Loved Masterpeace? Stream these comedy series and movies about dysfunctional families

Master Peace, the Malayalam series starring Nithya Menen and Sharaf U Dheen, has been released on Disney+ Hotstar. Directed by Sreejith, the series primarily revolves around unconventional families. Over the years, there has been a good representation of dysfunctional families in films and series. However, only a handful have managed to show dysfunctional families in a humorous manner.

Here's our pick of some of the finest comedy films and series that have dysfunctional families:

Kapoor and Sons: Netflix

This Hindi film starring Sidharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan, and Alia Bhatt puts the ‘fun’ in the word dysfunctional for its dramatic yet humorous storyline. Director Shakun Batra's best work so far, this film perfectly reflects the shattered dynamics of a family that is so fractured that not even a seemingly cheerful group portrait can fix it. Each family member is selfish or compelled by the consequences of another family member's choices. The movie delivers a great message about acceptance, all without romanticising notions of the dysfunctional family theme. 

Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai: Disney+ Hotstar

This much-loved 2004 Hindi sitcom isn't just funny; it was also a breath of fresh air with its wit and funny dialogues. Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai was much ahead of its time. The show revolves around the lives of members of a fictional Gujarati family, the Sarabhais, who belong to Mumbai's elite class. The members of the family, all loveable in their own ways, showcase the ability to reveal their less favourable traits as well. The sitcom pioneered portraying the complex emotion of 'I hate you like I love you’ among families.

Godfather: Disney+ Hotstar

The cult classic 1991 Malayalam blockbuster, helmed by the late director Siddique, is about Anjooran's (N N Pillai) family that is torn apart by a longstanding feud with the Anappara family. Anjooran's hatred toward women and his bitter enmity toward Achamma (Philomina) are rooted in a forced marriage and the resulting violence. The dysfunctional family dynamic is shown when Anjooran's youngest son, Ramabhadran (Mukesh), falls in love with Malu (Kanaka), Achamma's granddaughter. The two families' bitter rivalry complicates their love story. 

Modern Family: Disney+ Hotstar

One of the most popular sitcoms in the ‘quirky dysfunctional family' genre, Modern Family revolves around the extended Pritchett family, which includes father Jay (Ed O’Neill), the family of Jay's daughter Claire (Julie Bowen), and his gay son Mitchell's (Jesse Tyler) family. The show is structured in a mockumentary style similar to The Office, where it switches between the three family storylines.

Badhai Ho: Disney+ Hotstar

This 2018 Ayushmann Khurrana comedy drama explores the theme of how family and society view an older, pregnant couple who already have an adult son. The son (Ayushmann Khurrana), in turn, struggles to accept his parents (Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta), who are expecting a new baby, and this situation adds layers of emotion to his relationship with his partner. The film, although exploring a not-so-common subject, made it highly relatable for the audience through its narration and the types of characters.

Also read: Masterpeace review: Nithya Menen’s web series on generation gap is fun in parts but wears out its welcome fast 

The Royal Tenenbaums: Disney+ Hotstar

Wes Anderson specialises in dysfunctional family troupe movies. He introduced the Tenenbaum family, known to be the most dysfunctional family in cinematic history. In this Ben Stiller film, we are introduced to a family of former child prodigies who are all struggling with finding their identities as adults. The youngest son, Chas (Ben), is a widower consumed with safeguarding his two young sons from harm. Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), their adopted daughter, is a playwright with a penchant for secrecy and dissatisfaction in her marriage. Meanwhile, Richie (Luke Wilson), the eldest son, is a former tennis sensation who remains haunted by his unrequited love for Margot. The film’s quirky theme and dark comedy make it one of the best in this genre.

Also read: Loved Masterpeace? Watch these Indian films inspired by Wes Anderson’s style 

Dil Dhadakne Do: Netflix

Directed by Zoya Akhtar, this movie revolves around a family of four, played by Shefali Shah, Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, and Priyanka Chopra. The film is dedicated to delving into the dysfunction within the affluent Mehra family. The main concept here is that wealthy individuals also grapple with genuine, relatable issues. The film succeeds in making these problems relatable to the audience. The children exhibit passive-aggressive behaviour when interacting with their parents, primarily due to their father, who is the authoritative head of the family and plays a role in controlling their lives.