Single Papa review: Kunal Kemmu brilliantly anchors this adoption-meets-adaptation dramedy

Kunal Kemmu shines in Single Papa a breezy dramedy on a man-child's sudden single fatherhood. It cleverly uses comedy to call out societal issues around adoption and family expectations.

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Single Papa story:

The dramedy series Single Papa follows the hilariously dysfunctional life of Kunal Kemmu's character, Gaurav "GG" Gehlot, a charming man-child who is recently divorced and whose decision to adopt a child catches his traditional, rowdy Indian family off guard. The family has a challenging time understanding how a man who can't even take care of himself intends to bring up a child. This show explores themes of modern parenting, evolving family structures, and the messy, beautiful coming-of-age of an adult who never thought he'd have to grow up. It blends laugh-out-loud family drama with slice-of-life realism as GG navigates the disastrous, sleepless, and ultimately heartwarming journey of unexpected single fatherhood.

Single Papa review:

Regardless of the characters they portray, some actors are truly captivating to watch on screen. Among them is Kunal Kemmu, who after about two years has returned to acting scenes. Not many realised it, thanks to his amazing directorial debut last year with Madgaon Express. After a very long time, Single Papa became one of the few series for me to be a breezy watch. To be honest, a midday binge was all I needed to relax after a challenging Friday last week—#IYKYK.

The latest Netflix series quickly establishes its premise and moves forward. We see in the first scene itself that Gaurav Gehlot is getting divorced from his wife, played by Isha Talvar, and the discussion blatantly shows how he is fundamentally selfish. He wants to become a father, and his wife feels she is already a mother to her man-child husband. Well, his manifestation works tenfold, as a baby is neatly placed in his car, and he just decides to adopt him instantly. However, we know for a fact that in Indian families, even the act of bringing in a baby who lacks awareness is often judged and leads to inhibitions among many family members.

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In this scene, the Gehlot family also shows unwelcoming behaviour towards the baby, particularly the father (Manoj Pahwa), who speculates about all the possible castes of the baby based on his skin colour. On the other hand, the mother (Ayesha Raza) thinks it's some sort of curse on the family, so she takes the superstitious and spiritual way to combat it. Meanwhile, the younger sister (Prajakta Koli) herself is dabbling with problems in her personal life. You guessed it correctly; her fiancé's (Ankur Rathee) family has imposed the patriarchy on her.

Amid all this, GG has to deal with another dilemma: to finally get legal rights and adopt Amul. Well, here comes Romila (Neha Dhupia), the one who looks after an orphanage and also the decider in his case. Single Papa takes up all possible elements and brings them into one small series of six episodes.

The series does show adoption as a selfless act, and you see GG coping with it as something he might not have prepared himself for. This reminded me of the first season of Friends when Ross (David Schwimmer) says that he didn't realise it was not just that he was having a baby, but that the baby was also impacting him. Parenthood, even if it is teamwork, is not a cakewalk, and here we see gender reversal where a single father is left alone by all means.

Ishita Moitra and Neeraj Udhwani have created the show, and this screenwriter duo calls out the issues that are wrong with society. On one hand, we see that parents still behave as if kids owe them and have to live by their rules under their roof. Even here, when GG is cut off from his family, it is totally conditional, and all he has to do is realise his priorities and choose the right battle at the right time.

Meanwhile, the series also makes sure to show that everything is not hunky-dory when it comes to parentage. To be honest, it reminded me of Ki & Ka where we see a male homemaker, and eventually, the wife becomes alpha as she runs the house. In Single Papa, there is no battle of the sexes; instead, we observe a father raising a child on his own, which reveals a softer side of him that a manchild may not recognise while living under the care of others.

What makes Single Papa a breezy watch is that even if it does get preachy, it's under the garb of the comedy genre that makes you think without having any deeper connotations.

For co-creator Moitra, this has been a not-so-good year, with her work on screen, be it Nadaaniyan or Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari. However, Single Papa seems to be the right redemption for her this year, and so it is for Shashank Khaitan.

Coming to performances, there's hardly any outing in which Kemmu doesn't get the assignment right. Single Papa seemed to be tailor-made for him, and the actor owns GG like no other. The actor is a treat to watch and, despite having talented actors around, owns the screen beautifully. I have read several times that working with babies is a tough nut to crack. Well, it's the chemistry between them that makes the series extra special.

Meanwhile, having Dhupia as the authority who decides whether he gets the baby or not is also a cherry on top, to be honest. The actor knows exactly how to maintain a serious demeanour in a serious situation, even on a comedy show. The actor maintains her position and has a moment to shine on her own, which is satisfying and adds a natural depth to this genre of series.

On the other hand, Pahwa and Raza contribute numerous lighter moments with their absurdity, creating a well-rounded package that the show needs in every aspect. Koli's character also contributes to the show's progress, revealing new developments with each passing episode.

It's nearly the end of the year, and still with so many titles coming out every week, but like always, your mind craves for something lighter, so "Single Papa" is here.

Single Papa verdict:

Single Papa is brilliantly anchored by Kunal Kemmu, who sheds his 'man-child' skin to give us a performance that’s worth its weight in gold. This adoption-meets-adaptation dramedy is a warm, witty watch that handles modern parenthood with a laugh and a hug.

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