Shabad review: Cliches apart, Mihir Ahuja-Suvinder Vicky's series is certainly bingeable

Shabad story:

A father, who is a Ragi singer, hopes that his son, struggling with speech, takes his legacy forward. The son, on the other hand, is passionate about soccer. Is there a solution for this dilemma? Find out!

Shabad Review:

When it comes to kirtan, India is well-versed with Ik Onkar. The tunes instantly calm the mind and is chanted for an auspicious new beginning. Shabad the series cashes in on that, as it introduces us to the world of Ghuppi, played by Mihir Ahuja. The tunes play in the backdrop as we witness his story on the soccer playground. He scores a goal for his team and feels like a king when his name is chanted.

On the other hand, Harminder (Suvinder Singh) is a devoted father who does his spiritual duties. In the role of Ghuppi's father, he is smooth with the insults. His character is rooted in a typical human thought process, where "being a man" takes precedence over being human.

Ghuppi, struggling in his schooling years for being a simple boy in a world ruled by technological advances and bullies, is cute but also partly unrealistic. In this world, going live on social media while schooling is normalized.

The beauty of Shabad is that it is established early on how corporate politics slowly but surely creeps into personal life and destroys dreams in the process. It is a story that was kept hidden when the trailer of the series was revealed.

The first episode itself leaves you with a very real debate - of whether a child's consent in decisions matter or not. It is common practice to make announcements, and the other person is expected to obey the order or be punished. The episode's climax scene smoothly presents the same dilemma.

The second episode continues to show the struggle in staying mediocre owing to another's limited vision, insecurity and ego clash. Interestingly, this is where the real-life struggle working alongside AI plays an important role. It is the episode where the real equation between a father and son outgrows it all with simple gestures as fixing a band-aid.

The third episode of the series minimizes special occasions for the burden of taking a promise forward. It subtly speaks about how important events feel minimal owing to how the day, like most days, was ruined during the growing-up years. This is where ignorance shines as the proud father announces, "Main kabhi kaam ko ghar nahi laaya," while ironically hurting every family member with his ignorant behaviour.

The episode plays a crucial role. On one hand, it establishes "hierarchy" in the name of control and on the other, you see a ray of hope for what appears as weakness. It is where the two lead characters are about to receive their biggest life lessons. While one sees a ray of hope, the other faces oppression. This coming at the mid-point in the series proves to be quite efficient since it is the very starting point of growth for them both. Whether they grow amid discomfort or decide to listen to their own voice is a decision they need to make.

The fourth episode shifts the focus to Harminder, who has simply followed the legacy with no will to bring in a change in the system failing him among many others. The core reason his son failed is revealed, and as expected, it has a lot to do with the mistreatment from who was supposed to be his safe space. The most powerful scene of the series comes in the very episode. While Suvinder, Mihir and all actors shine in the scene, it is the execution that works best. The scene has the 3 Idiots' treatment and leaves a lasting impression because of how the words are stressed upon in the said situation. Suvinder delivers one of his best performances, and the proof of it is the very confrontation scene. Although it eventually turns dramatic, the scene does its job well.

Everything settles by episode 5, making the series one of the most relatable and bingeable OTT shows of 2026. The cliffhanger moment, which extends to episode 6, was a smart move. However, the Bollywood-ization to a series is definitely not something you need for an OTT format. Despite the cliched turn of events, Shabad is a good watch.

Shabad Verdict:

Shabad is very relatable and in terms with everything 2026. The series beautifully explores everything that is wrong with the world, while leaving you with hope that it can turn right when bright minds find human support. While the acting is from the main leads is at peak in some scenes, the very fact that the series is bingeable speaks volumes. Very rarely will you be bored, except when the cliches and the Bollywood-ization hits (which thankfully is rare).

The Hindi original series Shabad – Reet Aur Riwaaz premiered on February 6, 2026, on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium).