BOTTOM LINE
Slightly Preachy, Mostly Fun
PLATFORM
ZEE5
RUNTIME
2hrs 15mins, 5 episodes
What Is the Show About?
An elderly Ashwin Mehta comes to Mumbai to meet his sons, Kunal, Kumud, and family, unannounced. Caught in their chaos, they pay little heed to his presence in the household. Any attempt at conversations or dinner table chatter doesn’t work in his favour. Ashwin comes up with a solution: if the family goes on a digital detox for six months, a ₹1 crore sum will land in each of their accounts.
Performances
Pankaj Kapur fits perfectly into the part of an army veteran who tries to put things back in order; his body language and vocal pauses speak volumes about the authenticity he brings to the character. Mona Singh’s role showcases the burden of being a working woman performing household chores; she presents the concerns of her character fluidly.
Analysis
Thode Door Thode Paas, on ZEE5, starring Pankaj Kapur, Mona Singh, and Kunal Roy Kapur in key roles, directed by Ajay Bhuyan, is the kind of conversation that Chacha Choudhary would have with an average millennial/Gen-Z, social-media addict. There’s utter disconnect, but a challenge puts things in perspective for the characters: go on a digital fast or lose out on one crore.
The show’s premise is innately old-school (and yawn-inducing to begin with) – an elder trying to preach to his family about the value of human connection and the bliss of leading a life away from technology. It all starts when Ashwin Mehta heads to Mumbai to visit his sons and their families, but is disturbed by their indifferent, individualistic, and robotic lifestyle.
Just when you wonder if this will be a dramatic rant about the ‘art of living’ and simple joys of the past, the preaching is toned down. Instead, the characters are forced to be transported to the 70s-90s era. The Mehtas practice digital abstinence of the highest order, but such is the lure of wealth that the effort seems worth it. The learnings in this phase bring about a drastic change at home.
The best creative decision in terms of writing is letting characters experience the little pleasures of a technology-free life and not having Ashwin tell them about it. Kunal is strumming the guitar again, Avni is spending time at the library, and Vivaan goes cycling in the mornings, handing over the newspaper to his grandpa. The burden on Simran to manage all the chores is also significantly reduced.
The show also doesn’t pretend that the change is a walk in the park. Vivaan almost gives up on the challenge, feeling anxious about his relationship with his girlfriend without tech, but takes time to make peace with it. Kunal’s numerology analysis is haywire minus his PC, and Simran’s boutique designs go for a toss. Tension arises when Avni takes time to return home, and panic sets in.
If one strictly goes by logic, nothing about it feels practical. It’s hard to imagine a work-at-home numerologist communicating only through a landline. In the age of e-marts, Simran’s decision to go offline would have huge repercussions on her business. More so, with Avni as a college student, the choice to go for oral presentations (without PPT) feels like a return to the stone age.
However, all such issues are offset by the warmth in the storytelling. Instead of sounding like a senile man losing touch with the times, the director makes you savour the escapist revisit to the past, which is temporary, but the idea itself is romantic, which the filmmaker ultimately visualises through the story. The show bats for the need for a balance, pausing to reflect, and experiencing life.
Thode Door Thode Paas starts like another jaded story of generational disconnect, but regains ground with a quirky twist. This twist works like a factory-reset option, directing the characters to a time gone by. It is no high-quality art, but it is simple, simplistic, innocent, warm, and preachy, all at once, working well for easy, light, family viewing that gets you thinking.
Performances by Others Actors
Kunal Roy Kapur’s chill-bro persona ensures a contrast in the proceedings in the shoes of the modern-day dad. The teenage kids, played by Ayesha Kaduskar and Sartaj Singh, lend innocence and vibrancy to the backdrop. Gurpreet Saini, within the limitations of his role, looks assured and confident. Mayur More, in an extended appearance, has an amiable presence.
Music and Other Departments?
The background score, by Malla Siddharth and Puneet Porpant, conveys the swinging moods of the show efficiently: the fast-paced lifestyle, the sudden change, the early chaos, and the calm later. Despite limitations in the backdrops, the aesthetics are not compromised. The cinematography, costumes, and production design stay closer to reality, leaving little room for exaggeration.
Highlights?
Simple, accessible story
Neat, relatable execution
Good performances
Drawbacks?
Feels too preachy, impractical
Resolutions are quite simplistic, convenient
Avoids difficult conversations to retain its feel-good vibe
Did I Enjoy It?
Mostly, yes
Will You Recommend It?
If you don’t mind a light-hearted family drama with a message
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Thode Door Thode Paas Review by M9
