Fourth coin dropped in the 'Gullak'
Article authored by Saahil Gupta
Envision this, you're at a gathering and you see an old relative you're about to meet after years approaching you.
If "Arey, kitne bade ho gaye tum" was the first sentence that made it to your mind too, Gullak is the pick for you.
With an amazing three seasons before the latest fourth, Gullak has set a promising premise and has established an audience. You too will instantly exclaim how the characters have changed over the seasons, especially Aman.
Walking into the first episode, you feel a sense of belonging, just like walking into a middle-class home where the magic happens here too. The actors have done a beautiful job staying in character and Vidit Tripathi who penned the script along with Shreyansh Pandey who directed it have done even better developing them. Nothing too dramatic, flows gently yet when seen as compared to episode one, the progress is evident. This season offers a nuanced portrayal of Aman as compared to his initial child-like character, in this season he comes of age and faces all "the" teenage problems. From girl drama to ego issues, we see it all.
The rest of them have done well too, the plot is nothing too fancy, sometimes monotonous and fails to be gripping but that element of nostalgia filled in abundance in the series keeps us watching.
The actors Geetanjali Kulkarni, Jameel Khan, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, and Harsh Mayar
truly breathe life into the series and make you seem like a part of their on-screen family too. Gullak is one of those series for sure which leaves that void, that unsettling empty feeling once the last episode ends but also leaves you craving for more.
This season, consisting of five episodes
Makes you lose interest at times but also brings an emotional element in and hooks you right back, especially with its last episode which leaves you craving for more even without cliffhangers, because life is unpredictable, a cliffhanger personified and that's exactly the essence of the series is.
Even though the scenes get melodramatic and monotonous at times, The character of Bittu Ki mummy played by Sunita Rajwar is the exact burst of energy we need between them. She is one character written beautifully. Being quirky and seemingly annoying, she is also the one who proves to be a real tear-jerker. This complexity in her character is seen in the last of the five episodes followed by the perfect ending on an all-time high.
The series seems to be set in the 80s but also uses modern references bringing you back to current times. This makes the series relevant yet gives us a calm laid back feeling. Between all this, there are also times you'd feel like increasing the playback speed but there's no option to do that. Almost like a sign to watch it at ease, experiencing how slow it is, making us feel the mundane life and the beauty in slowness.
The writers have also done an excellent job studying the minds of their audience. It's almost like the scenes are written where we expect something to happen, the story gets established but they also don't drag the plot showing us what we expect while also giving away the essence of what we expect. This take on some scenes is refreshing.
If you were born in a middle-class family, you're sure to relate to the scenes and while the stories may not always be relatable to all, the emotions in them are very real and make us feel connected. The use of metaphors is brilliant. If you're someone who is looking for interpreting (even if it means more than necessary) or missing home while being away from it, the series feels like a hug and a message from the universe to call the ones you call yours.As the name goes "Gullak" is a metaphor for life where we fill coins of memories and emotions adding meaning to it. The series ends with a broken gullak lying on the floor with coins scattered making us wonder what are we in the end if not stories.
This series is filled with life experiences we see our parents talk about, making it a perfect watch with them. If you're someone who fears watching Baghbaan and feeling the first-hand guilt it brings with it, this tear-jerker is the pick for you, having something for everyone in the family.