Happy Family Conditions Apply

Aatish Kapadia-JD Majethia is a smart writer-producer combo who have redefined the sit-com space with some pathbreaking shows like 'Sarabhai vs Sarabhai', 'Khichdi' to 'Wagle ki Duniya'. Unfortunately 'Happy Family' lacks the originality that the brand is so known for and is just a regurgitated cocktail of many of their past shows.

The loud-n-lively Gujarati family backdrop is repeated once again here. But while Sarabhai was distinctly different from Khichdi world, this one borrows from both and thereby muddles up. Then taking a cue from 'Wagle ki Duniya' it tries to tackle too many society issues from women equality, male chauvinism, saas-bahu saga, racism, class divide to even sexual preferences. Unlike earlier attempts the treatment is not nuanced and at times to blatant to be believable.

One major issue is that the show is over-written. Kapadia tries to squeeze in a punch in literally every line. The attempt is so overdone that it can put Anees Bazmee and Sajid-Farhad style of dialogue writing to shame. There are no breathers to enjoy a gag. Before one finishes, the next one is shoved in your face. And thereby the show tries too hard to be funny! Also the humor varies from classy ones to pure PJs - and thereby this show doesn't get a distinctive or uniform tonality.

The ever-dependable Ratna Pathak Shah, sadly, goes over-the-top this time and this is the second major issue with the show. While they might have designed her boisterous character to be the highlight of the show, she starts annoying after a point. She plays a pretty-much conflicted character - orthodox enough to hate her bahu's modern ways but, at the same time, modern enough to endorse her pay-parity and professional prospects. She keeps jabbering is every frame of the show and one can actually relate to her family members who are irritated of her unending chattering.

Beyond the use of a single 'expletive' and the customary gay-coming-out-of-closet track (forced in to suit the OTT sensibilities), the show pretty much qualifies to be a TV sitcom. Also, as per OTT mandate, the show ends midway to give way for a season 2.

Ratna Pathak Shah remains in the forefront throughout and while she often goes overboard, she is the factor that keeps all characters in the show connected. Raj Babbar, as her husband, is far more restrained and plays something different from his customary offerings. Atul Kulkarni as the guy cornered by everyone in family makes his gullible character quite watchable.

This show could have been far more effective and entertaining if the makers had just tried to be true to themselves!