424. Web-series Reviews – 232

More web-series reviews…

Gram Chikitsalay – Came in 2025. The young, idealistic and brilliant Dr. Prabhat, takes charge of a neglected Primary Health Centre in a North India Village hoping to bring about much needed changes only to realize it is he who will have do change before anything else.

A review from IMDB...

Gram Chikitsalay is the story of an underdog in an unfamiliar territory that is filled with all sorts of colourful characters and has it's fair share of problems that no one has found a solution to. The protagonist takes up the challenge to fix the problems and while doing so finds himself undergoing a transformation as well. This story seems familiar because this template has been used by TVF and quite a few storytellers a number of times; what matters ultimately is how you use it and the kind of impact your screenplay makes on the viewer. Unfortunately this show missed the mark for me. TVF shows are usually considered an easy watch because you just have to watch five short episodes, but that became quite a task this time round.

WHAT'S GOOD :

1. It's been a while since Amol Parashar has been acting but he always come across as a unidimensional actor and after portraying the role of "Chitvan" in TVF's web show Tripling, he just kept repeating himself; he couldn't come out of the Chitvan character even when he had to play "Bhagat Singh" in a movie and because of that I was a quite skeptical after TVF announced him as the lead of this show but thankfully Amol did not disappoint. It seems finally word has reached his ears that he needs to work on his acting skills and create a different character for every show. Of course, Amol Parashar is no Jitendra Kumar, but the good thing is that he made an effort for this show.

2. Anandeshwar Dwivedi is an absolute gem of an actor. Just to get an idea of his exemplary range, have a look at the roles he has played in the YouTube videos made by TVF, then the character Leo in "Permanent Roommates" and finally "Shukla Ji", the character that he played in the show "Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd". He feels more like the central character of the show than the actual protagonist of the show. Just observe the way he behaves in the clinic in front of Dr. Prabhat when he feels embarrassed and is unable to express his mistake; that was just too good and way too realistic. Anandeshwar as Phutani is just outstanding in the show.

3. Garima Vikrant Singh is wonderful as Indu Devi. If you have ever lived in a village or been to one then you would realize that Garima has perfectly captured the body language, behavior and talking style of a village woman. Garima's portrayal of Indu Devi reminded me of the people that I have come across in my village. Kartikey Raj is as brilliant as he was in the "Kapil Sharma Show". Kartikey's comic timing is just too good; his facial expressions and dialogue delivery are guaranteed to make an impact on you. I really hope he gets more good quality work because he is a very serious talent. Vinay Pathak adds a lot of weight to the show as long as he is there on screen but unfortunately he is there just for a cameo.

WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD :

1. When TVF began it's journey, it's tagline used to be "Lights, Camera, Experiment"; they were supposed to tell unique stories that no one else was willing to tell. What is happening now is that TVF has become a bit too comfortable in their own world; if one idea works, then they end up replicating the same idea in different worlds, they don't wish to experiment anymore, they don't wish to step out of their comfort zone anymore. This particular show is nothing but "Panchayat" with the protagonist being a Doctor. This kind of thing is done by filmmakers as well when they make sequel after sequel of successful movies after running out of original ideas; it's easy money with not a lot of hard work or creativity involved.

2. It feels bad when TVF comes up with a low effort show, because they have set pretty high standards for themselves. The creators of this show decided to create something on the lines of "Panchayat" but didn't really bother to spend some time writing a decent screenplay. When you make a show like this, then the thought process is just to encash the popularity of a successful show instead of telling a fresh story and that just defeats the purpose of becoming a filmmaker. Unlike Panchayat, the screenplay of this show is not always engaging; in fact I found it difficult to get through the first episode itself. There are three basic qualities that you usually find in the stories that come out of TVF; they are heart-warming, inspiring and relatable; unfortunately all three are missing in this show.

3. Why were the faces of two actresses (Garima Vikrant Singh and Akansha Ranjan Kapoor) made darker than their usual complexion ? Why did TVF take such a pathetic creative decision ? Have they no idea what women of villages and small towns look like ? I got irked every time Garima Vikrant Singh came on screen because it felt like some boot polish had been painted on her face. This feels even stranger because recently TVF made a show called "Medical Dreams" in which Garima Vikrant Singh played the role of a village woman and she was given a natural look for the show.

4. From the trailer it seemed as if we are going to see some kind of funny conflict between Amol Parashar and Vinay Pathak, the two Doctors of the village, but unfortunately Vinay Pathak was nowhere to be seen for the majority of the show. Apart from one episode, Vinay just made fleeting appearances throughout the show, so much so that it would be safe to say that he has an extended cameo in the show.

5. Why exactly was this show justifying the presence of quacks in a village ? The healthcare situation of Indian villages is as it is very poor with almost no reliable hospitals or doctors and on top of that we have some unqualified fraudsters pretending to be a Doctor sitting in almost every corner of the village. It is the basic right of every citizen to get affordable healthcare and more efforts need to be put in so that it actually becomes a reality but under no circumstance should the idea of having a quack be promoted because it's not a solution at all, in fact it could turn out to be quite dangerous. Vinay Pathak delivered his monologue quite beautifully but that can never justify his actions; a wrongful act does not become right just because a character's beautiful monologue made you emotional.

6. The way this web-show concluded, it just became a completely different show. Way too much time was spent on two particular characters, who were not even a part of the primary cast. Sub-plots are necessary for a show but they should never overshadow the main storyline or the main characters of the show.

It's safe to say that this show has turned out to be a missed opportunity for TVF. This could have become another hilarious show featuring all the adventures a Doctor has to face in a village but unfortunately the writers managed to come up with a rather lacklustre screenplay.

My Take – An ok watch!

 

Nine Puzzles – Came in 2025. Jo I-na finds her uncle murdered beside a puzzle piece but can't explain her presence. Ten years later, as a criminal profiler, she investigates murders where victims are found with similar puzzle pieces.

A review from IMDB...

A slow paced murder mystery thriller, Nine Puzzles is a smart concept with a very good execution, even though the pacing might be inconsistent for many.

The drama balances multiple layers of mystery, from cryptic puzzle pieces and reflection clues to complex interpersonal relationships that intertwines with the serial murders. The setting is tense, with every character under radar and suspicion falling all over everyone.

What begins as a whodunnit quickly evolves into something more thematic. The show explores the consequences of institutional failure and what happens when someone decides to punish those systems in the most literal way. But what keeps the show human is how it focuses on the fallout: guilt, loyalty, memory, and how trauma shapes who we become.

The cast, whether it be leads or the supporting, every character was portrayed as they should be. The fascinating aspect of the drama is it plays with the memory, like you will connect the dots towards the final episodes from your recollection of the initial episodes. Overall, the emotional layers to this murder mystery is well written, although the pacing was too sluggish and draggy. But nonetheless, it will keep you hooked until you know the perpetrator behind all of these.

My Take – Worth a watch!

 

Curfew – Came in 2024. A woman's body is discovered. She has been brutally murdered during the night. Veteran Police officer Pamela believes only a man could have done this. But in a world where men are bound by a curfew from 7pm to 7am, her theory is rejected.

A review from IMDB...

From start to finish, the show gets you thinking. It's a dramatised adaptation of a fictional book, (emphasis on fiction) and very cleverly written. The basic plot is that there has been a horrific murder during curfew, the time when all men are tagged and made to stay in their homes from 7pm until 7am to ensure the safety of women. One detective is convinced that a man is behind it which to everyone else can't be possible. With many plot twists, you are trying to work out, what is the truth, who is the killer and will justice actually prevail.

Each episode gets you believing in a different suspect, man or woman, and when you actually think you have it, wham! It's not who you think it is. Then you get to the nitty gritty of the plot right at the end of the series, was it a good idea and does the Curfew actually work? Which is the main focus which I hope will be answered with a following season. We all know that in real life, this wouldn't actually happen, but it is an interesting topic to look at, how a "what if" dystopian future could look like and how we as a society would handle this situation be it right or wrong.

Sarah Parish pulls off yet another phenomenal performance with some epic one liners, each actor bought something unique whether you liked the character or not (which is the point of acting) and the cinematography was spot on. I recommend you watch the series for yourself and make up your own minds. Remember, it is fiction and is not a documentary.

My Take – Worth a watch

Adios till next time😊!!