What Is the Story About?
Godavari is thrown out of the house by her husband, blamed for birthing a girl child. Sometime later, when she’s pregnant again and delivers a boy, the man returns, only to snatch the child away from her. While Godavari, a Paithani weaver by profession, raises a responsible daughter Kaveri, the son Samrat, who stays with the father, falls into bad company and struggles to mend his ways.
Performances?
The show is held together primarily with the performances of the on-screen mother and daughter (Godavari and Kaveri) played by the experienced hand Mrinal Kulkarni and newcomer Eisha Singh. If Mrinal brings emotional depth to the show with her portrayal of a weaver, Eisha is a captivating mix of good looks, innocence and on-screen charm.
Sangeetaa Balachandran is aptly cast as the strong matriarch of the household and it’s impossible to watch anyone else when she’s around. Zafar Ali Syed passes muster in the stereotypical role of a patriarchal father and Aaditya Gupta, his on-screen son, puts together a decent performance. Shivam Bhaargava, Yutika Shahapurkar and Sunil Godbole make for a formidable supporting cast.
Analysis
ZEE5’s Paithani, directed by Gajendra Ahire, is a simple, sentimental family drama, revolving around an ageing weaver specialising in Paithani saris. The family drama is as dated as it gets, reflecting the sensibilities of a 1970s Hindi film, where the father is against the idea of a girl child and prefers a son instead. In a twist of fate, it is the girl who restores the pride of the family while the son loses direction in life.
The novelty in the show doesn’t lie within the family setting, but in its exploration of the fading Paithani weaving tradition and the community’s preservation of its cultural roots, regardless of changing times. All her life, Godavari hasn’t owned a Paithani sari, despite being a weaver – indirectly conveying the reality of the community. When she plans to bid goodbye to her profession, the daughter Kaveri is committed to giving her a parting gift.
There are two subplots in the show. While Kaveri keeps facing several roadblocks in her attempt to buy a Rs 8 lakh-worth sari for her mother, the aimless brother Samrat plunges to newer lows by the day, not making much use of his prime youth. The story is about Kaveri fulfilling her mother’s long-cherished dream, as she crosses paths with her reformed brother and father.
As long as the series focuses on the challenges plaguing the weaver community, Paithani remains engaging and refreshing. Godavari, a purist, is portrayed as the symbol of the weaving tradition in her village. While weaving a paithani sari takes months, she treats each of her products like a baby and experiences a bitter-sweet emotion as it’s set to reach the hands of a customer.
Given that the story condemns male chauvinism, it contrasts it with the unspoken sisterhood among three women across as many generations – Ganga, Godavari and Kaveri. The conflicts in Kaveri’s journey as she tries to buy the sari, for which she even reaches Mumbai, are silly and juvenile. The story takes a more saccharine turn with an undercurrent message on the city’s goodwill.
Though the story, undeniably, has a strong emotional core, the filmmaking is subpar, with terrible graphics, laughably old-school cinematic liberties and dated storytelling devices denting its overall impact. The sincere performances ensure that the show remains watchable. The detailing is disappointingly minimal and the tale banks on emotion more than pragmatism.
Paithani would’ve been impressive had the director made a more honest effort to present the roadblocks of the weaving community, the imminent need to embrace the change in tide and revisit the family drama portions. While the show is still impressive in parts and the sincerity in tackling real-time issues strikes a chord, it is undone by the television soap-like melodrama.
Music and Other Departments?
Ved Sharma’s music is as dull and unimaginative as the old-school execution, struggling to bring any novelty to the proceedings. Krishna Soren’s frames are colourful and lively, while Sameera Ahmed’s effort with the costume design is basic but effective. Though the treatment is dated, the crisp duration of the episodes is ideal for the viewer.
Highlights?
Impressive performances
Emotional, timely story
Attempt to explore the Paithani weaving traditions
Drawbacks?
Dull, old-school treatment, absence of novelty
Too many cinematic liberties
Poor storytelling choices
Did I Enjoy It?
In parts
Will You Recommend It?
In case you like old-school family dramas
Paithani Web Series Review by Binged Bureau