The Aam Aadmi Family (Season 4)
Introduction
Thank God It Is Friday and there are a host of new releases lined up for the weekend, so let’s get started without any delay. First up, I finished watching the new Hindi show, the fourth season of The Aam Aadmi Family which is now streaming on Zee5 which is the latest presentation from TVF who has mastered the art of relatability. Now I must admit here that, I hadn’t even heard of this show which may have been under the shadow of the other TVF show Gullak which was on similar lines. As a result, this would go down as inefficiency of not watching any of the previous three seasons while giving a shot at its fourth season directly. And therefore, this review becomes special given that this was my first such experiment of just getting a little gist of the previous seasons before directly venturing into the latest season of any show. I was prepared for the challenges in store given that I knew nothing about the baggage that the characters may have been carrying upto this point, wherein it was more about shooting in the dark about what may have transpired while taking everything else at face value. But it was the TVF brand which was slowly pulling me towards the show. So then does the fourth season of The Aam Aadmi Family manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
The fourth Season of The Aam Aadmi Family follows the story of a regular family who undergo their journey of highs and lows in their daily lives while sticking together. The story here handpicks some chapters in the lives of the character, much like the show Gullak, while keeping the warmth of the drama in check. As a result, there is a feel-good vibe to the drama that engulfs you, even while the drama consistently remains predictable without any curveballs thrown along the way. The screenplay standing at 8 episodes of roughly 20 odd to 30 odd minutes each does make for a heartfelt watch while adding a trace of relatability to the drama which is filled with a lot of warmth.
I must admit that it took me a while to settle into the drama to begin with, and may well have been because I hadn’t watched the previous episodes. But the entire funeral episode seemed a little flat even with respect to the emotions in play. I was finding it a little hard to connect with the characters wherein the events seemed slightly off, with even the dry humour not quite landing well. But the good news was that the writing did get consistently better with every passing episode while continuously creating moments of warmth and relatability.
I liked how progressive the writing was even as it tackled some sensitive issues along the way. You could make out that the intentions of the makers were pure when the emotions surrounding the scenes slowly began to land. The topics of gender equality or even aspirations with respect to the current generation or having the urge to complete education even at a later stage in life, might seem simple topics that are probably designed for the inherent feel-good vibe. But despite the predictability, if there is a genuine effort made to make things relatable while landing the emotions near-perfectly, then the writers must be commended for their efforts.
I did like that there was a recall factor for fans of the show in the form of a little flashback with the introduction of one of the characters who isn’t there in the current timelines. So there is a hint of nostalgia sprinkled in the narrative as well, while not losing focus of the chapters in the lives of the characters who share a sacred equation with each other. A little touch on the marital issues while seeking for a simplistic solution, and comparing the yesteryear’s relationships to today’s times was also a heartfelt addition to the events of the drama. This, while I did like how the events of the show is connected by a thread right until the final act. Speaking of which, the final act is quite emotional, something that will put a wide smile on your face while coaxing you to shed a tear or two. Overall, the screenplay comprises of events that you may already have witnessed earlier but it still accounts for a wonderfully heartfelt watch!
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational while incorporating several life lessons laced with an inherent sense of humour that makes for a solid impact. The music and BGM blend perfectly with the vibe of the drama while also playing a pivotal part in hitting the right notes with respect to the emotions. The cinematography is decent, the editing is good as well. Director Himali Shah does a fabulous job in creating moments that exude heartfelt emotions wonderfully well. And while tackling a few issues, you did need a female gaze in play, and that ensured that the proceedings were handled with utmost sensitivity. The direction is pretty good here.
Performances
The performances are fabulous by the ensemble cast. Ujjwal Raj as Goldie manages to tickle your funny bone quite often. Gandhali Jain as Rajni, Kamlesh Gill as Daadi and Surbhi Verma as Guddo Bua have their moments to shine. Pranay Manchanda as Sarthak is earnest and sincere. Sudheer Chobessy aa Bindra is lively and you will find his act affable at many places. Saadhika Syal as Sonu showcases some incredible maturity while carrying off her role with a lot of grace. She is wonderfully restrained and carries off her role with a quiet little charm too. Chandan Anand as Bobby is incredibly good especially with respect to the character arc that he has to pull off. The character gradually is shown to shoulder some respinsibility and I felt Chandan was superb on the show. Lubna Salim as Madhu is heartfelt and heartwarming while having an inherent streak of being caring and sacrificing her happiness for the family. There was such dignity to her performance that really made me feel for her character while silently rooting for her all along. Brijendra Kala as Sharmaji is outstanding to the core. He nails some of the one-liners beautifully, often making you chuckle. Yet, there is a hint of sensitivity to his character that makes you connected with him and his share of vulnerabilities. Additionally, it is rare to find an actor in today’s times that has a style of his own, something which was common in the yesteryear’s era. This was a quietly towering act by a wonderful actor who has always been a terrific performer.
Conclusion
The fourth season of The Aam Aadmi Family is a heartfelt tale of a sweet little family like yours and mine, that makes for a heartwarming watch. Available on Zee5.
