WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Being away from home. As a child, we often abhorred it. As teens, we often longed for it. As adults, we re-learn to cherish it once more. At least, this would seem to be the story for most when life and its great, unexpected adventures take us away from the place of our origin. However, does this yearning to rediscover where we came from carry the same influence when it’s actually been what feels like a lifetime? Nirmal Pathak (Vaibhav Tatwawadi) has only truly known life in the big city of Delhi. Now, thanks to the pending wedding of a younger brother Aatish (Akash Makhija) he’s never met before, Nirmal is coming home to his birthplace of Buxar, Bihar to attend. But, the family and history he may discover could be the most fulfilling of his life, or possibly the biggest societal wake-up call he’s ever experienced as past and present collide with the years he’s spent away and a legacy that will come to light.
Next, my Mind:
Having just come off its World Premiere screening as part of the 2022 DFW SAFF (where it took home Best Actor and Best Television Series honors) sponsored by Toyota USA and hosted by Jingo Media Founder/Festival Director Jitin Hingorani and Artistic Director Ambica Dev where it took home the award for Best Television Series ahead of its streaming premiere on SonyLIV May 27th, this 5-episode effort from director Rahul Pandey, director Satish Nair, producers Naren Kumar and Mahesh Korade, plus executive producer Peeyush Chaturvedi very much reminded this critic of the Sundance TV series “Rectified”, not necessarily in themes (though there were some loosely similar ones present), but more in grander execution and uniquely independent style, delivering a credibly realistic character and narrative-driven drama with splashes of humor that carries itself with complete confidence through an uncomplicated but profound manner and tone.
Centered on one young man’s choice to return to a home and a family he’s never actually known for almost his entire life to date, the story wastes no time immersing us into the cultural and traditions of not just India as a whole, but even more specifically that of small rural villages far removed from the cacophony of the faster, always-on-the-move atmosphere big cities exude. Presenting a decidedly tumultuous beginning to the lead character’s journey, the show then expands into a an ever-fluctuating air of everything from playful eccentricity to emotively potent curiosity to startling and heartwarming revelation all spread out with solid precision and intentionality over the 5-episodes, very deftly managing to keep us as the viewer hooked and never allowing TOO much to be divulged at a time than is necessary to maintain the show’s pacing. Some may consider this a more “slow burn” approach, but for this critic, that’s often the beauty of indie projects, as the TIME taken to flesh out characters and the narrative is necessary and very welcome.
Not willing to simply “linger” on the surface of events, however, what I then appreciated about the episodes besides the pacing were the wealth of thematic elements the effort brings to the forefront and how smoothly they all meld into Nirmal’s path to familial introductions, enlightenment, questioning, clashes, and decisions about who he, they, and their culture itself really are. We’re privy to a myriad of commonly addressed but wholly relevant and still compelling motifs such as staunchly ingrained patriarchy, gender roles, the treatment of women, resistance to change, assessing conventional beliefs vs. one’s own moral and societal convictions, and often impassioned portrayals challenging the caste system, and ideological struggles that force a sometimes hard look at this dogged traditionalism vs. the encroachment of modernity and its progressive notions. The series depicts an equally persuasive amount of circumstances that highlights all of these and more, and it’s what forms the underlying fabric felt and seen throughout.
Additionally, the more personal themes like the sacrifices we make for family, weight of secrets, the power of reconnection, the need for letting go of pain we’ve tried to hang onto, memories of times we’ve been apart from too long all get their fair share of screen time through the characters as well, and as just mentioned above, it’s such a full perspective on the need for transformation in us as individuals, amongst us as family, and overall as society. It all culminates in quite an explosively impactful finale that also leaves many things open for continuation, which this critic does hope might happen should the show gain the needed acknowledgement and momentum to do so, which I feel it certainly warrants. The absolute pristine aura that’s created through a multitude of beautifully shot countryside scenes throughout the series highlights the gorgeousness of Buxar while the camera likewise does not shy away from the realities of life in these outer villages as well, painting a well-rounded portrait of existence there. I also purely enjoyed the atmospheric music score and the show’s touching theme song, which again very much brought to mind how I liked these same aspects in “Rectified”.
This was my first time experiencing Tatwawadi on screen and, truthfully, I firmly believe he was a perfect choice to play the project’s title character Nirmal Pathak, a man making what could be a long overdue pilgrimage from his long-standing, well-established big city life in Delhi to the lush, fertile, but wholly different lands of his origins to attend his up-until-now-never-met younger brother’s wedding while finally interacting with a grander family he’s also never had the chance to appreciate. Once in Buxar, events take an ever-twisting course for Nirmal as he attempts to navigate not just new faces and a stirring reunion, but also the quirky and consistently thorny actualities of Indian culture in the villages that more than clash with what he’s since come to accept and live by. Will it be too much or will he become a harbinger of change, welcome or not? It stands to be seen and Tatwawadi brings such a quietly calm yet always internally intense demeanor to Nirmal’s character that just endears you to him from the start. The dramatic depth he takes the character through resonates with us, representing the contemporary India crashing into the orthodoxy of old, and it’s delivered with understated passion and “everyman” ease by Tatwawadi the entire time.
As with any series, co-starring roles are aplenty, and no exception is made here, all very much performed with glowing skill and appeal that befits the show, starting with (and I must remain SLIGHTLY “vague” as I don’t wish to even HINT at any spoilers with characters) Makhija as Aatish, the young brother Nirmal never initially knew he had and whose own aspirations and choices leave Nirmal in constant states of joy and hesitation as Aatish draws him more into his life. Alka Amin arrives as Santoshi, a major catalyst of both joy and challenge for Nirmal and the relationship she represents to him, with Amin SO overtly infusing the character with both wonderfully affecting compassion and heartbreakingly believable inward strife. Pankaj Jhaa is Nirmal’s uncle Makhanlal whose control and dominance over the household become more and more apparent the longer Nirmal is there, played with some seriously convincing attitude and fervor by Jhaa. Vineet Kumar is Neta, a local higher-up politician with specific ties to the family and with whom Nirmal will have multiple run-ins with. I loved Kumar’s ability to make the character seem to likeable, but then be so despised on several levels, a testament to the actor’s abilities.
Tarun Kumar plays Nirmal’s grandfather, a deeply caring and humble man whose knowledge about much of Nirmal’s past may hold the key to answers his grandson has been seeking. Aaryaa Sharma is Tara, Nirmal’s mother in Delhi who keeps in touch with him throughout his journey, advising, warning, and encouraging him along with way. Garima Vikrant Singh is Genda, Nirmal’s aunt who is more than a little enthusiastic about his arrival. Ishita Ganguly is Geetanjali, a local Buxar schoolteacher with whom there could be a spark between her and Nirmal. Kumar Saurabh is Lablabiya, one of Aatish’s group of offbeat friends who also has deeper ties to the family. Paritosh Tiwari is Shankar, another of Aatish’s “crew” who seems to enjoy being a rabblerouser but is a trusted friend to Aatish. Tanishq Rana is Nibha, Nirmal’s niece and one whom he stands up for in unexpected ways at the house. Pintoo Rai and Praveen Namdeo are Babuva and Jockey, two more of Aatish’s gang.
Dhananjay Pandey, AR Rama, Yogesh Kumar Chouhan, and Raejsh Garg are Vidhayak, “Engineer”, Vakil, and Daroga, another group of friends around Aatish known as “The Party”. Stuti Trivedi is Reena, Aatish’s bride-to-be with her own personal struggles to contend with. Additional appearances are made by Saurabh Parihar as Pandey, Neta’s right hand enforcer, Ali Raza Namdar as Mohan, another primary factor in Nirmal’s story, and Nand Lal as Dukkhu, still another man impacted by Nirmal’s past. I am once more being very true when I say this is an excellent cast, leads and supporting, and it makes for quality material like this to be provided to us in a way that does justice to it, which this ensemble successfully achieves. So, in total, “Nirmal Pathak Ki Ghar Waspi” is a fantastic, satisfying, well-written, produced, and acted foray into what we hope will be further explored territory thanks to its heartening, significant, and fully grounded portrayal of the search for roots, the importance of family bonds, the deconstruction of custom, standing for your principles, and knowing that if you’re willing to fight for it, home IS where the heart forever resides.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
