Mismatched

Mismatched is a 2020 Indian Hindi-language coming-of-age romantic drama web series on Netflix, based on Sandhya Menon's 2017 novel When Dimple Met Rishi, adapted by Gazal Dhaliwal and directed by Akarsh Khurana and Nipun Dharmadhikhari. It is produced by Ronnie Screwvala's RSVP Movies.[1] Starring Prajakta Koli, Rohit Saraf, Rannvijay Singha and Vidya Malavade in prominent roles, the series is about Rishi, a die-hard romantic, who believes in traditional ways of dating, falls for Dimple, a gamer, and eventually wanted to marry her.[2]

Mismatched
Poster
GenreRomantic comedy

Coming-of-age

Drama
Based onWhen Dimple Met Rishi
by Sandhya Menon
Written byGazal Dhaliwal
Directed byAkarsh Khurana
Nipun Dharmadhikari
Starring
ComposersJasleen Royal
Samar Grewal
Anurag Saikia
Prateek Kuhad
Shashwa
Taaruk Raina
Dee MC
Abhijay Negi
Hiphop Bhaiya
Country of originIndia
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
ProducerRonnie Screwvala
CinematographyAvinash Arun
Milind Jog
EditorsSanyukta Kaza
Namrata Rao
Running time35 minutes
DistributorNetflix
Release
Original networkNetflix
Picture format4K (UHDTV)
Original release20 November 2020 (2020-11-20)

Dhaliwal adapted the series in early 2018, with the script being tweaked for the series. While the novel is set in the United States, the story was adapted to take place in Jaipur, with filming took place in and around the city for 40-50 days.[3] The series features cinematography handled by Avinash Arun and Milind Jog, with editing done by Sanyukta Kaza and Namrata Rao. Mismatched features a soundtrack album, composed by Jasleen Royal, Samar Grewal, Anurag Saikia, Prateek Kuhad, Shashwat Singh, Taaruk Raina, Deepa Unnikrishnan, Abhijay Negi and Hiphop Bhaiya, with Saikia also composing background score for the series.

The series premiered on 20 November 2020, through the streaming platform Netflix.[4] It received positive response from audiences, with critics praising the chemistry of Saraf and Koli, the performances of the cast, music and background score, whereas the writing and direction was criticised. Originally the first season consists of six episodes, the series renewed for a second season in November 2020, which is to be conceptualised.[5]

Plot

Mismatched is a rom-com based on Sandhya Menon’s best selling book ‘When Dimple Met Rishi’. Dimple Ahuja (Prajakta Koli) wants to be a tech wizard and Rishi Singh Shekhawat (Rohit Saraf) is a young guy who believes in traditional way of dating: meeting in person, being drunk on love, and has come to Aravalli Institute to find his ‘Future Wife’.[2] Dimple is driven and Rishi’s bewitched, and wants to tie the knot with her.[6]

Cast

  • Prajakta Koli as Dimple Ahuja
  • Rohit Saraf as Rishi Singh Shekhawat
  • Rannvijay Singha as Professor Siddharth Sinha (Sid)
  • Vidya Malavade as Zeenat Karim
  • Suhasini Mulay as Rishi's Grandmother
  • Nidhi Singh as Warden
  • Vihaan Samat as Harsh Agarwal
  • Vaibhav Palhade as Samar
  • Taaruk Raina as Anmol Malhotra
  • Devyani Shorey as Namrata Bidasaria
  • Muskkaan Jaferi as Celina Matthews
  • Kritika Bharadwaj as Simran Malhotra
  • Abhinav Sharma as Krish Katyal
  • Shaunak Ramesh as Ramaswamy
  • Yash Buddhdev as Danish Tamang
  • Trishna Singh as Shahana

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date[7]
1"When Dimple Met Rishi"Akarsh Khurana, Nipun Avinash DharmadhikariGazal Dhaliwal20 November 2020 (2020-11-20)
Hopeless romantic Rishi hopes to woo Dimple at a summer course after seeing her photo on a matrimonial website - but marriage is far from her mind.
2"Hot Summer, Cold Vibes"Akarsh Khurana, Nipun Avinash DharmadhikariGazal Dhaliwal20 November 2020 (2020-11-20)
Dimple learns why she was really allowed to come to Jaipur. Bonding with Dimple during a class assignment, Rishi hopes they'll be paired for a project.
3"Message Deleted"Akarsh Khurana, Nipun Avinash DharmadhikariGazal Dhaliwal20 November 2020 (2020-11-20)
After a less than fun dinner with Celina’s friends Dimple’s walk home with Rishi proves enlightening. Celina and Namrata both hide secrets.
4"Making Moves"Akarsh Khurana, Nipun Avinash DharmadhikariGazal Dhaliwal20 November 2020 (2020-11-20)
Namrata confides in Rishi about her crush. Emotions run high when a wild house party at Zeenat's brings surprises and misunderstandings.
5"It's Not A Date"Akarsh Khurana, Nipun Avinash DharmadhikariGazal Dhaliwal20 November 2020 (2020-11-20)
Rishi and Dimple go on a platonic date, but confessions and secrets raise the stakes. As Dimple's app idea is approved, Anmol poses a challenge.
6"Games We Play"Akarsh Khurana, Nipun Avinash DharmadhikariGazal Dhaliwal20 November 2020 (2020-11-20)
Dimple devotes herself to her app before a dramatic gaming showdown with Anmol. Multiple betrayals risk relationships, including Dimple and Rishi's.

Production

Development

In late 2018, Netflix India and Ronnie Screwvala of RSVP Movies, approached screenwriter Gazal Dhaliwal, to adapt Sandhya Menon’s 2017 novel When Dimple Met Rishi for Indian audiences,[4] which is about two Indo-American teenagers, Dimple and Rishi (the titular characters), whose parents are trying to arrange their marriage.[8] Published by Hachette Book Group, it opened to good response from readers, and became one of the best selling novel, according to a report from New York Times.[8] Netflix picked Akarsh Khurana (of Karwaan fame),[9] and Nipun Avinash Dharmadhikari, to direct the series.[10]

Dhaliwal had already finished writing the script, before Khurana being roped in to helm the series, but Khurana opined the script as it as a love-story between two real people with real issues, he added: "Even though this was essentially a young adult romance, there was maturity in the way it was depicted. Dhaliwal, who counts Kuch Kuch Hota Hai as one of her guilty pleasures, was similarly drawn in by the simplicity of the high-school romance at the heart of the book, a contrast to the large-scale candyfloss high school universe depicted in Hindi films."[10]

Casting

In a Firstpost interview, Dhaliawal stated about the casting and characters, syncing to the adaptation and the liberties while recalibrating the story to the Indian context.[10] She added "The story is about a setup which has gone horribly wrong. To make that happen, it was important to change the family dynamics. Akarsh and I felt very strongly about the fact that it wouldn’t have been believable for Indian viewers if Rishi’s parents were behind him to start looking out for girls when he’s all of 18 so that he can get married in two years. So I introduced a grandmother in the mix (her character is not featured in the book), effectively using the older generation’s adherence to tradition as justification for the arranged marriage setup. I also played around with Rishi’s dynamics with his parents as well: In the book, Rishi’s parents, who belong to a typical Gujarati family, are still together and Rishi is built to be more obedient than hopeless romantic."[10]

Characters

Prajakta Koli and Rohit Saraf were casted in the series, eventually maeking the film debut for the former.[11] In an interview, Saraf stated "The biggest selling point for him about the show was the 'romance' it has. The love, ambition, navigating through the college years of one’s life and a kind of acceptance toward all that I going on in the life was something I found very relatable."[12] Koli further described her character Dimple as "She’s very driven to achieve her goal; if she doesn’t, her parents will get her married! Isn’t that relatable to so many girls —and boys — across the country? I have so many cousins in my family who are dealing with this dilemma. That’s why Dimple is so tough to crack; she doesn’t let her guard down at all."[13] Rannvijay Singha stated his character as "cool and snarky on the outside but a softie inside, Professor Sid (himself) believes in tough love when it comes to his students". Speaking about his role, he further added that his character wants to push students out of their comfort zones so that they can each reach their highest potential.[14]

Filming

While the book is set in the United States,[15] the story was adapted to take place in Jaipur. About the setting, Khurana stated in an interview to Poulomi Das of Firstpost, that "When I initially read Gazal’s take on the book, what I loved was that she altered the context for the love story at the centre of the proceedings and introduced a host of new characters who had very distinct characteristics which made the world building so much more interesting."[10]

Shooting of the series took place on November 2019, with some portions being filmed Old Royal School of Jodhpur,[16] and majority of the scenes were filmed in Jaipur. The shooting took place for 40-50 days, with the cast members shot the scenes for 12 hours everyday.[17] The post-production works were completed in May 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India.[18]

Soundtrack

Mismatched
Soundtrack album by
Jasleen Royal, Samar Grewal, Anurag Saikia, Prateek Kuhad, Shashwat Singh, Taaruk Raina, Deepa Unnikrishnan, Abhijay Negi, Hiphop Bhaiya
Released11 November 2020
Recorded2020
GenreSoundtrack
Length25:11
LanguageHindi
LabelNetflix
External audio
Official Audio Jukebox on YouTube

The soundtrack album for Mismatched, were composed by an assortment of nine artists, which includes Jasleen Royal, Samar Grewal, Anurag Saikia, Prateek Kuhad, Shashwat Singh, Taaruk Raina, Deepa Unnikrishnan, Abhijay Negi and Hiphop Bhaiya with five of them also wrote lyrics for the songs, along with Nikhita Gandhi, Raj Shekhar, Shwetang Shankar, Ritviz.[19] Anurag Saikia also scored the background music for the series. The soundtrack album which released on 11 November 2020, features seven tracks upon the initial release, with an eighth song "Sun Toh" unveiled on 20 November as a bonus track.[20] Reviewing for the soundtrack, Devarsi Ghosh of Scroll.in stated "The Mismatched soundtrack is a couple of soft ballads along with some wacky cross-genre stuff, that doesn't make you disappoint."[21] Umesh Punwani of Koimoi stated "The album consists of fresh, peppy songs that accompany each unique character in this series through their individual journeys. From high energy to heartwarming and even melancholic, this album is perfect for a young, experimental, music-loving audience."[19]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s)Length
1."Kahaan Ho Tum"Prateek KuhadPrateek KuhadPrateek Kuhad2:35
2."Jaana"Jasleen RoyalJasleen RoyalJasleen Royal, Soundarya Jayachandran2:49
3."Milne Ke Bahaana"Imaad Shah, Samar GrewalSamar GrewalImaad Shah, Samar Grewal4:53
4."Dil Ke Baat"Deepa Unnikrishnan, Hiphop BhaiyaDeepa Unnikrishnan, Hiphop BhaiyaDeepa Unnikrishnan2:09
5."Aise Kyun"Raj ShekharAnurag SaikiaAnurag Saikia, Raghav Chaitanya, Nikhita Gandhi4:24
6."Main Chala"Shwetang ShankarTaaruk RainaTaaruk Raina, SlowCheeta2:59
7."Tabdeeli"Nikita GandhiShashwat SinghNikhita Gandhi2:28
8."Sun Toh"RitvizAbhijay NegiRitviz2:54
Total length:25:11

Release

On 16 July 2020, Netflix released 17 Indian originals for their streaming content,[22] with Mismatched being one of them,[23] scheduled for a release in late 2020.[24][25] On 3 November 2020, the makers unveiled the first look posters through social media platforms,[26] whereas the official trailer was released on 6 November 2020.[27][28] Ahead of its release, the makers conducted a virtual college fest event, through YouTube, in order to promote the series.[29] It was premiered through Netflix on 20 November 2020.[6]

Reception

Suchin Mehrotra of Film Companion wrote, "Mismatched suggests it’s a light, frothy, feel-good teen love story. A promise on which the series adaptation only partly delivers."[30] Poulomi Das of Firstpost stated, "There is a certain convenience to the storytelling... that makes teenage adolescence look like a statement, and not a stage of life."[31] Antara Kashyap of News18 gave two-and-a-half out of five to the series and stated "Mismatched is a show which should be watched for what it is, a light teenage drama to be binged on a weekend. There isn't a lot of depth in it, but it really isn't fair to expect it from the show in the first place."[32] Raja Sen of Mint reviewed "There is a fair bit that doesn’t — the final episode, evidently existing only to create emotionally high-strung cliff-hangers for the next season, is a massive letdown — but, on the whole, Mismatched has heart."[33] Avinash Ramachandran of The New Indian Express reviewed "Despite the missed opportunities and pulled-back punches, Mismatched does have its moments under the Jaipur sun."[34]

Pallabi Dey Purkayastha of The Times of India, gave three out of five and reviewed "The fresh pairing of Rohit Saraf and Prajakta Koli is a delight to watch on screen – the duo shares a crackling chemistry and sort of heightens the drama surrounding teenage bickering in an adorable way."[35] Shubham Kulkarni of Koimoi gave the series, a rating of 3 out of 5 and stated "If you decide to watch this, wear your nostalgia glasses. Also be ready to be impressed by the majority of the cast including Prajakta Koli, Rohit Saraf and the hidden gems Muskkaan Jaferi and Vidya Malvade. If you have nothing to relax with this weekend, go for Mismatched, but with no expectations."[36] Sanjana Jadhav of Pinkvilla reviewed as "Mismatched on Netlfix creates a young, fun and drama-filled world of college students but with prospects of marriage looming that seems to be the biggest dampener."[37]

References

  1. Arora, Akhil (16 July 2020). "Netflix Will Release 17 Indian Titles in the 'Coming Months'". NDTV Gadgets 360. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. Roy, Tulip (17 July 2020). "'Mismatched' cast: Take a look at the lead cast of the Netflix movie". Republic World. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  3. "Mismatched Director Akarsh Khurana Feels The Show Is For Everyone..." Koimoi. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  4. "Netflix India announces eight new titles for 2020, including Anurag Basu's Ludo, Mira Nair's A Suitable Boy". Firstpost. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  5. "'Mismatched' season 2 release date: When will the second season release on Netflix?". Republic World. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  6. "New on Netflix this week: 'Mismatched', 'The Crown' Season 4, and more". The Hindu. 13 November 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  7. "Mismatched – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  8. "Micro review: When Dimple Met Rishi is a refreshing YA romance". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  9. Parkar, Shaheen (19 November 2020). "Mismatched director Akarsh Khurana: Picked up new lingo from them". mid-day. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  10. "Director Akarsh Khurana, writer Gazal Dhaliwal discuss Netflix's Mismatched and adapting a popular book to screen". Firstpost. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  11. "Prajakti Koli, Rohit Saraf on Netflix series Mismatched and bringing gravitas to the young adult genre". Firstpost. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  12. "Prajakta Koli & Rohit Saraf reveal why they chose Netflix's 'Mismatched'". Republic World. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  13. Sunder, Gautam (20 November 2020). "The 'Mismatched' couple: Rohit Saraf and Prajakta Koli on their new Netflix rom-com". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  14. "Rannvijay Singha opens up about his role as Professor Siddharth Sinha in 'Mismatched'". Republic World. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  15. Kandpal, Disha (24 November 2020). "When 'Dimple Met Rishi' summary: Know about the NYT Bestseller that inspired 'Mismatched'". Republic World. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  16. Radhakrishnan, Manjusha (23 November 2020). "Indian Netflix show 'Mismatched' explores young love and arranged marriage". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  17. "Meet team Mismatched". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  18. "Mismatched felt like the perfect project to step out of YouTube universe, says Prajakta Koli". The Indian Express. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  19. "Mismatched: All About Original Songs From Netflix's Upcoming Series". Koimoi. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  20. Mismatched (Music from the Netflix Original Series) - Prateek Kuhad - Download or Listen Free - JioSaavn, retrieved 24 January 2021
  21. Ghosh, Devarsi. "'Mismatched' music review: Yay for happy Prateek Kuhad song, nay for overproduced duds". Scroll.in. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  22. "Netflix Will Release 17 Indian Titles in the 'Coming Months'". NDTV Gadgets 360. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  23. Keshri, Shweta (16 July 2020). "Gunjan Saxena to Ludo: Netflix announces 17 new films and series for direct release". India Today. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  24. "Netflix India announces eight new titles for 2020, including Anurag Basu's Ludo, Mira Nair's A Suitable Boy". Firstpost. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  25. Sunder, Gautam (16 July 2020). "Netflix announces new line-up of Indian premieres: 'Ludo', 'A Suitable Boy', 'Raat Akeli Hai' and more". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  26. "These first look posters from Netflix's 'Mismatched' prove that we're in for a fun-filled ride!". LetsOTT. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  27. Scroll Staff. "'Mismatched' trailer: Series aimed at young adults is based on the novel 'When Dimple Met Rishi'". Scroll.in. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  28. Keshri, Shweta (6 November 2020). "Mismatched trailer out. Prajakta Koli web series is just college, coding and 60s wala romance". India Today. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  29. "Netflix Mismatched College Fest | The only college fest 2020 didn't cancel feat. @MostlySane". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  30. Mehrotra, Suchin (20 November 2020). "Mismatched On Netflix, Starring Prajakta Koli And Rohit Saraf, Is Sweet, Harmless And Forgettable". Film Companion. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  31. "Mismatched review: Netflix India show makes teenage adolescence look like a statement, not a stage of life". Firstpost. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  32. "Mismatched Review: This Netflix Series Slows Down Right When it Needed the Thrust". News18. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  33. "'Mismatched' review: A series with heart". Mintlounge. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  34. "Mismatched review | Love in the time of coding and confusion". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  35. Mismatched Season 1 Review: Same old, same old..., retrieved 24 January 2021
  36. "Mismatched Review: Prajakta Koli & Rohit Saraf's Netflix Show Is Main Hoon Na For Millennials!". Koimoi. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  37. "Mismatched Review Ep 1, 2: Rohit Saraf, Prajakta & bunch of misfits star in fun, predictable college drama". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
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