar’s commitment to providing regional content to a pan-Indian audience.

The Premise: Friendship, Marriage, and Mayhem

The plot of ‘Triples’ is built on the foundation of three inseparable friends, whose lives are suddenly thrown into utter chaos.

The Trio:

1. Ram Kumar (played by Jai): The central protagonist, a somewhat jaded and unlucky-in-love man. He runs a café called ‘Kalakitta Da Kaapi’ with his two best friends.
2. Maadhavan ‘Maadhu’ (played by Vivek Prasanna): Ram’s closest friend and business partner. He is married to Janaki and often acts as the over-the-top, panic-prone comic relief.
3. Cheenu (played by Rajkumar): The third member of the trio and Ram’s business partner, who complements Maadhu’s energy with his own brand of situational humour.

The main storyline begins with Ram on the verge of his second marriage to Mythili (Madhuri Jain). However, his life takes a sudden, bewildering turn with the re-entry of his ex-wife, Meera (Vani Bhojan). Their divorce was a result of differences, including their inability to conceive a child, a sensitive topic touched upon in the narrative.

Meera’s unexpected return is compounded by a shocking piece of news, which forces Ram and his friends to stop the second wedding. Simultaneously, the three friends’ business venture has landed them in deep trouble with a loan shark, Baby Chetta, whose menacing presence chases them throughout the city. Adding to the escalating chaos is a politician who is in pursuit of his daughter.

This intricate web of a love triangle, a crime comedy angle involving a gangster, and a frantic road trip to Goa forms the core adventure of the series. The plot is a dizzying mix of mistaken identities, last-minute evasions, and non-stop confusion, designed to keep the audience guessing and laughing.

Cast and Performances: The Pillars of Comedy

The series’ success in delivering its intended humour rests heavily on the shoulders of its talented ensemble cast.

• Jai as Ram Kumar: ‘Triples’ marked actor Jai’s debut in the streaming space. While some critics found his portrayal of Ram to be a bit too ‘sober’ for the chaotic environment, his chemistry with Vani Bhojan and his two on-screen friends was noted to be a strong point. He effectively conveys the frustration and bewilderment of a man whose life is spinning out of control.
• Vani Bhojan as Meera: Vani Bhojan delivers a key performance as Meera, Ram’s ex-wife. Her character is pivotal to the central conflict, and she portrays the role with a mixture of assertiveness and vulnerability.
• Vivek Prasanna and Rajkumar as Maadhu and Cheenu: Widely hailed as the most entertaining aspect of the show, Vivek Prasanna and Rajkumar provide the bulk of the comic relief. Their chemistry as a sidekick duo is consistently praised, with their lengthy and frantic roles providing good, loud comedy for the audience. Vivek Prasanna, in particular, was seen as channeling the energy of Yugi Sethu from the Crazy Mohan universe, with his quick, humorous dialogue delivery.
• Madhuri Jain as Mythili: Madhuri Jain, as Ram’s fiancée, Mythili, holds her own in a complex romantic situation, and her character is given scope for performance, which is often a rarity in standard Tamil comedies.

The strong ensemble cast and their well-developed characters were instrumental in translating the script’s intended situational comedy onto the screen, helping to mask some of the perceived flaws in the overall pacing.

Production and Creative Vision

The web series benefits from the backing of a major production house and a seasoned team.

• Creative Producer Karthik Subbaraj: Having an established filmmaker like Karthik Subbaraj as the Creative Producer instantly elevated the series’ profile. His production company, Stone Bench Creations, has been involved in several prominent OTT projects, showcasing his commitment to the platform.
• Director Charukesh Sekar and Writer Balaji Jayaraman: Director Charukesh Sekar and writer Balaji Jayaraman deserve credit for successfully conjuring several genuinely funny situations, which are the driving force of the comedy-of-errors narrative. Their joint vision to pay tribute to Crazy Mohan’s style shaped the entire comedic tone.
• Technical and Visuals: The production quality is generally considered top-notch, with good visuals and art direction. Cinematographer Kalaiselvan Sivaji captures the different settings effectively, including the last few episodes shot in Goa, which were described as a “visual treat” with impressive wide-angle drone shots.

Soundtrack and Music

The soundtrack of ‘Triples’ was composed by Vishal Chandrashekhar. The series features two main songs, and the theme music was particularly noted for creating a memorable impact. Significantly, the series also marked the debut of lead actor Jai as a music composer, who contributed one song to the album.

Critical Reception: A Mixed Bag

Upon its release, ‘Triples’ received a mixed reception from critics, with a general consensus that while the series had its moments of brilliance, it suffered from inconsistent execution.

• Praise for Comedy and Performances: Critics acknowledged that the series rarely takes itself seriously, which is its strength. The fast-paced wordplay, situational comedy, and the over-the-top antics of Maadhu and Cheenu were frequently highlighted as the elements that worked best. The Times of India gave the series a 3 out of 5 rating, stating that ‘Triples’ manages to take the viewer on a joyful, albeit “bumpy ride.”
• Criticism of the Format: The most common criticism was that the eight-episode structure felt like a feature film that had been needlessly stretched or awkwardly chopped into segments. This led to a lagging screenplay and inconsistent writing, with some of the subplots feeling like they were introduced solely to fill the runtime.
• Crazy Mohan Homage: While the intent to honour Crazy Mohan was clear, some reviewers felt that the comedy didn’t consistently deliver on the promise of his signature clever wordplays and puns, instead relying on more generic and predictable situations.

Despite the uneven pacing, ‘Triples’ is a recommended watch for those who appreciate the genre of clean, energetic, and chaotic romantic comedy, especially for the excellent performances of the supporting cast who carry the show’s humour across its runtime.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: What is ‘Triples – Hotstar Webseries’ about?

A: ‘Triples’ is an Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy web series revolving around three inseparable friends, Ram, Maadhu, and Cheenu. The central plot follows Ram, who is about to marry for the second time, only to have his life thrown into turmoil by the unexpected re-entry of his ex-wife, Meera, who returns with a shocking revelation. This personal chaos is compounded by the friends’ business troubles with a dangerous loan shark, leading to a frenetic road trip and a comedy of errors.

Q2: Who are the main actors in the ‘Triples’ web series?

A: The lead cast of ‘Triples’ includes:

• Jai as Ram Kumar
• Vani Bhojan as Meera (Ram’s ex-wife)
• Vivek Prasanna as Maadhavan ‘Maadhu’
• Rajkumar as Cheenu
• Madhuri Jain as Mythili (Ram’s fiancée)

Q3: Who produced and directed the ‘Triples’ web series?

A: The series was produced by renowned filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj under his production banner, Stone Bench Creations. It was directed by Charukesh Sekar and the script was written by Balaji Jayaraman.

Q4: In what language was the ‘Triples’ series originally made, and where can I watch it?

A: The original language of the ‘Triples’ web series is Tamil. It is available to stream as a Hotstar Special on the Disney+ Hotstar platform. It is also available with dubbed versions in Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Kannada, Bengali, and Hindi.

Q5: Is ‘Triples’ based on the style of Crazy Mohan’s comedy?

A: Yes, the creators of ‘Triples’ explicitly stated that the show is a tribute to the late Crazy Mohan’s style of writing. The series features a lot of clean, situational humour, chaos, and wordplay reminiscent of his famous theatre sketches and film collaborations. Two of the main characters, Maadhu and Cheenu, are even named after Mohan’s iconic creations.

Q6: How many episodes are in ‘Triples’ and what is the running time?

A: The first season of ‘Triples’ consists of 8 episodes. Each episode has a running time of approximately 22 to 30 minutes, with the total runtime of the series being around 160 minutes.

Q7: What kind of reception did ‘Triples’ receive?

A: ‘Triples’ received a mixed reception. Critics generally praised the strong performances, particularly by the supporting cast (Vivek Prasanna and Rajkumar), and the high production value. However, some criticism was directed at the inconsistent writing, the pacing, and the feeling that the eight-episode format was merely a feature film that had been stretched out.