I chanced upon it by coincidence while I was surfing YouTube to watch something. The first episode gripped my attention and then it was only a matter of time before I binge-watched the entire season in one go and am now eagerly waiting for the next.

Thumbs Down

Let me get the negative comments out of the way first. Yes, the series is very blatant in advertising its sponsors. You are reminded again and again about who has put money in the show. However, given that NCR Days is available on YouTube to watch for free, that much product placement is understandable. So, I am quite willing to overlook that.

What works

Now, let me talk about what I actually liked about it. It has been a while since I saw a show or a movie about people from different walks of life and backgrounds becoming unlikely friends. Belonging to the NCR (or National Capital Region of India) myself, I have actually gone through that experience during my college days. People from all over the country come to NCR to study or to work. But like me, the characters in the show also formed lasting friendships among their diverse groups.

We are first introduced to Monu (portrayed by Nikhil Vijay). It was actually the first time that I saw Vijay on screen. But I am happy to say that his acting in NCR Days is as good as his writing in Gullak (which is also one of my current favourite shows).

Next to be mentioned has to be Ambrish Verma. Verma is also the show’s writer and he definitely leaves his mark in your memory as Naveen, the young gun from HR 26 (which stands for Gurgaon).

For me, these are the two main characters, supported by some excellent actors such as Chote Miyan (Arun Kushwaha), who provides the lighter moments of the show. Monu and Naveen are both dealing with their inner demons and conflicts as they try to navigate the world of an MBA college in NCR. However, their issues could not be more different than each other. Despite this, they manage to find common ground and emerge as friends, and this is essentially what the show is about.

Ambrish Verma deserves a special mention here. He is portraying a character with more shades of grey than white. But his presence on the screen is so calming that when I finished watching NCR Days I found myself looking for his other shows.

Verdict

The show aptly captures the conflict between ‘bada sheher, chhota sheher’ and ‘badi soch, chhoti soch’. What dreams do people bring when they come to NCR, the land of opportunities? How do they navigate the darker side of bigger cities like Delhi and Gurgaon?

Overall, this short web series is a must-watch and I would highly recommend it.

The post NCR Days Review: A slice from the NCR life appeared first on Delhi Messenger.

The mini-series is about a lot of things, and yet at no point does it feel forced or rushed. On the one hand, it is about reconnecting with your family and the nostalgia, a person experiences when visiting your hometown. On the other, it is also about the vicious cycle of being caught in the monotonous and ruthless startup-driven corporate culture where the employees are being used like “stepney” (a spare wheel for a vehicle).

In this blog, I will not dive deep into the storyline and reveal any spoilers. Rather I want to talk about what makes this show binge-worthy.

The actors of Ghar Waapsi

First, all the actors played their parts brilliantly, especially protagonist Vishal Vashishtha. His screen presence is great and the toned-down, subtle personality of an elder brother shown in the series comes out perfectly.

Anushka Kaushik and Saad Bilgrami have done full justice to their roles as younger siblings. Anushka, the youngest and the only sister of two brothers, shines through her parts. Her natural acting, her grasp over the craft, and simply her presence lights up the screen every time. She delivers some of the powerfull lines in the show with utmost sincerity.

Bilgrami, not as smart as his younger sister or as dependable as his elder brother, plays the part of the troubled middle child who tries hard not to disappoint his parents. And what can I say about the veterans Atul and Vibha? They are the real OGs of the trade. It’s always a delight to watch them. The parts of middle-class parents with very specific middle-class problems are portrayed beautifully by the two.

Ajitesh Gupta has played Shekhar’s friend Darshan in the series. His character will make you smile with his wit and innocence throughout the show. TVF Pitchers fame Aakanksha Thakur plays the role of Shekhar’s love interest. Thakur has played her part as a young divorced woman with grace and sincerity.

The Direction

Ruchir Arun’s direction is superb. While he does have a few popular shows to his name, I am sure Ghar Waapsi will turn out to be one of his career-defining shows. There are subtle nuances in the show that bring out characteristic features of the city of Indore and of the life, hopes, and ambitions of a middle-class family staying in this city.

Tusshar Mallek has given the background score and his music makes the series altogether a beautiful watch. The series has six episodes. And I can bet that after you binge-watch it, you would want to revisit some of the scenes.

In times of monotonous, illogical, and absurd Bollywood releases, shows like ‘Ghar Waapsi’ are like a breeze on a stuffy monsoon evening.

A Dice Media creation, the show is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

The post New web series Ghar Waapsi: A brilliant, relatable, and nostalgic take on homecoming appeared first on Delhi Messenger.

If your fridge ever breaks, the first and most obvious thing that needs to be done is that you must finish all the food in the fridge. The rest can be taken care of later!

The only thing that will prepare you for any danger that may befall you is achieving a state of UNAGI.

Whenever they think about divorce, the first person that comes to their mind is Ross.

“My name is Claude” translated into French becomes “Je de flop flee”. It could even be “Je de coup Clow”.

All of us have at least one friend who always does this, but at the end of the day, they are also the ones who take care of the rest of us the most.

Joey does NOT share his food; everyone should just accept it now!

Sometimes when you need advice, all you can possibly get is a sarcastic comment. However, the speaker of the comment might still be a great dad!

Fans will always be divided on the issue of Ross and Rachel’s “break”. Both have equal supporters.

We will always thank Phoebe for coming up with the “Lobster theory”.

If this does not make you want to watch the FRIENDS Reunion right away, we do not know what will!

PS: Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

The post FRIENDS Reunion: 9 things biggest fans can totally relate to appeared first on Delhi Messenger.