Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Wapsi review: Vaibhav Tatwawadi shines in this light-hearted series about brutal social realities

3.5/5

Story:

The light-hearted social-drama series follows the story of Nirmal Pathak, a young writer, who is back in his hometown after 24 years and trying to find his roots and the answers to some of the important questions related to his life.

Review:

Nirmal Pathak comes back home to announce a piece of very crucial information about his father to his paternal family whom he has known for a week. As the protagonist enters his small village in Bihar he gets a grand welcome. First, his baggage gets stolen, then he almost gets kidnapped by a rival village gang at the railway station and after reaching his town he gets asked to not show his face to common people before meeting his family. 

For someone who has witnessed a few of these events by herself, I loved the realistic approach to the show without any fabrication by director Rahul Pandey. From people's language and accents to their guise and food, the minute details that have been shown in the series from start to end are shocking yet completely real.

There is a scene in the pilot episode when Nirmal is being offered several snacks as soon as he reaches his ancestral home. The table can be seen full of all the desi sweets that might not have been heard by half of India, especially the metropolitans. However, it will get your mouth to salivate if you are a sweet tooth.

Meanwhile, another scene in the first episode itself displays Nirmal's mother cleaning his feet with water because her son has been back home after 24 years. This ritual can be seen in almost all the houses in the villages of Bihar, especially when their 'sons' come home.

Vaibhav Tatwawaadi has shone in the titular character. From his dialogue delivery to making the audience feel the emotion of his character, he actually seems more like Nirmal than himself.

Meanwhile, Pankaj Jha, who is portraying the character of the protagonist's uncle (Makhanlal Chacha), has essayed his role so convincingly that you will hate him.

Alka Amin, who plays Vaibhav's birth mother (Santoshi Pathak) is good, however, her accent as a desi mother from Bihar is a tad bit unconvincing. Other than that she has carried her desi avatar really agreeably.

A few supporting characters such as Garima Vikrant Singh as Genda Bua, Akash Makhija as Aatish, Ishita Ganguly as Geetanjali and Kumar Saurabh as Lablabiya help the nicely written and well-executed show run even smoother.

As the series moves it represents even more realities of villages in the eastern region of the country. From the poorly built school where the needy children only go for a mid-day meal to the casteism, where the lower caste humans get chai served in a broken cup at the house of the Brahman family, it will bring a disappointed smirk to your face if you are familiar with the issue, and a shock if you are alien to the fact that this despicable social norm is still been practised.

Casteism, gender inequality and orthodox reflection are some of the brutal social realities that Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Wapsi covers with such ease and perfection that it will make you halt for a second and make you think about everything that is happening around you.

The light-hearted drama ends on a major cliffhanger that falls Nirmal into a huge dilemma.

Verdict:

Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Wapsi is a true reflection of despicable social norms that are still being practised even in 2022. The praise-worthy performances to the realistic approach to the show make it a must watch.

Stream the social drama on Sony LIV.