The recent Netflix series about a 13-year-old boy’s tryst with masculinity has stirred up everyone including filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap, Hansal Mehta, Sudhir Mishra, and Shekhar Kapur. What’s behind all the buzz though? Let’s dive deeper!
Adolescence, a new Netflix mini-series, has quickly become the talk of the town. Filmmakers, cinephiles, and casual viewers alike are raving about it, with many calling it a must-watch. But what exactly is it about this show that has everyone so captivated? On the surface, the premise sounds straightforward - a 13-year-old boy is accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl, and the four episodes focus on investigating the case. However, the series' brilliance lies not just in its plot but in how it uncovers deeper themes.
Far from being a straightforward crime drama, the show functions as an investigative thriller that delves into the psyche of its characters, unearthing the growing insecurities among young men. It touches on the disturbing rise of incel culture (involuntary celibacy), the toxic influence of figures like Andrew Tate on impressionable minds and how masculinity is being shaped today, focusing on the crime committed by the 13-year-old boy and examining what led him down such a dark path. This layered commentary on societal pressures and the dangers of modern masculinity elevates the series beyond a typical whodunit.
Adding to its intrigue, Adolescence boasts an innovative approach to storytelling. Stephen Graham, who plays the father in the series, co-created the show with Jack Thorne and Philip Barantini, adopting an experimental filmmaking style. Each of the four-hour-long episodes are filmed as a single take, meaning that there are no cuts once the camera starts rolling. The camera seamlessly follows the characters from one setting to another—whether it’s a police station, high school, in a room with a psychiatrist, or the family’s van—creating a raw, immersive experience. This technique has left viewers, particularly on social media, in awe of the effort it must have taken to execute such a seamless production. The fluid, unbroken shots make the audience feel like they’re living in the everyday lives of a family whose world has been turned upside down instantly. The storytelling feels authentic, natural, and devoid of melodrama—just pure narrative craft.
However, in India, Adolescence has sparked a different kind of conversation. While many filmmakers have recommended the show, they’ve also pointed out that a project like this would never be made in India. Anurag Kashyap, for example, shared a screenshot of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos praising the series and used it to voice his frustration with Netflix India, claiming they would never greenlight such an experimental project if it were pitched domestically. This raises the question: why is the same platform that champions bold, innovative content internationally hesitant to take similar risks in India? Is the aftermath of the Tandav controversy making streaming platforms more cautious? Or do streaming analytics suggest that such content wouldn’t perform well in the Indian market, fueling this decision-making?
This debate has led to a larger reflection on creative freedom within Indian streaming. Filmmakers like Sudhir Mishra and Shekhar Kapur have also endorsed the show, but they lament the lack of space for such projects in India. Kapur even expressed his disappointment over his film Bandit Queen, now available on a streaming giant, being so heavily edited for OTT that it’s hardly recognizable to him, despite the end credits listing him as the director. This situation begs a larger question: how much control do filmmakers genuinely have over the final cut of their work? Are the films and series we watch really the directors' vision, or are they curated to fit the platform’s preferences and agendas?
While we may not get clear answers, one thing is certain: Adolescence has ignited a discussion about the state of creativity and risk-taking in Indian streaming. Will the buzz around the show inspire Indian platforms to take more chances with experimental storytelling, or will it simply highlight the divide between what’s possible internationally and what’s stifled domestically? Only time will tell! But for now, the series stands as a testament to what can be achieved when bold ideas meet unflinching execution!
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