What Is the Story About?
SonyLIV’s Potluck is a breezy slice-of-life dramedy (drama+comedy, for the unversed) that’s set in the backdrop of upper class Mumbai.
Govind Shastri (Jatin Sial) and wife Pramila (Kitu Gidwani) are vexed about the growing chasm between them and their three grown-up kids and their families — father of three, Vikrant (Cyrus Sahukar); baby of the family, Dhruv (Harman Singha); and unmarried daughter, Prerna (Shikha Talsania). A foolhardy plan, and a health scare involving Govind compels the entire family to come together for a “potluck” every week at each other’s homes. Will Govind’s plan to ingratiate the parents back into the lives of their kids work? Or will it lead to further trouble?
Potluck is directed by Rajshree Ojha, presented by Triplecom Media, Loose Cannons Content Studio & Vial Content, and produced by Kunal Das Gupta, Pavneet Gakhal, Gaurav Lulla, Vivek Gupta. It is written by Ashwin Lakshmi Narayan, Bharat Misra, Gaurav Lulla.
Performances?
Cyrus Sahukar presents a mature front as Vikrant. His performance in Potluck is a far cry from his “Rendezvous with Semi Girebaal” days, if you know what we mean. It is even unlike his quite recent “Meet The Malhotras”. His Vikrant is quiet, restrained and, well, totally un-Cyrus Sahukar like. Ira Dubey, as his wife Akanksha, is equally understated, apart from being stylish and sophisticated, despite having a kid dangling on her hip most part of the show.
Harman Singha and Salonie Patel are the goofballs of the show as the with-it couple, Dhruv and Nidhi. They are funny and spot-on with their comic timing, as well as in the more serious parts of the narrative. Shikha Talsania is her usual efficient self as opinionated writer and bookworm, Prerna. Siddharth Karnik as her love interest, Aalim, comes across as calm and refined.
Jatin Sial is good as the father who regrets not giving enough time to his kids when they were small and he was younger. Kitu Gidwani is the only one in the cast who strikes a somewhat false note as the nagging mother. Her lack of conviction in her own role undermines all the effort she puts into it to convince the viewer of the character’s inherent personality.
Analysis
Potluck is, for the most part, a light, breezy show, the kind that you watch, enjoy it in the moment, and then forget about it. More than the storyline, it is the characterization that charms you. Each character is imbued with its own unique and well-etched quirks and traits, and that is what endears them to the viewer. The stellar cast too renders their parts well, making the various interpersonal relationships fun to watch on screen.
Another aspect of the story that is quite endearing is the way the siblings have each other’s back always. Dhruv worrying for his older brother’s financial issues; Prerna helping out her brothers whenever they need her to be around; the easy camaraderie between the wives of the two brothers (a rare commodity in the Indian content space), all of it is good to watch and take in.
But a few cool moments do not make a show memorable and impactful, when the plot itself is inherently weak and unconvincing. In the end, it comes across as much ado about nothing, given that there’s more love and warmth in the Shastri family than most families in the world. It’s obvious the children dote on their parents, even if they do bad-mouth them frequently. The parents, on their part, love the three kids unconditionally, despite the mother cribbing and carping all the time. One wonders then, what’s the problem all about. It’s almost as if the writers want to convince us of issues when really there are none.
Despite the above, meeting for a potluck is a good idea, but every week is a bit much, we think. Didn’t someone say too much of a good thing is also a bad thing in the long run?
All said and done, Potluck is an average watch, hardly the kind that will stay with you for long.
Music and Other Departments?
The production values of the show are good, as are the technical aspects. Nothing much to talk about cinematography-wise, as the entire runtime is set indoors, given as it was shot entirely in the lockdown.
The title track of the show, “It’s All Good” is peppy, cheerful and nice to listen to. It is sung by popular singer Amit Mishra and Kamakshi Rai, and set to music by Sachin and Sukhamrit. The background score of the show is passable.
Highlights?
The characterization
Performances of lead actors
Drawbacks?
Weak and unconvincing plot
Unimpactful narrative
Did I Enjoy It?
I found it OK, nothing too great, but not altogether bad
Will You Recommend It?
Watch it only if you have nothing better to watch
Potluck Web Series Review by Binged Bureau
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