Return to Roots: Theme of 2 Superlative Web Series

If you stay in India, you know what a storm the Amazon web series #Panchayat created. 

After a super-successful first season, they returned with a second season that achieved the rare feat of bettering its predecessor! 

Image source: News 18

With Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Jitendra Kumar and everyone in the cast turning in assured performances, this series with a solid storyline and a very familiar, lived-in mileu, scripted a rare success story. No one had thought a series set in a remote village, predicting rural life, and everyday issues, would capture the audience's imagination so much.

I just loved both the seasons. Everything was so relatable and homely. The squabbles, the bickering, the bonhomie, the bonding between the "Sachiv" and others in the village, the warmth and homeliness of residents, the small enmities, the political interference and debauchery, everything is something we have faced or seen somewhere in our lives. 

Also the fact, that it showed the "other India" so beautifully, making it come alive in front of our eyes, was no mean achievement. India lives in villages and small towns, and we, who have made our homes in big cities, tend to be in denial about the problems these people face.  Just like the protagonist, we come reluctantly and then fall in love with this rural life.

#Panchayat Second Season ended very sombre and touched a rather tragic note. But that is life, isn't it?

Eagerly waiting for season 3!

Now, there is another splendid series called #GharWapsi on Disney Hotstar, that strikes the right chord with its small-town setting and its heartfelt discussion on career and life priorities. 

What is that we all are running after? A successful job, lots of money, house, car, travels abroad, awards and recognition for work? Mostly for bragging on social media, and to cover the lack of real human connection, this superficial standards of success become the hamster's wheel for us city dwellers.

Image Source: Indian Express

Ghar Wapsi deals with what happens when we get a reality check. Our protagonist is chucked out his job suddenly, and has to relocate temporarily to his hometown in Indore. leaving behind the Indian Silicon Valley- Bangalore. He frets and worries, applying to any and every company that can have a vacancy. Feeling suffocated in the small-town mileu - that was once his home, he is looking for the quickest way out. 

However, the town, the people, his family and their issues- they grow on him. He finds warmth and realness in these. Whether it is bailing his errant brother out of trouble, or resurrecting his father's sinking travel agency business, he finds real meaning in these. So much so, when he lands his dream job, he is reluctant to leave all this.

But he does go, and start running the rat-race again. Only to realize that he is simply a cog in the wheel that will be replaced the moment it is rusted.  The job for which he forgoes real friendships, love and family life, is simply a mirage, that sucks his soul and leaves him lifeless.

Ghar Wapsi portrays tier-3 city life beautifully, right down to the accent and fondness for chaat, kachori and jalebi! The actors are brilliant, with everyone pitching in just-right performances. And the theme is so universal, so familiar, so lived-in, you can almost touch it with your hand.

Kudos to the entire team for making such a realistic series. Can't wait for season 2.

At last there are these two shows that are talking about real issues that middle class or rural Indians face. None of the gangster killing machine series we have got so sick of. Or the elite corporate/dynastic riff-raff. Or even the coming of age sex comedies.

Give us more of these.....

#returntoroots #Panchayat #Panchayat2 #Gharwapsi #Amazonwebseries #Disneyhotstarwebseries #realisticseries