Decoupled

{{short description|Indian web series}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| genre =

| based_on =

| creator = Manu Joseph

| director = Hardik Mehta

| starring = {{ubl|R. Madhavan|Surveen Chawla}}

| writer = Manu Joseph

| cinematography = Piyush Puty

| theme_music_composer = Rachita Arora

| composer =

| country = India

| language = English

| num_episodes = 8

| location = India

| editor = Parikshhit Jha
Manan Ashwin Mehta

| network = Netflix

| released = {{Start date|df=y|2021|12|17}}

| first_aired =

| last_aired =

| company =

| executive_producer =

| producer =

| runtime = 26-36 min

| num_seasons = 1

| list_episodes =

| related =

}}

Decoupled is an Indian English-language comedy television series created and written by Manu Joseph for Netflix and directed by Hardik Mehta. The series stars R. Madhavan and Surveen Chawla in the lead roles.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/r-madhavan-surveen-chawla-netflix-show-decoupled-written-by-manu-joseph/article37861737.ece|title='Decoupled' : The comedy of separation|first=Prathyush|last=Parasuraman|date=6 December 2021|access-date=23 January 2022|newspaper=The Hindu}}

Plot

A misanthropic writer and his startup-founder wife juggle their impending divorce with the absurdities and annoyances of life in their affluent world.

Cast

{{colbegin}}

  • R. Madhavan as Arya
  • Surveen Chawla as Shruti
  • Arista Mehta as Rohini
  • Chetan Bhagat as himself
  • Atul Kumar as Agni
  • Bhavik Kelawala as Jamal Sarif
  • Aseem Hattangadi as Mayank
  • Mir Afsar Ali as Dr Basu
  • Sonia Rathee as Masha
  • Darren E. Scott as Jean Lee
  • Dilnaz Irani as Reema
  • Himanee Bhatia
  • Akash Khurana as Surinder Sharma
  • Apara Mehta as Madhu Sharma
  • Mukesh Bhatt as Ganesh
  • Nazneen Madan as Bhumika
  • Salim Siddiqui as Salim Bhai
  • Srestha Banerjee as Decoupling Party Manager (Goa){{cite web | url=https://popcornreviewss.com/decoupled-2021-series-review/ | title=Decoupled Series Review | date=16 December 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://theredsparrow.in/film-reviews/decoupled-a-glimpse-into-the-daily-lives-of-an-indian-married-couple/ | title=Decoupled - A Glimpse into the Daily Lives of an Indian Married Couple | date=18 December 2021 }}

{{colend}}

Episodes

{{Episode table|background=3CB371|overall=|title=|director=|writer=|airdate=|episodes={{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Shake His Hand

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = Hardik Mehta

|WrittenBy = Manu Joseph

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2021|12|17}}

|ShortSummary =Arya and Shruti debate the status of their marriage. Later, Arya’s argumentative impulses land him in trouble at the airport and at a restaurant.

|LineColor = 3CB371

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Her Phone Hangs

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = Hardik Mehta

|WrittenBy = Manu Joseph

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2021|12|17}}

|ShortSummary = Tasked with pitching a streaming series, Arya takes an idea to his CEO-turned-guru friend. Shruti grapples with telling Rohini about her and Arya.

|LineColor = 3CB371

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Champion of Maids

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = Hardik Mehta

|WrittenBy = Manu Joseph

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2021|12|17}}

|ShortSummary = Rohini posts a video to Arya’s Twitter account that gains him new fans. Angry that he won’t take it down, Shruti gets payback at a literature festival.

|LineColor = 3CB371

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Peak Ovulation

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = Hardik Mehta

|WrittenBy = Manu Joseph

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2021|12|17}}

|ShortSummary = Arya attempts to take advantage of a monthly cycle tracking app. Shruti asks him to handle an awkward conversation with her father.

|LineColor = 3CB371

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = The Ex Returns

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = Hardik Mehta

|WrittenBy = Manu Joseph

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2021|12|17}}

|ShortSummary = One of Arya’s ex-flames comes to town, but after meeting in person, his excitement to introduce her to Shruti at a party that evening quickly wanes.

|LineColor = 3CB371

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Affairs

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = Hardik Mehta

|WrittenBy = Manu Joseph

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2021|12|17}}

|ShortSummary = As he and Shruti consider seeing other people, Arya suggests a party to announce their divorce. Arya visits Ganesh’s home in hopes of bringing him back.

|LineColor = 3CB371

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = How to Tell Your Daughter About Divorce

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = Hardik Mehta

|WrittenBy = Manu Joseph

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2021|12|17}}

|ShortSummary = Arya’s locker room conduct appalls some neighbors. The couple bickers over who will inform Rohini about the divorce. Shruti’s parents visit unexpectedly.

|LineColor = 3CB371

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = The History of a Marriage

|RTitle =

|DirectedBy = Hardik Mehta

|WrittenBy = Manu Joseph

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2021|12|17}}

|ShortSummary = Family and friends arrive in Goa for the decoupling party. Arya encounters a familiar face at the resort. Shruti receives a lucrative offer from Mr. Lee.

|LineColor = 3CB371

}}}}

Release

The series opened to mixed review from critics, though the performances of the lead pair received praise.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/decoupled-review/article37977286.ece|title='Decoupled' review: Where the characters suffer from the Manu Joseph issue|first=Srivatsan|last=S|date=17 December 2021|access-date=23 January 2022|newspaper=The Hindu}}{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/decoupled-review-madhavan-charming-performance-netflix-show-7676025/|title=Decoupled review: Madhavan's charming presence tones down unrelenting toxicity of new Netflix show|newspaper=Indian Express|date=17 December 2021|access-date=23 January 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/decoupled-review-it-s-time-netflix-finds-way-divorce-bad-content-choices-158964|title=Decoupled review: It's time Netflix finds a way to divorce bad content choices|date=21 December 2021|website=The News Minute|access-date=23 January 2022}} The show's creator, Manu Joseph, subsequently noted that 'liberal media' outlets targeted the show.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/decoupled-creator-manu-joseph-says-his-asparagus-eating-friends-are-privately-praising-the-show-101640502622439.html|title=Decoupled creator Manu Joseph says his 'asparagus-eating' friends are privately praising the show|date=26 December 2021|newspaper=Hindustan Times|access-date=23 January 2022}}

Within three days of release, the series became the leading Indian series on the platform of the week.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/r-madhavan-moved-to-tears-as-decoupled-becomes-second-most-watched-show-on-netflix-in-india-101640095461129.html|title=R Madhavan 'moved to tears' as Decoupled becomes second most watched show on Netflix in India|date=21 December 2021|newspaper=Hindustan Times|access-date=23 January 2022}}

References

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