Sahara Manoranjan's Karishma-The Miracles of Destiny launched with a big bang. As for Mukkammal, its launch was not just understated but also delayed without prior notice. The show was slated for a release on 5 September at 8.30 pm - it premiered a week later, on 12 September in the same slot. While it seems like the serial doesn't have much to crow about, one can't help noticing the almost step-motherly treatment meted out to it.

Mukkammal, the new weekly on Sahara Manoranjan venerates the urbane, independent woman of modern India. This woman is bold and forthright. She is the perfect blend of grit and sensitivity; and she is on her own. This woman does not depend on any one man for emotional gratification. Instead, she depends on a few men - precisely five!

The lead character is an attractive, middle-aged working woman, Sumeesha, played by Deepti Naval. The story goes that Sumeesha, also a wife and a mother of two, is still in search of the perfect, complete man. And guess what? Her elusive hunt leads her to five men - all of whom she claims to love for different traits. Talk about opportunism!

Deepti Naval and Anup Soni in 'Mukkammal'

The first episode sees Sumeesha sitting sulkily in her office, typing in her resignation. In the process, she thinks of her past, the time she spent in the office and her first meeting with her boss VM (Bharat Kapoor). VM is one of the men she loves. In him, she finds an answer to her ambitions and dreams about the business they had started together.

The other men in Sumeesha's life include her colleague Ajeet Awasthi (Anup Soni) with whom she can joke and spend some light moments; her childhood friend Ranjan Manchanda (Amit Behl), with whom she has some fond memories; Karan Dev Singh (Lalit Parimoo) whom she cherishes because of his deep understanding of life and relationships. And then there is the seemingly pompous, condescending, egotistical and dominating husband, Jagandar (Rahul Vora) who she loves because "he fathers her children".

Naval and Rahul Vora in a scene from the serial

Coming back to the serial, Sumeesha decides to put in her papers at the workplace she so worships, because she was insulted by the staff in a board meeting and was blamed for having an affair with Awasthi, while her boss VM had remained silent.

At home, Sumeesha informs husband Jagan about her decision to resign, and realizes that she has actually opened a Pandora's Box. She learns that Jagan had actually called up VM and asked him to check on her relationship with Awasthi and VM, in turn, had appointed detectives to spy on her.

Sumeesha suddenly sees the gravity of the situation. It's not about being insulted in a meeting anymore - it's about breach of trust. She realises that while she was living her life, people closest to her were spying on her. A thousand questions pop up in her mind - the most poignant one being whether she really meant anything to these two men at all. Or was it all just a game?

The first episode ends with Sumeesha meeting up with her pal, the arty Karan who lectures her on her love for the various men in her life. She sits listening to him like a diligent student, with a pathetic and confused look on her face, asking questions like, "Tum zindagi ko itne acche tarah se kaise samaj sakte ho" (how can you understand life and its intricacies so well) and so on. His replies, of course, are most predictable, ranging from "Kya khaak samajta hoon Zindagi ko?" (where on earth do I understand life), "Agar samaj sakta to itna akela nahi rehta" (if I could understand life, I wouldn't be so lonely), among others.

In all probabilities, Mukkammal doesn't hold any promise for the future. The characters are stereotypes, the set is staid and boring and the essence of the story doesn't seem to be shaped very well. At least, not yet!

Naval and Bharat Kapoor in the serial

As for the characters, Naval as Sumeesha almost seems wasted - she has been reduced to a depressed, morose, 'adult teenager' who can't free herself (mentally) from the clutches of the men she loves. Perhaps, the director was trying to portray her vulnerability but the outcome is a woman way too dependent on others' opinions. Only she accepts that she is the modern day Draupadi and says, "If wanting five men is a sin then I am a sinner". But does acceptance of being dependent on men make you independent?

To Naval's credit are her looks, her figure and complexion. One wonders if she has some magic potion that keeps her looking so fabulous at her age. The formal suits complement her well.

Of the other characters, Parimoo as Karan is only seen spewing gems - most of them unrealistic. Our advise to Parimoo - chill, life is not philosophy!

Bharat Kapoor and Rahul Vora are rather drab, Anup Soni is charming and is about the only promising character of the cast and Amit Behl has not figured yet.

Karan's girlfriend is an airhostess 'who doesn't believe in the constitution of marriage' played by Achint Kaur. Needless to say, she adds spunk and spontaneity to the otherwise stiff serial.

All in all, producer Ravi Pandit and director Ashok Pandit must give Mukkammal a warmer, more friendlier look. The serial desperately needs to shed off its preachy tone.