Of Hindi Heartlands and Yorkshire Yards
…and how they hit a chord with a Tamil household.
It’s strange enough that, despite all the divides — generational, in taste and a gazillion others — my family still finds itself watching, even enjoying, some TV shows together. It’s stranger still, that our all-time favourites should be so far removed from our lived experiences.
When I say family, it’s very nuclear, only my parents and I; but it doesn’t fail to evoke an exclamation from many when I tell them we still watch some shows together. And yet, this isn’t as uncommon a phenomenon as we might think. Our two relatively recent favourites have apparently found a place in many an Indian household. Here’s my take on these two shows, plus some lesser-known movie recommendations related to each. And finally, why I’ve come to feel that watching shows and movies with family has actually been a great way to bond and a conversation-starter, that makes us express and explore our different (and often conflicting) views.
Panchayat: slice-of-life goodness
It’s easy to see why this show has become a hit, with its understated but clever writing and interesting — even surprising — depiction of rural life in today’s India. And of course, its role as a rich source of memes. But to me, that’s not the intriguing bit.
You see, my dad doesn’t understand Hindi well; his vocabulary is very, very limited. Yet he was among the most excited to return to the fictional Phulara gram when the latest season of Panchayat dropped last month. Even my confidence in my Hindi, which I would normally rate a modest 6/10, shoots up to a solid 9 after a binge of the show.
So why does Panchayat feel at once relatable and alien?
There’s something special, a certain je-ne-sais-quoi, about finding something relatable — not through a shared setting or even culture, but through the everyday struggles and emotions that the characters experience. There’s something about escaping to a real but faraway land and there, finding someone or something that brings a knowing smile to your face.
Of course, slice-of-life, as a genre, has been known to do this best. But here’s my favourite part: while slice-of-life is technically described by phrases and words like “mundane” and “lacking intense plot development”, it is its blend with other genres that makes it captivating. Kind of like, slice-of-life serving as a chip, which you can savour with a dip of crime or a dash of comedy.
In that spirit, here are a few relatively less-known and underrated movies I’d recommend.
Kaakaa Muttai
(Moving · Innocence and curiosity · Comedy-drama)
How can you dislike a well-taken movie told from the POV of children? But there’s much more to Kaakaa Muttai, which makes this one of my favourite Tamil movies of all time: a simple yet strong plotline, tightly drawn-up screenplay and solid performances — all of which ensure you’re invested in the movie and root for its characters.
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Not only does Kaaka Muttai hold up a mirror to the social divides and disparity that are still rife in our cities, but it does so without making the rookie mistake most similar movies make, of sounding preachy or even accusatory of any one group in particular.
Fly Away Home
(Animal love · Cottage core · Parent-child relationships)
Sweet (perhaps a tad bitter-sweet?), simple and with a certain nostalgic goodness about it, this movie is likely to put a smile on your face. Oh, and it’s got that good old 90s Hollywood feel to it. Something that, despite growing up post this era, I spent a lot of my childhood watching.
Parking
(Urban struggles · Middle class · Conflict)
Parking may seem the most out of place on this list. It can hardly be deemed slice-of-life. But in its steady buildup of the central conflict, perfectly simple and believable premise, and its portrayal of the human psyche, it has a realness to it that can make the viewer think. The melodramatic final act feels needlessly long and is slightly disappointing after what was, until this point, a great watch; but that’s probably my only major gripe with the movie. I really enjoyed how this story was told.
Downton Abbey
With this one, I’m late to the party (or should I say ball? 🍷). There’s a reason why pop culture — sitcoms leading the list — have repeatedly referenced this show. There’s a soap-y goodness that makes this the perfect show to binge when you need to escape to an idyllic world (mostly). It’s what made it our go-to show during the COVID-19 lockdown.
It’s got some incredibly likeable characters, well-written story arcs, wonderfully witty dialogues, and plenty of drama. Not to mention, impressive attention to detail and exquisite set pieces for a period drama. But at the same time, the story arcs have a surprisingly nuanced touch, avoiding clear-cut black-and-white distinctions, which is unexpected for its genre. This, combined with such universal themes as family, class and inheritance, make it a success even with an audience that may not be able to relate to the setting or culture.
In fact, one article thinks our love for the show is a little ironic given how much we have suffered under colonial rule. But I think it’s simple, really: sentiments that are universally echoed, coupled with good storytelling is a concoction with which you can never go wrong, no matter the setting.
A great conversation starter
You know how they say “quality family time” can’t possibly come from TV time? I don’t quite agree. Be it the bucolic charm of Phulera, or the sophistication of Downton, set halfway around the world and a century away — most episodes have concluded in conversations and better still, debates.
