BOTTOM LINE
Silly, Generic But Tolerable Sitcom
PLATFORM
JioHotstar
RUNTIME
2 Hours (4 Episodes)
What Is the Show About?
Teju is a rich businessman’s daughter, living independently on her terms and driving a cab for her livelihood. Her liberated lifestyle is a cause of concern for nagging neighbours. They use every trick in the book to kick her out of the apartment. All hell breaks loose when she has a new roommate in Sindhu, a corporate employee looking to escape her uncle’s rigid norms at home.
Performances
While both the lead actors fit their parts in terms of appearance and styling, their performances are just okay and nothing great to write home about. Gnaneswari Kandregula is a decent casting choice to play the rebellious Teju. Thanuja Puttaswamy brings a good contrast with her role as a meek yet ambitious girl.
Analysis
While cinema as a medium could hold a mirror to the changing ways of society, it doesn’t need to take itself too seriously either. Part Timers, a simple sitcom that places two 20-something women from contrasting socio-economic backgrounds under one roof, is just that. The show, helmed by Sampath Kumar Thota, reflects their conflicting concerns, lifestyles and their common need to lead a judgement-free life.
A no-nonsense Teju wants to breathe free from her protected parental upbringing and secretly drives cabs for a living. Her father goes out of his way to settle her monthly bills, despite her disapproval. Her supposedly erratic lifestyle and behaviour cause trouble in her apartment.
On the other end is Sindhu, a working woman and the only daughter of a single parent who stays in her conservative uncle’s house. When the uncle’s restrictions get too hot to handle, she devises a plan to leave the house to delay his bid to get her married. However, she gets a reality check as she shares an apartment with Teju.
The show draws humour from how Teju and Sindhu, despite their similar dream to lead a financially independent life, don’t find common ground. Their first meeting, even before turning roommates, is an outright disaster. Sindhu’s attempts to bury the hatchet with Teju bear no fruit, but gradually, there’s some mutual acceptance.
Teju is haphazard, lazy, and doesn’t bother to clean her room or even strike up a conversation with Sindhu. The latter ticks all the boxes: works hard, keeps her room tidy, cooks well and is eager to find a friend in her roommate. The supremacy over the flat is ultimately decided over a game of lingocha (seven stones).
The premise hinges on the fact that Teju needs to establish and succeed in her new business within three months to avoid any interference in her life from her father. And Sindhu is her only hope for the future. The intention behind the show is neat, and the scenario of bringing two opposites together is reasonably entertaining.
Part Timers is on a slippery slope, especially while dealing with Teju’s life. There are too many exaggerated situations to portray her as a pampered, rebellious and partly irresponsible kid. Perhaps some context for why she became a cab driver, and not anything else, may have helped slightly.
She chases a woman for a sum of Rs 5,000 to repair her car and conveniently donates six times the amount to help a fellow driver pay for his son’s medical treatment. While the director tries to take a playful dig at Teju’s neighbours and creates several clashes among neighbours, they’re neither funny nor interesting enough.
Sindhu’s track, as a responsible yet ambitious modern-day girl who moves out of her house to evade marriage, is neat without major hiccups. A few one-liners from the peon at her office ensure a few laughs. Another scene where Teju’s brother says, ‘It’s 2026 and why are you still using your brain to think?’ is also funny.
The dialogues for Teju’s father, talking of his vast business empire as a supposedly meagre achievement, tickle a few funny bones. The fascination of Sindhu’s mother for translating any event in her life into a WhatsApp status is quirky. A later joke at a party about a woman being treated as property available for sale or lease is distasteful.
From what’s out till now, Part Timers is equally tolerable, funny and silly at times. Apart from a few blips, it is relatable, has crisp episodes and can work for casual, easy weekend viewing. It’s the kind of show along with which you can chop vegetables, churn a meal, clean your desks, iron your clothes and kill time. Keep your expectations in check, though.
Music and Other Departments?
Bharath Manchiraju’s song during the title credits is quite odd due to the casual singing and lazily written lyrics, though the background score is relatively better. The cinematography, by Vinod Nekkala, is just functional. Sampath Kumar Thota displays a flair for dialogue writing across the first four episodes.
Highlights?
Fun premise
A few dialogues and humour
Drawbacks?
Silly and exaggerated at times
Hardly any standout element
Did I Enjoy It?
More than liking it… I would say I didn’t mind it.
Will You Recommend It?
If you’re into light, casual sitcoms with a local flavour, give it a try.
Part Timers JioHotstar Series Reviewed by M9 News
