Director: Rajshree Ojha
Screenplay: Ashwin Lakshmi Narayan, Bharat Misra, Gaurav Lulla
Cast: Cyrus Sahukar, Harman Singha, Ira Dubey, Jatin Sial, Kitu Gidwani, Saloni Patel, Siddhant Karnick, Shikha Talsania, Sonali Sachdev, Myrah Rajpal, Aashvi Negi, Mikaeel Bootwala
Rating: 3/5
Tanisha Saxena
Dealing with the paradigm of the modern family, Potluck season 2 is clearly a slice-of-life show. The eight-part series chronicles the different trials and tribulations of the Shastri family as the members navigate through their daily life. The USP is the characters who represent a universal pattern and therefore appeal to our human ‘collective unconscious.’
Govind Shastri (played by Jatin Prithviraj Kapoor) is a retired father and the most notorious member of the family. Pramila (played by Kitu Gidwani), a mother who wants to do something for herself especially when everyone around is busy in their own world, their eldest son Vikrant ( played by Cyrus Sahukar) is working from home and juggling between work and kids with his wife Akansha ( played by Ira Dubey) as she herself is trying to fit into the new job where everyone is a gen Z.
Then we have Dhruv ( played by Harman Singha), Shastri’s second child, who is fired from his job but the good part is that he finally hears his inner call of exploring his passion for cooking. Dhruv’s workaholic wife Nidhi ( played by Saloni Patel) attempts to break the monotony of her life. Prerna ( played by Shikha Talsania), Shastri’s only daughter, is a writer who is finding it hard to take her relationship with Aalim ( played by Siddhant karnick) ahead.
While the first part was all about establishing the characters and restricted to a few themes, the second one actually takes the story ahead in the most progressive way.The sitcom excels in an otherwise mundane and cliched pattern of writing. It talks about family togetherness in an engaging way. Each episode unfolds in a rhythmic manner while the characters develop over the course of action. Whether it’s the siblings bonding, husband-wife equation, work-from-home blues, or burnout issue, everything is addressed suitably.
Each character’s personal story is a subplot that is skillfully arced; For instance, Shastri’s second child Dhruv is fired from his job and he just can’t fathom it. Initially, it is extremely difficult for him to come to terms with the fact that he has lost his job, but later on, he realises that he hasn’t explored fresh avenues yet. He enjoys cooking and his inner voice is saying to try this out following his passion.
On the other hand, his wife Nidhi is somebody who plans everything to the tea. Everything she does is just perfect, in clutch moments she is reliable. However, this is not her source of happiness. Her mother make her realise that everything need not be planned in life. One should be enjoying the things they do and not take it as a task. These issues are brought up and deftly woven into the situations of these characters by making the plot as relatable as possible. It is not bogged down by tropes.
The great ensemble of the show is one of its core elements. Kitu Gidwani as Pramila has beautifully acted. She is an understanding wife and supportive mother but as she sees everyone around busy with their work it makes her feel that she should do something for just herself, something that makes her happy. She, therefore, signs up for a beauty pageant called Mrs meadows. It is even more interesting to see the reaction of the family to this decision of hers. Shikha Talsania shines with her natural performance.
Her understanding of her mother’s quest for “validation” through participating in a beauty pageant contest doesn’t make sense. And this theme is justifiably addressed by the writers via amazing dialogues.
This dramedy isn’t laugh-out-loud funny, but it can be overlooked by the other well-handled aspects of the show. Overall, this season, like its prequel, is binge-worthy.
