The production house of Little Things, Dice Media, came back with another web series- What the Folks. Season 1 cast includes Veer Rajwant Singh (Nikhil), Eisha Chopra (Anita), Vipin Sharma (Father-in-law). Dhruv Sehgal From Little Things makes an appearance too. The show is directed by Ruchir Arun.
The story revolves around Nikhil, the damaad of a family who, because of some reasons is forced to pitch a tent with his in-laws for a few weeks… without his wife.
During the course of the series, we see the quintessential dinner time arguments that are very relatable. One sees the modern Indian parent struggling to be ‘cool’ and open-minded all the while holding onto stereotypical thoughts. All kids try to ‘bear’ their parents and children in this family are no different- trying to make it through modern life by fighting off the orthodox thinking of their parents and nosy relatives.
The irreparable unbridgeable distance between the thinking of the two generations is brought well by Nikhil and his sister-in-law, Akshata, trying to deal with the illogical family.
What makes What the Folks Season 1 most relatable, however, is the fact that just like in normal family- even after numerous differences parents and kids somehow co-exist so they do in the series.
Nikhil- the ghar jamai has to bear some implicit, many explicit sexist jokes on how he is mooching off his wife’s family and he like Adarsh damaad tries not to disrespect. You know how at times we feel punching relatives in the face ‘accidentally’ we can see him fighting the same instincts.
The show tries to explore the dynamics of a ‘real’ dysfunctional yet somehow functional family, not an ideal one.
What makes What the Folks Web Series different from the saas-bahu daily soaps is that, where on one hand in the usual saas-bahu shows we see a woman adjusting to the life at in-laws in What the Folks season 1, we see the husband doing that.
What The Folks reflect the reality of Indian society where the ladki valas tiptoe around the damaad and think of him as a devta, put him on a pedestal. Season 1 is majorly that- the in-laws giving Nikhil the VIP treatment- not letting him do any work, not taking any financial help from him, which frustrates him as he wants the opposite.
What the Folks Season 1 has very good viewership. The five episodes have 6-13 million views; the audience response to the show has been good.
What the Folks Season 1 is real, relatable and reminds you that each family is dysfunctional in its own way- but what wins, in the end, is the love that both parents and kids have for each other at the core.
