‘Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Wapsi’ Review: Only they know what can bother producers and directors from showing the image of Bihar state beyond gangsters, guns, kidnapping, Bahubali and hooliganism in films or web series, but still sometimes, one or two lightenings in between. Full films or web series are seen in such a way that present the real stories of our country’s countryside, country’s regions, villages, then both the mind and eyes of the audience get filled. A few days ago, the second season of Panchayat was released on Amazon Prime Video, which made the audience cry.
In this episode, the first season of another lovely series ‘Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Wapsi’ was released on Sony Liv, seeing which one felt like roaming in the streets of a village in Bihar. This is the first web series written by television serial writer Rahul Pandey, and he has also co-directed it. Watching is a pleasant experience. For Sony Liv to invest in such a web series after Gullak, it is a rebellious step of sorts.
The father of Nirmal Pathak (Vaibhav Tattvadi) was from Bihar. Socialist by nature and writer by law. Disturbed by caste discrimination around him, the artist Hriday dared to break the laws of the society. The conservative younger brother pulls a gun on him because of his work like eating at a manual scavenger’s house, living with him and getting an FIR lodged against his father. Angry, he leaves his home and his wife and comes to the city with his 2-year-old son.
He does the work of writing, becomes a great writer and settles down with a writer in the city. Years later, Nirmal’s cousin’s wedding invitation comes and Nirmal leaves for his village. Everything is new and strange for him after going to the village. His cousin is the local leader, grandfather is very old now. His birth mother, a typical Bihar straight woman who does housework all day long and his eccentric uncle who is unhappy with his arrival.
While coming face to face with the village life, Nirmal comes face to face with poverty, with the mentality of a small town, with the same old caste system. While the family embraces him, when he sees his mother dying and going through mental trauma, he wants to rebel like his father. His family turns against him. Her cousin is getting married to the daughter of the regional MLA and that girl does not want to marry, but who can speak against her father’s orders. Nirmal, who came from Delhi, wants to return after seeing this form of his own world, but his mother stops him. In season 2, it seems that perhaps Nirmal will do something for the betterment of his village and society.
The caste system prevalent in Bihar has been accurately described. There is a story of its own between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. When boys from Uttar Pradesh come to Bihar, they are kidnapped from the station and ransom is demanded. The same thing happens when the boys of Bihar go to Uttar Pradesh. It is understood from the very first scene that this journey will be an eye-opener for Nirmal and hence before the completion of the journey, his shoe, his bag, his purse all go missing. This web series full of poignant scenes has to be praised because at some places the reality is so dramatic that it makes you laugh just by being there. Could not become engineer, that’s why the name engineer, could not become MLA, because MLA, could not go to police, that’s why people have names like inspector. Netaji’s spoon of small caste, drinks tea in a sugar cup, his food is given separately.
The children of sweepers are searching for food in the garbage outside the wedding. Children go to school for the greed of mid-day meal instead of studying. At the behest of the elder brother, the younger brother throws away the bullets of the gun. Netaji never gives money for any purchase. The MLA finds a boy with communist ideology coming from the city a wonder. Vineet Kumar has spoken such a dialogue at this place which can be considered as true – if you are not a communist before the age of forty then you do not have heart in your chest and even after the age of forty if you are a communist then you are a fool. Huh. bitter truth. Writer Rahul Pandey has put the town of Bihar on screen.
The acting of Vaibhav Tatwawadi is very good. The big role has come in his part for the first time and he has done more than justice. Telling your cousin and his friends to take water themselves while having food makes them heroes in the eyes of their cousin who always brings food and water for everyone. This is real life. If she is a girl then she will do all the household work as the truth is in front. The first scene of Vaibhav meeting his birth mother is also wonderful as moments before, his mother washes his feet and wipes them with her lap. You will see this scene in Bihar even today.
The younger cousin Aatish is played by Akash Makhija. There is a lot of lively acting but their path is still long. Alka Amin in the role of mother Santoshi Pathak, Pankaj Jha in the role of uncle and Vineet Kumar in the role of MLA make any role effective with their own experience. In the role of Lalbia, Kumar Saurabh has played the role of a small caste chamcha of the leader. For him, getting tea in a separate cup or not getting to eat food with the family members does not matter. Powerful work.
Director duo Rahul Pandey and Satish Nair have directed a very good series. Every scene is Napatula. No emotion has been shown to be burdensome. Light scenes have also been placed in between, although it does not affect the story or the pace of the story. The last 2 episodes seem a bit paced. Had the episode been extended for one more episode, many threads would have opened at the right places. In such a situation, the audience might have felt more emotional connection. It is a good web series. Must be seen. If you want to see Bihar beyond the life of musclemen, then you can see it. The memory of the days of Doordarshan will also be refreshed and perhaps some prejudices will also be removed. The villages have actually become familiar with physical facilities like laptops, mobiles, SUVs, but still haven’t been freed from the atrocities committed in the name of rituals.
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Tags: Web Series
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 08, 2022