It is worth noting here that the plotline focuses mainly on the writer’s sexual awakening and the subsequent fantasies released in the form of literature and we do not get an insight into the psyche of his creative mind. Since the setting was remote and rural, Faroukh Mistry’s work behind the camera deserves a special mention for beautifully capturing both the scenic beauty and the gamy sequences in equal measures. She seemed a little too posh for the role of a Pahadi simpleton and one could tell she was acting and not reacting.

Tara Alisha Berry’s act as Rajaram’s desi love interest Madhu needed some polishing. Rani Chatterjee’s voluptuous role of a local siren and snack vendor Raani is seductive and she completely owns her part. Although Ayushman Jha’s inhibitions and discomfort in the racy scenes are quite evident, he has aced his role as a shy yet strong-headed author. Writing is top-notch in the sense that not only do the stories in this 10-episode miniseries set your heart racing with their raunchy content but also the word picture that (the real) writer Aryan Sunil paints with each chapter is quite vivid. For one, the concept of a novelist being able to produce massy erotica from insignificant life experiences seems like a winner. Soon, he assumes the pen name of ‘Mastram’ and starts publishing what in today’s world is called porn literature or erotica and becomes an overnight success in this genre.There are a few things about MX Player’s ‘Mastram’ that seem to be ticking the right boxes. After initial hesitation and a chance encounter with the world of ‘blue films’, Rajaram starts doling out one erotic story after another. His publisher doesn’t want a snooze fest but insists on him writing sleazy content instead. Although the young writer shows an enormous amount of passion for writing and literature, nothing seems to be working in his favour. REVIEW: Rajaram is simple, believes in eternal love and much to his uncle’s annoyance, wants to get married only when he falls for someone. And that encounter, in turn, inspires him to let his imagination run wild and cook up some of the most sensuous stories on lust, learning and sexuality. Frustrated, he heads to a shady theatre and watches soft porn for the first time in his righteous life.

STORY: Mr goody-two-shoes Rajaram (Ayushman Jha) is an aspiring writer in the 80s, living in a remote valley and writing a book that is dismissed as boring.

Mastram series