Never Ending Movie Carnival
Never Ending Movie Carnival
Perfect Family Review: Remarkably Heart Breaking and Heart Warming With Polished Performances
Perfect Family: Pankaj Tripathi's debut as a producer is a family drama that gives the traditional Indian family dramas ruled by the Barjatya’s a twist and a reality check in Palak Bhambri created eight episodes series. Directed by Sachin Pathak and written by Palak Bhambri and Adhiraj Sharma, ‘Perfect Family’ is a family where the characters played by the talented ensemble cast Neha Dhupia, Manoj Pahwa, Seema Pahwa, Girija Oak Godbole, Gulshan Devaiah, and Kaveri Seth are driven by their personal ambition but still have a beating heart for their family.
The greatest of all Sir Charles Chaplin once said, "Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in a long shot.". In a way or the other lives of the members of The Karkarias in ‘Perfect Family’ seems the same. They look sorted from outside but are constantly fighting with their inner desires and disturbing memories from their past.
Somnath Karkaria (Manoj Pahwa) – the patriarch of the Karkaria household, Kamla Karkaria (Seema Pahwa) is the matriarch. Vishnu Karkaria (Gulshan Devaiah) is their son, Kaveri Seth plays the daughter. Neeti (Girija Oak Godbole) is the bahu.
An incident involving the granddaughter played by Hirva Trivedi brings the family to family therapist Mehga Verma (Neha Dhupia) and unspoken truths, hidden desires starts coming out from the family members.
It’s a tricky business to tell a story about a dysfunctional family, it’s like walking on a two-edged sword. The challenge of conveying the importance of strong family bonding to the audiences and at the same time making them realise and relate to the inner turmoil of the prime characters is a tough and tricky job. The writers Palak Bhambri (also the creator) and Adhiraj Sharma along with the director Sachin Pathak ensure that they don’t exploit their characters for over the top comedy or filmy life lessons, instead they simply embrace the family members and let them be themselves.
You might have encountered someone similar from The Karkarias at your home, family, friend circle or neighbourhood and it will be rare surprising fortune if you have not met any one of them.
The way The Karkaria’s pretend to be the ideal ‘Hum Saath Saath Hai’ type family in front of the family therapist Megha Verma only to release their inner turmoil and demons displays fine understanding of the makers of human psychology that underlines the fact that everything cannot be perfect in a family. Understanding each other is more important and it’s the key for happiness in any relationship.
The opening scene of the first episode nicely establishes the characters and the audience come to know about this quirky, loving but problematic clan.
The eight-episode series travels a roller coaster ride of emotions from love, betrayal, anger, despair, faith, fate and more, the makers nurture the melancholy, hope, realisation and self-discovery in an entertaining and probing manner.
Performances
The talented assembled cast adds power to the proceedings. Manoj Pahwa as the patriarch who has his rules and ways is spot on.
Gulshan Devaiah as the son looking for space and recognition is fabulous.
Girja Oak as the wife who is fighting the pain and suffering from past and present is fantastic.
Seema Pahwa as the matriarch who has silently surrendered to the dominance of her husband played by Manoj Pahwa gives a mature performance
Kaveri Seth as the daughter who dreams of bringing her family business to new heights is very natural.
Neha Dhupia as the family therapist is delightfully poised
And finally, Hirva Trivedi who plays the granddaughter is a bundle of talent.
Flaws
At times the loop of suffering goes on and on and a couple of unwanted characters and chapters like the neighbour hold the momentum.
Perfect Family review – final words
The best thing about the OTT revolution is that it has opened up new avenues for makers to tell stories which may not be suited for those typical entertainment hungry souls who want naach gaana and maar dhaad or mindless comedies. The OTT revolution has also encouraged fine actors like Pankaj Tripathi to back content that demand sense and sensibility. Pankaj could have easily played one of the prime characters in his own production but he chooses to back from behind.
‘Perfect Family’ is heart - breaking and heart-warming, a unique slice of life anchored by fine performances.
Going with three and a half stars out of 5 (3.5/5)
Perfect Family is streaming on Sony LIV from 26th June 2026.
A child born from life & fed by cinema. A filmi keeda from child & a film journalist for the last fifteen years. a father, seeker, foodie who loves crooning bollywood melodies twitter.com/cineblues More By vishal verma