Bakaiti, a new family drama, follows the financial and emotional struggles of the Ghaziabad-based Kataria family, but ultimately delivers a patchy experience that often falls flat.
Meet the Katarias
The Kataria family in Ghaziabad faces a common struggle: making ends meet on a single income. Ajay, played by Rajesh Tailang, is a lawyer whose patience and earnings are stretched thin by his perpetually squabbling teenage children, Naina and Bharat.
His wife, Sushma (Sheeba Chadha), manages the household. She dreams of opening a boutique, a long-neglected passion, hoping it could bring in some much-needed extra cash.
Struggles and Schemes
The family explores various schemes to boost their finances, with the kids even pitching in with some “madcap” ideas. However, nothing quite seems to work out.
Their financial woes lead to adjustments, including the siblings having to share a room. The newly freed-up room is rented out to a good-looking tenant, Keshav Sadhna, who soon catches Naina’s eye. His own troubles are revealed later, though perhaps not in the most convincing way.
A Repetitive Narrative
One of the few positive aspects of Bakaiti is its mercifully short seven-episode run. In fact, the entire series could have been condensed even further.
The narrative often falls into repetitive loops, especially with the constant bickering between the brother and sister. This can make many of their heated exchanges sound unoriginal and tiresome.
Glimmers of Reality
Despite its overall patchiness, Bakaiti occasionally touches upon genuinely relatable themes. It highlights the challenges a family of four, or even five if you count Sushma’s always-on-the-phone father, faces in managing on a single income in today’s economy.
The series also subtly explores the importance of higher education, particularly for Naina, as a potential path out of their financial rut. Another recurring, poignant element is the difficulty of parting with ancestral property, a point Ajay’s younger brother frequently brings up.
Performance Highlights
While the series has its flaws, the performances are a redeeming factor. The actors playing the teenagers, Tanya Sharma and Aditya Shukla, truly come into their own towards the later episodes.
Rajesh Tailang and Sheeba Chadha, who previously shared comfortable chemistry in Bandish Bandits, continue to hold the fort as the parents, providing a steady anchor to the family drama.
- Bakaiti is a patchy family drama about financial struggles.
- The narrative suffers from repetitive sibling arguments.
- Strong performances by the lead actors are a highlight.
- Its short episode length is a saving grace.
Bakaiti attempts to portray the everyday struggles of a middle-class family. While it occasionally hits the mark with relatable themes and solid performances, it ultimately struggles to rise above its repetitive structure and patchy execution.
