BOTTOM LINE
Familiar, Feel Good Sex-Ed Comedy
PLATFORM
Netflix
RUNTIME
4 Hours (7 Episodes)
What Is the Show About?
Subbu, a small-time government school teacher, is transferred to the remote village of Makhipur to run a sex education awareness campaign. While he finds it challenging to confront the stigma surrounding reproductive health in the region, he gradually earns the locals’ trust and makes a difference. Yet, he lands in a soup when a rumour spreads about him getting a girl pregnant.
Performances
Sundeep Kishan returns to form in a role tailor-made for him. His ease with comedy is evident as he mirrors the character’s confusion, making viewers feel for his plight. Mithila Palkar, even if not the perfect casting choice to play a village belle, does the needful with her vibrant screen presence. Bubblegum fame Maanasa Choudhary is impressive in a limited yet significant role.
Murali Sharma, as an annoying father, stays in the same zone as Bhale Bhale Magadivoy and Ala Vaikunthapurammulo, doing what is expected of him. Getup Srinu delivers the goods as the helpful sidekick. Goparaju Ramana and Raghu Babu are formidable in their supporting roles. One wishes the audience got to see more of Brahmanandam, too.
Analysis
Super Subbu is a show born out of a simple one-liner synopsis that could have earned a nod from Ayushmann Khurrana. What if a virgin, raised in a conservative family, is deputed to a laid-back village to throw light on sex education? The idea comes with an obvious cultural stereotype: an educated city boy is out to make a difference and enlighten a conservative rural crowd.
It’s not surprising that the project is entrusted to the hands of a director, Mallik Ram, who helmed the Telugu remake of Vicky Donor and comes with considerable experience in the OTT space with shows like Pelli Gola, Taragathi Gadhi Daati, and the web film Adbhutam. He expands on the premise well, creating a bunch of endearing, flawed, oddball characters.
While the story is built on the social stigma attached to sex education, it is as much about a youngster finding his way in life and at work. For a show revolving around sex education, the opening sequence perfectly establishes its irony.
India has just raced ahead of China as the most populous nation on the globe, and yet an orthodox, middle-aged father finds it awkward to listen to a TV programme on the subject. As his son Subbu scrambles for the remote and changes the channel, a raunchy number leaves him further embarrassed. This sequence and Subbu’s childhood episodes confront the heart of the problem.
Like most orthodox Indian families, Subbu has never had a ‘sex talk’ after hitting puberty. It affects the way he communicates with women and takes his relationship forward with his girlfriend, Divya. The problem, as we see, lies right within Subbu’s home, yet he is out to change a village’s perception of sex.
The treatment is akin to TVF’s Panchayat, tackling a social taboo. As Subbu tries to initiate a discussion on consent in relationships in Makhipur, the men in the village are out to give him a hard time. With no proper network coverage, he has to stay in the region for a minimum of six months to stay in the good books of his superiors and keep his job.
The show’s creators stick to established tropes, doing enough to ensure the familiar does not feel annoying or boring. One of Subbu’s allies is a blue-eyed girl, Swathi, an acting aspirant waiting to make it in films. She acts as the bridge between Subbu and the women in the village, allowing them to discuss sex sans the awkwardness. The men, too, warm up, slowly and predictably, over booze.
Some of the situational humour works, and thankfully, there is no sermonising. However, the director’s exaggerated portrait of the village is riddled with stereotypes and does not always leave a good aftertaste; the entire rural population is painted in a similar light, with only a few exceptions.
When all seems well, with Subbu doing everything to conceal his profession from his family while adapting to village life and making new friends, a serious allegation turns his life topsy-turvy. The show does not quite substantiate this or explore the conflict well enough.
While one can sense the team’s efforts to avoid a typical father-son dialogue, à la Bommarillu, in the climax, it still falls short in terms of impact. The story could have focused more on the father ‘unlearning’ his outdated ideas and coming to terms with his son, rather than merely putting the spotlight on Subbu’s village encounters.
Yet, in a story where a lot could have gone wrong, Super Subbu manages to stay in control. Subbu’s concerns come alive from a place of honesty, and one finds genuine ambition and hope in Swathi’s tall dreams. Regarding the sex education aspect, however, there could have been more emphasis on the actual change Subbu brought about, rather than relying on standard, basic montages.
Super Subbu is a well-intentioned, sensible, if not perfect, rural comedy with a message. Even if the message does not hit home exactly as expected, the lead characters, strong performances, and breezy treatment make it a worthwhile watch.
Music and Other Departments?
The music score and the songs are nothing out of the ordinary but stay true to the tone of the show and its intent, alternating among exaggerated conflicts, cheeky humour, and grounded emotions. Cinematographer AJ Aaron’s funky, lively comic-book style aesthetics add to its appeal.
The writing, beyond the familiar premise, feels overcooked at times. It relies too heavily on standard storytelling tropes, though it compensates for this with its entertainment value. For its simplistic plot, the nearly 270-minute runtime does not feel strictly necessary.
Highlights?
Decent performances
Breezy, light and entertaining with a relevant message
Neat execution
Drawbacks?
Storyline and treatment lack freshness
Exaggerated portrayal of a backward village
The humour doesn’t always land, and feels repetitive at times
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, it’s meant for easy, comfy viewing, dealing with accessible themes
Will You Recommend It?
If you don’t mind a light show which keeps you entertained, even if it doesn’t offer many surprises
Super Subbu Netflix Web Series Reviewed by M9 News
