Web Series: Four More Shots Please 2

Cast: Sayani Gupta, Kirti Kulhari, Maanvi Gagroo, Bani J, Lisa Ray, Prateik Babbar, Milind Soman, Shibani Dandekar, Samir Kochhar, Amrita Puri, Neil Bhoopalam, Rajeev Siddhartha, Prabal Panjabi

OTT: Amazon Prime Originals

Director: Nupur Asthana

Rating: 3.5 Moons

Amazon Prime Originals and Pritish Nandy Communications Private Ltd. collaborated for yet another powerful season of Four More Shots Please! Starring Sayani Gupta, Kirti Kulhari, Maanvi Gagroo and Bani J in the central roles, the 10 episodes series premieres on the OTT platform today. Directed by Nupur Asthana, FMSP2 presents a tale of love, imperfections, friendship but mosti importantly gives out the message to love yourself before anyone.

The first season of Four More Shots Please revolved around Damini Rizvi Roy (Sayani), a fearless journalist who believes in exposing the truth through her articles. Anjana Menon (Kirti), a reputed lawyer and a divorcee, is unable to move on from her estranged relationship with her husband. On the other hand, Umang (Bani) a gym trailer, is battling her own fight to normalise lesbian love in society. Siddhi Patel (Maanvi) is a Gujarati girl who is trying to break past body-shaming taunts. She constantly seeks validation for her existence and importance. The gang of four, in the first edition, go through many changes in terms of their equation. At the conclusion, the four of them are not on talking terms due to adverse circumstances. 

Recommended Read: Exclusive: ‘Wanted to break stereotype that the woman you want to bed can also be the one you eventually wed,’ say Maanvi, Kirti and Sayani about their characters in ‘Four More Shots Please 2’

The second season of Four More Shots Please takes a four-month leap. Umang gets a frantic call from Siddhi, who is on a backpacking trip to Istanbul, asking for help. Umang, Anjana and Damini rush to rescue her. They bring her back to Mumbai. Damini, who was sacked from her own company in the previous season, takes it on her to write a controversial book titled Bloody February on the mysterious death of Justice Damodar. Having lost the trust of Jeh (Prateik Babbar), a bartender whom she is fond of, for sharing a special equation with Dr. Aamir Warsi (Milind Soman) a gynaecologist, Damini tries to rekindle her relationship with him.

Anjana finds herself in the center of obstacles as her professional and personal life hit a rock bottom. In this season, her work-life is more emphasized as compared to her family. Be it facing challenges on dignity to making an effort to normalise her troubled love life, Anjana isn’t weak-hearted. 

Umang reunites with her partner Samara Kapoor (Lisa Ray), a Bollywood actress, who refused to allow her sexuality to be revealed in the public. The two eventually grow stronger and what happens in their relationship at a later stage, will cockle your heart. Siddhi struggles to make an identity for herself. In the turn of events, she confronts her real talent and the way she wants her life to mold despite odds.

As the girls rekindle their friendship, they stand the test of time individually and fight their own battles each day. Four More Shots Please 2 is refreshing and surprisingly better than the first season.

Director Nupur has done a commendable job in stringing together four complicated stories effortlessly. Her storytelling vision is clear. Writer Devika Bhagat deserves a huge round of applause for bringing out the insecurities, vulnerabilities, sweetness and hotness hidden inside every woman.  Narrating an emotional LGBTQI sub-plot, Devika digs deep into finer nuances efficiently. Cinematography by Neha Parti Matiyani is pleasing to the eyes. Cherry on the cake is an uber cool, stylish wardrobe cursted for the characters by stylist Aastha Sharma! 

Sayani as Damini injects life into the character. Be it living in the moment or maintaining her stand on controversial write-ups, she does it effortlessly. Her chemistry with Prateik Babbar and Milind Soman is fiery. Kirti mirrors the insecurities of a divorcee whose husband marries another woman. She is the headstrong person who proves women don’t need men to rule the world, teaching the importance of loving your independence.

Bani is a winner of the show. As Umang, she is sensitive yet strong, emotional yet practical and most importantly, she is herself. Bani gets a character that has matured quite a lot from the first season. A vast difference, a positive one, is seen in Bani and we absolutely love her. The real show and scene-stealer is Maanvi. Stepping into the role of Siddhi, the actress is cute, sassy, adorable and all things fun. Facing problems and then laughing at them on their face, Maanvi is fresh, raw and is the sunshine girl.

Lisa does a fine job as Samara. The men of the show- Milind, Samir Kochhar and Prateik do justice to their roles. They support the ladies well and add depth to the show. Rajeev Siddhartha, Neil Bhoopalam and Prabal Panjabi get lesser screen time but they are as good as the rest of the cast.

Four More Shots Please 2, with minor hits and misses, is worth every bit of your time.

PS: As the quarantine gets over, friends, watch it together... As it's all about 'dosti'! 

PeepingMoon.com gives Four More Shots Please2 3.5 Moons