Chumbak Review: Neena Gupta, Arjun Bijlani And Helly Shah's Show Has A Weak Magnetic Pull Towards Yesterday
Director: Aatish Kapadia Cast: Neena Gupta, Deven Bhojani, Arjun Bijlani, Helly Shah, Sumeet Vyas and others Where: Streaming on Netflix Rating: **1/2 Based on the first four of its 16 episodes, Chumbak looks more interesting than it actually is. Its retro treatment, riding the current fascination with the 1980s, is its most attractive feature. The colours, costumes and domestic detailing create…
Chumbak, a show created by Aatish Kapadia and Jamnadas Majethia, follows five families in a colony, exploring personal issues that spill over into community life. Streaming on Netflix, the series has a retro 1980s aesthetic, but this novelty quickly fades. The colorful costumes and domestic details create a period mood, but the novelty wears off quickly.
Neena Gupta and Deven Bhojani, playing Rajni and Kuku Merchant, are the weakest links in the central romance. Despite their well-written roles, their performances feel stiff and uninteresting. Arjun Bijlani and Helly Shah, as Mickey and Twinkle, provide a younger dynamic, while Sumeet Vyas, Manasi Parekh, Sumeet Raghavan, and Sandeepa Dhar add some liveliness to the ensemble.
Delnaaz Irani, Anant V Joshi, and Amyra Dastur contribute to the show's eccentricity, though the writing doesn't give them much material to work with.
The show's strongest aspect is its production design, which is praised for its polish. However, the set feels like an enormous stand-in, with boundaries that are not clearly defined. The spaces lack architectural specificity, making the neighborhood feel less lived-in. The retro aesthetics are convincing but cannot make up for the lack of freshness in the writing. The music supports the period setting without being memorable. Overall, Chumbak has the right retro look but struggles to deliver fresh content.
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