Gullak (Season 4)
Introduction
The consistency shown by TVF in churning out one quality content after another should be a case study in itself. And their consistent streak continues this week as well with the fourth season of Gullak which is streaming on SonyLiv. It has been a little over 4 years since we were introduced to the adorable Mishra family and their smaller chronicles from their otherwise mundane daily lives that not only were heartwarming, but somewhere made us a part of their family as well. There was friction between the folks from the family but at the end of the day, the family was close knit. And hence, over the course of the three seasons previously, there were moments of joy and tears as we shared dining table conversations around the family and their mishaps. But seldom did we know that the Mishra family would be an extended family of sorts. Here I must add that this show is in many ways iconic given the format that it caters too – it is almost like a sitcom with chapters from the lives of the members of the Mishra family that do have a relatability factor going. And as the characters have evolved, we still continue to wish more of their sweetness that has been synonymous with the show. So, I was quite looking forward to the fourth season of Gullak, does it manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
The fourth season of Gullak continues the bittersweet chronicles of the Mishra family even as they tackle with newer set of challenges wrapped in heartwarming chapters. The story here is heartwarming and definitely embraces you with all the warmth in a drama that followed a similar trope from the previous seasons. My only apprehension around the show was about getting repetitive but this show in particular has been negating that aspect quite wonderfully given that there are plenty of chapters left to be tapped into, and lacing all of them with a coat of relatability. The screenplay here standing at 5 episodes of roughly 20 odd to 40 odd minutes each does make a case for another heartwarming winner from TVF who has thus far successfully tapped in the age demographics of 18 to 40 years through some amazing content.
The drama is quick to reintroduce the principal characters even as they find themselves amidst another challenge related to their little house. And even as the house is divided between opting for a ‘bribe’, you are privy to the middle class setup who often are known to over discuss issues in order to save on some money, thus attributed to simple fragments of emotions. There is an inherent sense of warmth even when the characters exchange dialogues with each other, almost in the carefree space with bouts of togetherness, an important ingredient in dealing with everyday challenges. Some of the most prominent voices include those of the two sons, one of which has started earning and hence feels entitled with the opportunity to voice his opinion and in turn, support his family. The younger one is often protected but looking for opportunities to earn money, be it from selling metallic waste and paper(wherein he opts for a commission), or simply sneaking in to steal some cash for enjoyable. Yet, all of these remain stray incidents in an otherwise heartfelt family drama that is filled with warmth.
The proceedings are engaging and relatable, with traces of humour infused in the narrative. And when it comes to a comedy drama, there are few who might be better than TVF who are the pioneers of relatable content in the webspace. One of the strongest aspects of this webshow is the characterization. And even as you see a slight shift in the personalities of the two sons, the characters of the father and mother are quite grounded and almost an extension to the previous seasons. So even though you see a tough exterior with respect to the character of the mother, there is an inherent streak of being caring. In a scene when multiple characters request her to rest owing to her fasting, she retorts that she might be fasting but you folks aren’t. And thus begins her preparation for the staple diet of the house which is ‘Tehri’.
The father on the other hand has slowly transformed into a friend but still at the end of the day is a father. His repulsive slap to his younger son(partly due to fixed ideals extended to the mother as well) is an epitome of their relationship, or rather the distance being being friends and being a father and a son, which was so well portrayed in the latter episodes. Yet, he shows his concern when his younger son leaves his home by sitting at the doorstep and awaiting his return. But once he sees him returning, he quickly goes in, almost like any father would who loves his children but fails to express his love(oh why has God made us like that). This formulates for a bittersweet but beautiful final act that is relatable to the core thereby summing up the screenplay which is exactly that – beautifully relatable.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are witty with the one-liners but the deeper you go with the lines, the more you realise that there are some beautiful emotions to be discovered along the way. Music has always been a strong point for TVF and their shows, and here too the tender notes beautiful represent the underlying emotions that briefly take a peek every now and then. The BGM compliments the screenplay nicely as well while enhancing the drama at multiple junctures. The cinematography is simplistic with its framing, and quite honestly gets the crux of the drama just right. In a scene, the focus is on a piggybank(gullak) which is narrating the chronicles of the family, and that automatically puts a smile on your face. And such frames grace major part of the show quite beautifully. The editing is crisp and sharp wherein the length of each episode doesn’t overstay its welcome. Director Shreyansh Pandey does an incredible job in getting the vibe of the drama right along with the right mix of characters while retaining their relatability factor to perfection. The direction is really good here and puts a smile on your face by creating beautiful moments throughout the narrative.
Performances
The performances are excellent by the ensemble cast. Aparajita Dey makes her presence felt with a beautiful little part of a police constable that imparts pearls of wisdom. Amarjeet Singh as the Kabadiwala is hilarious and manages to tickle your funny bone. Stuti Tiwari as Aditi, Solanki Sharma as Shilpi and Jay Thakker as Suryanarayan aka Sunny lend dependable support in a job well done. Manuj Sharma as Shashi is excellent, Saad Bilgrami as Lucky is wonderful to witness as well, and both of them manage to shine. Sunita Rajwar as Bittu ki mummy is such a natural onscreen and her comic timing will often make you chuckle. Shivankit Singh Parihar as the voice of Gullak is heartwarming as always.
The Mishra family won’t be what it is without the presence of four wonderful actors. Harsh Mayar as Aman is phenomenal with a hint of playful energy and a subtle rebellious nature that makes for a commendable act. Vaibhav Raj Gupta as Annu is wonderfully restrained while acting like a matured elder brother who slowly wishes to take responsibility of the household. His assertiveness is wonderful to watch in an outstanding act. Geetanjali Kulkarni as Shanti Mishra aka the mother of the household delivers a dual performance that is hard on the exterior but almost molten with emotions underneath. She is such a treat to watch throughout the show that tactfully explores the different aspects of her nature where she is brilliant to the core. Jameel Khan as Santosh aka the patriarch of the family is in top form here. His characterization was such that he wished to be friends with his children but couldn’t quite break the barriers of his established relationship of the father. And these conflicting and simmering emotions were just so beautiful to witness in a phenomenal act of the highest order.
Conclusion
The fourth season of Gullak is yet another brilliantly relatable and beautifully emotional outing from TVF in a drama that with laced with warmth and some amazing performances. Available on SonyLiv and Highly Recommended.
