Chumbak Review: A Warm, Witty Throwback to the Kind of Comedy We Need Again

Dr Sukriti Tankha

When I was around 9 or 10 years old, I remember watching Sarabhai vs Sarabhai with my whole family. The characters, the plot, the subtle and classy humour, and the ahead-of-its-time writing were not as well received at the time of its initial release. But a few years later, it went on to become a cult classic — one that is still quoted in memes even today.

It was from there that I became a fan of Sumeet Raghavan. His acting and comic timing were impeccable, and his dialogue delivery flawless. He truly became the character he was playing.

So when I heard the news about him starring in a Netflix series Chumbak, I knew it wasn’t to be missed. And then I saw the lineup of an amazing cast — from Neena Gupta to Helly Shah, from Deven Bhojani to Anant Joshi — and there was no way the show could have been anything short of amazing.

And, I was damn right!

Five couples, one colony, one big family

The story revolves around five couples who live in the same colony — Chumbak Colony — and their friendships, their lives and how they overcome every little hurdle together. One family’s problem isn’t just its own problem — it’s theirs. They have fun, they laugh, they cry, they fight, but they stick together no matter what.

It seems like an ordinary story at first, something you see every other day on one of the multiple streaming platforms. But it’s not.

The plot might seem ordinary and even boring on paper, but leave it to Aatish Kapadia and JD Majethia to turn something very ordinary into something extra-extraordinary. The story, the dialogues and the characters are all so well written, and so amazingly acted by some of my really favourite actors.

The cast gets everything right

Sumeet Vyas has been a favourite of mine since I watched him in Tripling and Permanent Roommates, and his deadpan, innocent, calm humour in Chumbak gets you every single time.

Some actors need no introduction — Neena Gupta, Deven Bhojani, Sumeet Raghavan. You just see them and you know the vibe they will bring to the show will be unmatched.

Amyra Dastur, Manasi Parekh, Sandeepa Dhar, Anant Joshi and Delnaaz Irani are all brilliant in their roles, and the specific type of humour each one brings matches them perfectly.

And then there is Helly Shah

But my personal favourite of the whole series — and someone who really made me a fan of hers — has to be Helly Shah. Her portrayal of Twinkle, the rich and naïve but confident and loyal high-profile model, really stood out the most.

It is very difficult to act naïve without looking dumb or stupid, while still making the character come across as cute and adorable. Helly Shah does that perfectly. There is something incredibly endearing about Twinkle, and a lot of that credit goes to Helly.

Even the smallest characters shine

Rohit Roy and Elli Avram were perfect for their special appearances. The actors also brought every other character to life brilliantly — from Twinkle’s father and his PA to the detective, kids Vedant and Ruhaan, and older Munmun, no matter how small the role. I really loved that about Chumbak. Nobody feels like they are there just to fill space. Every character adds something to the world of the show.

Clean comedy that actually makes you laugh

Chumbak makes sure you laugh almost every second. It is incredibly difficult to write such clean and simple but smart comedy. Especially, in these times when only abuses and below-the-belt stuff seems to sell.

But with Aatish Kapadia and JD Majethia, you know it is possible because this is what they do best. These two present stories that are not only funny but also have a message – if only you look for it in the right place.

I am a firm believer that the shows you grow up watching influence not only your humour and personality but also shape your thinking and ideology.

The kind of show you can watch with your parents

With the plethora of platforms and content now, it is very difficult to find something that doesn’t contain crude humour. It is tough to fund something that you can watch with your parents and enjoy. And Chumbak is exactly that.

Maybe it’s the familiarity of seeing the actors I grew up watching together in one show. Or maybe it’s the nostalgia of simpler times, when my whole family would sit together and watch Khichdi and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai.

Whatever it is, Chumbak delivers. It is warm, funny, smart and genuinely enjoyable. If you enjoy Hindi web series reviews, and are always looking for something genuinely different to watch, Chumbak deserves a place on your list.

PS: All the ladies’ outfits were so chic and smart. I really want to know who their stylist/stylists were!

Dr Sukriti Tankha is a Dental Surgeon at Clove Dental