BOTTOM LINE
Engaging Rural Comedy with a Message
PLATFORM
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
RUNTIME
5 hours 15 Minutes (9 Episodes)
What Is the Film About?
Banwari Jha, a teacher in the remote village of Dhadakpur, is anxious to find a husband for his daughter, Roshni. Despite her relationship with childhood friend Amavaas, Roshni accepts a marriage proposal, surprisingly opting for the groom’s brother, Kuber. Kuber’s demand for a five-lakh worth motorbike as dowry sets off a chain of unexpected events.
Performances
Fresh after his heartfelt performance in Laapata Ladies – Sparsh Shrivastava is back in a familiar avatar (with a few tweaks) but still manages to leave a strong imprint, thanks to his agile body language, ease with humour and drama. Gajraj Rao brings warmth to yet another fatherly role. It’s a pleasant sight to see Shivani Raghuvanshi grow with every project while staying true to the pitch of the character.
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Bhuvan Arora’s lanky, easy-going persona is an added advantage to pull off Amavaas – which true to its name, is a cursed character and he plays it with an unquestionable integrity (despite the tough looks). Renuka Shahane grabs an equally meaty part as a village leader standing up for women. Though an obvious casting choice, Yashpal Sharma aces the ‘friendly’ cop role. Komal Kushwaha is indeed a good find.
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Analysis
Dupahiya has the appeal of an engaging, rooted novel which is surefooted and funny. There’s a distinct identity to the characters that inhabit the fictitious village of Dhadakpur, which has stayed crime-free for over two decades. The cop Mithilesh holds little value in the region; the people can look after the village. The girls are keen on standing on their feet, while the men have a fair share of eccentricities.
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There’s a belief that Roshni, around whose marriage the show is centred, gets away with a few privileges due to her appearance. Nirmal, the daughter of a village leader Pushpa and Roshni’s best friend, is insecure about her looks, despite being acknowledged for her wit and intellect. Roshni’s ex Amavaas is a kleptomaniac, while her brother Bhugol has a penchant for dancing and craves digital fame.
Meanwhile, the village is gearing up for the local election season, in which patriarch Kamlesh is pitted against a widowed yet courageous woman, Pushpa. Her grand plans for the ‘model’ village are turned upside down when a crime denies them sops for development. A local journalist is ostracised from the town for covering the crime (due to his boss’s pressure).
Director Sonam Nair creates a lively bunch of ‘gentle’ men and ‘spunky’ women with intriguing quirks, places them in unusual situations and doesn’t view them as comic relief. The happy-go-lucky Bhugol hopes for a day when his father is proud of him. A novel-crazy cop is disturbed about not being a dad. A goon finds a true companion in an owl. An aimless Amavaas wants the world to know he doesn’t steal by choice.
The entire show revolves around one idea: a stolen bike and its connection to a marriage. The bike is an excuse to uncover the true motives of the varied characters in this strangely compelling world. The premise is fairly straightforward, and the series takes its sweet time to find its rhythm. The light-hearted exterior serves as a mask to discuss the bigger problems—dowry, racism, and the politics within a marriage.
Much like Panchayat, shows like Dupahiya prove that you don’t need to be too serious and employ a ‘holier than thou’ treatment while tackling a subject with a message. The fluid writing lets the situations and the drama flow easily. There’s nothing farcical about the humour. Although the runtime – of around five hours for a simple story – is exhausting at times, the show generally doesn’t run out of fuel.
The little subplots – like the tension between the cop and Banwari, Bhugol and Amavaas’ strained equation, Teepu and Nirmal’s brewing romance, Pushpa and Nirmal’s mother-daughter dynamic – too contribute to the show’s appeal. The best part of the show is its insider-driven approach – it doesn’t need a city-bred protagonist to discover its charm. The villagers can find a way by themselves.
Dupahiya is a lively rural dramedy that informs and engages, although it gets greedy to tick all boxes forcibly – romance, human drama, humour and message.
Music and Other Departments?
Somesh Saha’s music – the songs and the score – helps drive the narrative smoothly and alters its contours as per the situation. Cinematographer Piyush Puty gets his basics right – presenting the village like an insider without romanticising it too much. The production design, costumes stay true to the show’s world. The writing is generally interesting, though the messaging doesn’t always strike the right chord.
Highlights?
Engaging on the whole
Good humour, relevant message
Apt casting, lively performances
Drawbacks?
Takes long to find its rhythm
Change in tone not always seamless
Lengthy runtime for a simple idea
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
If you enjoy rural comedies with lively characters and a message, go for it
Dupahiya Web Series Review by M9
