Last Friday we got to see two Indian stories which were contrastingly different and infact represented two India. While Netflix’s ’The Royals’ was all things chic, royal and urban, Prime Video’s ‘Gram Chikitsalay’ was raw, grounded, and rural in approach.
Now that both the shows have been out for a while it’s quite clear that the public has outrightly rejected Netflix’s ‘The Royals’ which promised Bridgerton-cum-Schitt’s Creek style glamour and humour but when it came to delivering, faltered pretty bad.
On the other hand, Prime Video’s ‘Gram Chikitsalay’s relatable humor and sincere performances, particularly that of Amol Parashar and Vinay Pathak’s, earned praise. But it hasn’t been all good and glorious for this latest TVF drama which has been called out for its predictable plot that echoes the framework of TVF’s other more popular show ‘Panchayat’.
Some parts worked well but ‘Gram Chikitsalay’ definitely didn’t live up to the expectations one has for shows coming from TVF. Thought it had all the elements for the slice-of-life dramedy but still the story missed that charm.
Despite its flaws and everything there’s one thing that has worked out amazingly for ‘Gram Chikitsalay’: it’s timing. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the show has benefited from ‘The Royals’ shortcomings and since there wasn’t much original offering this weekend people preferred to watch a more relatable and light hearted drama than wasting time on a star-studded misfire that seemed shallow.
However, we cannot deny that ‘Gram Chikitsalay’s appeal lies in its rooted storytelling and not just a lack of competition. TVF’s knack for capturing small-town India struck a chord once again, while ‘The Royals’ felt disconnected from its cultural context. ‘Gram Chikitsalay’ may not be groundbreaking, but it proves that heartfelt stories can shine, even without a “royal” budget.