Hai Junoon story:

The series dives into the exciting world of musical and dance battles that take place in the bustling, competitive hallways of Mumbai's Anderson's College. Sebi (Sumedh Mudgalkar), the underdog, joins forces with Jacqueline Fernandes's defiant Misfits to take on the wealthy Supersonics, whose leader Gagan Ahuja (Neil Nitin Mukesh) is motivated by legacy. The clash between these two titans will put the limits of honor, individuality, and ambition to the test.

Review of Junoon Hai:

Remo D'Souza produced ABCD: Any Body Can Dance, a 3D dance-based movie that was novel to see, if not the greatest, about 12 years ago. However, we saw a group of skilled dancers, whom we identified from a reality program, get together to show that underdogs are capable of anything. Since then, we've seen a variety of movies and television shows that tell underdog stories against the backdrop of difficult competitions, where one contestant ultimately prevails. As Shah Rukh Khan puts it in Om Shanti Om, "&Happys Endings"!

However, it has been a four-day battle to wait 20 episodes for us to find out, during which time we have made repeated attempts to convey and wow. Although this format has been missing, Hai Junoon is 20 episodes long, much as television was in its earlier golden age. However, despite this, there is nothing sparkling about it. Although binge-watching 20-episode dramas or sitcoms is a common way to relieve boredom, "Hai Junoon" is written to hold your attention so completely that you might not be able to finish it. Occupational risks caused me to repeat it, but the show's message is undoubtedly, "Save yourself!"

The passion-driven motivation of the producers is what makes a program about someone's passion worth seeing. However, we can see from the start that the so-called "Supersonics," the singing group, and "The Misfits," the underdog dancing group, have been compelled to express their passion in this way. Amid the wide range of skills, they make every effort to foster inclusion. Yet, "Hai Junoon" has all the necessary ingredients for a program to be considered "hatke".

The creators aim to defy stereotypes by using clichés throughout the program while pretending to be innovative. The program includes a character who is openly homosexual but does not allow his sexuality to define him, as well as one who is still in the closet. Due to his "passion", a visually impaired dancer is carefree and dances better than people who can be readily taught, while his closest friend is struggling with depression and body image problems, for which she is targeted for insults due to a lack of comprehension. We have a financially disadvantaged girl who conceals her situation by wearing fashionable clothes, while another girl has a father who is a sexual predator. Additionally, there are several more tropes included.

Then we have two coaches, one who has anger management issues and can break the bottle on someone's head and also break the glass of a car. In contrast, the other coach is so focused on achieving perfection that he loses sight of the big picture and treats everyone like puppets.

Indeed, this is all part of one program, which seems to be aiming towards 20 episodes.

While watching the series, I found it increasingly easy to distract myself from what was happening, and all I could think was, 'Where are we going with this content?' How has taking viewers for granted become so easy day by day? It's been more than five years since the OTT space has been created in India. But only a few shows made the must-watch list. More than that, most of them don't even have a recall value. 

In terms of the story, we have nothing new to offer, yet it is marketed as something new every time. How? How do you see this as new and able to gauge viewers' attention, even on a script level? 

Yes, this series does extend its entertainment value through music and dance. We witness them sing and dance in various locations simultaneously, showcasing their unique interpretations of popular Bollywood songs. While music and dance can effectively engage an audience, relying solely on them to solve each character's issues can seem superficial.

Directed by Abhishek Sharma, there's not a single actor who stands out, even though everyone has been given an individual arc getting intertwined with each other. If the goal is to remind us that everyone is unique and successful, it has been lost in translation, as we can't keep track of all the achievers. 

The series has songs by Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, and Sonu Nigam – literally, the who's who. However, it is very difficult to keep up with the songs because they resemble High School Musical; the characters communicate with each other through song. Those days when Indian cinema was primarily defined by musicals are long gone; even this current attempt at a musical fails miserably. To be honest, it didn't even feel like the attempts at intensity were significant, as they continued to be displayed throughout the show.

The actors showcase their dancing prowess, which is a treat to watch; however, everything soon feels repetitive, and there is a constant reminder of the ABCD franchise. 

Hai With great fervor, Junoon advises you that not all meaty information is worth even a minute of your time. However, when you're fully engaged in the experience, you might lose sight of the fact that in today's society, there is a cost associated with having a love for movies.

Verdict from Hai Junoon:

Although Junoon strives for a distinct beat, it eventually pushes its own limits. It sometimes feels like noise looking for a tune, even though it says to be a symphony of passion and inclusiveness. The show has more sour notes than positive ones, even though some of the songs make you tap your feet. Long before the last bow, this junoon fades.

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