Baai Tujhyapayi Review: Nipun Dharmadhikari’s artful retelling delivers the punch patriarchy deserves

Baai Tujhyapayi Review: Story - Set in 1990 in a fictional village called Vadgaav, the people here worship a deity named Vasaai. It is said that her temple can only be accessed by girls who have not hit puberty. If anyone else, women who menstruate or men, enters the temple, they die within a fortnight. Girls are expected to be married off the same week they get their first period and are not allowed to study further. Ahilya, played by Sajiri Joshi, is a young girl who dreams of becoming a doctor. But just before she enters her board year, she experiences her first period. She decides to hide it from the village and continue her studies. However, it is not easy in a place that seems to hold a copyright over an entire gender’s freedom. Hell breaks loose, and Ahilya is forced to fight a battle not just for herself but for her entire clan.

Baai Tujhyapayi Review

Imagine a concentration camp where women are treated like chickens, fed, nurtured, and raised only to be slaughtered for an inconsequential meal one fine day. If they cannot be used for that meal, they are thrown into a corner of absolute darkness, denied even the right to live. Perhaps these concentration camps are invisible yet exist everywhere across the world in various forms and magnitudes. In Nipun Dharmadhikari’s Baai Tujhyapayi, this horrifying metaphor becomes the lived reality of his characters. The show examines patriarchy through the lens of a period drama where men feel entitled to dictate how the women around them will live simply because they never let their own minds evolve enough to make better decisions.

Stories that confront patriarchy at its roots rather than skimming its surface are always welcome, and Baai Tujhyapayi is another step in that direction. Adapted from Muthukumar’s ZEE5 show Ayali, this Marathi retelling, helmed by Nipun Dharmadhikari and written by Mukta Bam and Nikhil Khaire, serves as a reminder of the countless battles fought by women for the fragment of equality we have today. Set in the 1990s, Baai Tujhyapayi draws inspiration from its Tamil source while seamlessly blending into a completely new milieu. Muthukumar’s story, though rooted in his world, translates effortlessly into this context. Nipun and his team ensure that the story never feels displaced or disconnected.

Ahilya, a young girl who dares to study, something patriarchy inherently resists, sets the story in motion, and from there, it unfolds almost like a horror tale. The horror of existence itself for women. Baai Tujhyapayi may seem like a fictional peek into a dystopia, but it is, in truth, a lived experience for many. Nipun makes sure to remind you of that at every step. The show opens with a young girl reaching puberty. She is excited, conditioned to believe that her upcoming marriage is a reason to celebrate. Little does she know that she is about to be thrust into a dark world of oppression where suffering will become her only companion.

ALSO READ: Ayali review: Abi Nakshatra, Anumol and Lovelyn stand out in this social drama which handles a pertinent topic

Nipun shapes Baai Tujhyapayi as a tragedy sprinkled with faint glimmers of hope. At the receiving end of this tragedy is an entire gender, most of whom have accepted their fate. But it takes just one girl to make them realise that life is not what men have made them believe, it is much more. Muthukumar’s story is inherently potent and powerful, leaving very little room for failure if placed in capable hands. Nipun and his team lend precisely those capable hands, adding their unique texture to an already resonant narrative.

Baai Tujhyapayi is hard hitting and deeply watchable in structure. The screenplay wastes no time in world building, the narrative is tight, leaving no room for stagnation. However, the cracks appear when the story’s pace becomes inconsistent. It occasionally jumps abruptly from one situation to another, creating a sense of unevenness. Moments of convenience creep in, where complex or grave situations resolve far too easily. Some character transitions feel rushed, which slightly dilutes the emotional impact they should carry.

That said, credit must be given where it is due. Nipun Dharmadhikari’s visual language is phenomenal, and when paired with striking cinematography, the result is nothing short of stunning. Every frame tells a story beyond what is spoken; it is visually captivating and rich in subtext. The world he builds is both beautiful and alarming, a duality that keeps you glued.

What also keeps you engaged are the performances. Kshiree Jog as Laxmi is outstanding. The actor, long deserving of recognition, finally receives her due, and it is impossible not to want to see more of her. Sajiri Joshi holds her ground impressively amidst a strong ensemble. Shivraj Waichal delivers a performance that defines the archetype of a bad man, though his character could have benefited from more complexity. Vibhawari Deshpande, as always, leaves an impression, but she deserved more screen time and a meatier role.

Inconsistencies aside, Baai Tujhyapayi manages to stay true to its core purpose, depicting the suffocating grip of patriarchy and the quiet rebellion that rises from within it. The emotional beats land where they should, and the show succeeds in being both aesthetically rich and thematically powerful.

Baai Tujhyapayi Review: Final Verdict

 While Baai Tujhyapayi falters occasionally due to inconsistent writing, it remains anchored by superior performances and picturisation that is both beautiful and moving. Nipun Dharmadhikari’s direction, paired with a strong story and arresting visuals, makes this ZEE5 series a stirring watch that questions centuries of blind faith and oppression with remarkable sensitivity.

Baai Tujhyapayi is now streaming on ZEE5 and can be watched with your OTTplay Premium subscription. Stay tuned for more such reviews and everything else from the world of entertainment.