Chumbak is the kind of series that feels like it has travelled straight from the golden era of Indian television and landed on Netflix. Created, written and directed by Aatish Kapadia and produced by Jamnadas Majethia under Hats Off Productions, the series brings together five families living in the same neighbourhood, where privacy is practically non existent and everyone’s business somehow becomes everyone else’s business.
The cast includes Neena Gupta, Deven Bhojani, Arjun Bijlani, Helly Shah, Amyra Dastur, Anant V Joshi, Sumeet Raghavan, Manasi Parekh, Sumeet Vyas, Sandeepa Dhar, Delnaaz Irani and others. With eight episodes of around 40 minutes each, Chumbak is streaming on Netflix.
The biggest selling point here is clearly the makers. Aatish Kapadia and JD Majethia have previously given us beloved shows like Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Khichdi and Wagle Ki Duniya. So, there is an instant familiarity in the world of Chumbak.
In an OTT landscape filled with intense dramas, dark thrillers and heavy subjects, the series attempts to offer something much simpler. A comedy that you can sit back and enjoy after a tiring day. It does not always hit the mark, but when it does, the show can genuinely make you laugh.
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Chumbak Story
The story is set in Chumbak Colony, Chembur, a neighbourhood where five families live so close to each other that the concept of personal space barely exists. Every argument becomes a colony issue. Every celebration becomes a community event. And even the smallest problem can quickly turn into a full blown investigation.
At the centre of the story are Rajni and Kuku Merchant, played by Neena Gupta and Deven Bhojani. Their marriage has reached a difficult phase, with Rajni contemplating divorce. Despite their constant arguments, there is still affection between them. Their equation becomes one of the more interesting aspects of the series because it brings some emotional weight to an otherwise chaotic setup.
Then we have Mickey and Twinkle Oberoi, played by Arjun Bijlani and Helly Shah. They are the younger couple who would ideally like to enjoy their relationship without the entire colony keeping an eye on them. Unfortunately, that is almost impossible in Chumbak Colony.
Sumeet Vyas and Manasi Parekh play Aditya and Priyanka Khanna. They appear to have a peaceful relationship on the surface, but their household is hardly free from chaos. Sumeet Raghavan and Sandeepa Dhar are Dharmendra and Kiran Kejriwal. Their relationship comes with its own unusual complications, while the Taraporewala family, featuring Delnaaz Irani, Anant V Joshi and Amyra Dastur, adds another layer of madness to the colony.
The beauty of the setup is that these families are completely different, yet they constantly find reasons to interfere in each other’s lives. A pet python’s death can turn into a colony wide mourning session. Mickey’s equation with a Jacuzzi technician becomes a matter of investigation. When Aditya and Priyanka’s son goes missing, everyone immediately gets involved. This is essentially what Chumbak is about. Ordinary people dealing with ordinary problems that become extraordinary because too many people decide to get involved.
Chumbak Series Review
The simplicity of Chumbak works in its favour. The series does not try to become something it isn’t. There are no complicated twists or heavy themes driving the narrative. Instead, it finds humour in conversations, relationships and the everyday madness of living in a close knit neighbourhood.
This is also where the old school television flavour becomes quite noticeable. The humour is character driven, and the characters are given enough quirks to generate situations naturally. One person’s problem quickly becomes everybody’s problem. Someone starts gossiping, another person adds their own version, and before you know it, the entire colony is involved.
Interestingly, the show understands Indian neighbourhood culture quite well. People living close to each other often have almost no boundaries. They will judge you, complain about you and gossip about you. But when something genuinely goes wrong, they are also the first ones to show up. Chumbak finds its funniest moments in this contradiction.
However, the humour is not consistent throughout. There are several jokes that land beautifully, while some feel predictable. A few innuendos also have an unmistakable old television sitcom flavour. At times, the show seems more interested in maintaining a constant flow of punchlines than allowing a situation to breathe. This affects the pacing in certain episodes.
The show also takes some time to find its rhythm. The initial episodes can feel slightly scattered because there are so many characters and storylines competing for attention. Once the personalities settle in, the series becomes considerably easier to enjoy.
The writing works best when it allows the characters to bounce off each other. The conversations and reactions are more entertaining than the situations themselves. That is a compliment to the ensemble because Chumbak is essentially an actor driven comedy.
Technical Aspects
Technically, the series keeps things uncomplicated. The production design creates a believable neighbourhood that feels lived in rather than overly polished. The camera work is functional and rightly keeps the focus on the actors. Editing maintains a decent pace, although a few sequences could have been trimmed. The background score complements the comedic situations without becoming intrusive.
There is also a certain warmth to the series that makes it easy to watch with family. It is not trying to shock you or constantly surprise you. It simply wants to make you spend time with these eccentric neighbours. And for the most part, that approach works.
Chumbak Performances
The ensemble cast is undoubtedly the biggest strength of Chumbak. Neena Gupta is excellent as Rajni. She does not need to overplay the comedy. Her expressions, pauses and understated reactions often make a scene funnier than the dialogue itself. She brings credibility to the emotional side of the character as well.
Deven Bhojani is a perfect match as Kuku. His comic timing is superb, especially when the situation starts getting out of control. His chemistry with Neena Gupta is one of the highlights of the show. Their scenes manage to bring both humour and familiarity to a marriage that is clearly under pressure.
Arjun Bijlani brings a likeable energy to Mickey. He fits comfortably into the lighter romantic portions of the series. Helly Shah gives Twinkle enough personality to make her more than just the other half of a young couple. Their track has some fun moments, particularly when the colony’s constant interference starts becoming unbearable.
Sumeet Vyas and Manasi Parekh share an easy comic chemistry as Aditya and Priyanka. They understand the tone of the show and never try too hard. Sumeet Raghavan is particularly enjoyable as Dharmendra Kejriwal, while Sandeepa Dhar provides a nice contrast as Kiran. She effortlessly portrays the role and looked charming.
Delnaaz Irani, Anant V Joshi and Amyra Dastur add plenty of energy to the Taraporewala family. Their scenes contribute to the overall eccentricity of Chumbak Colony. The supporting cast also gets enough moments to leave an impression.
Final Verdict
Chumbak is a warm and nostalgic family comedy that works best when it embraces its simple idea. Five families living close to each other, constantly interfering in one another’s lives, is more than enough material for a show like this. The writing has the familiar flavour of Aatish Kapadia and JD Majethia, while the ensemble cast gives the series plenty of charm.
The show also ends on a cliffhanger, suggesting that there is more chaos waiting in Chumbak Colony. Whether the next chapter improves on the first remains to be seen. For now, Chumbak is not a groundbreaking OTT comedy, but it is a pleasant change from the usual heavy content.
If you miss the warmth and madness of old school Indian sitcoms, Chumbak deserves a chance. It is a light, family friendly watch with enough laughs and nostalgia to make the eight episode journey worthwhile.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
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