Rajkumar Hirani has officially stepped into the streaming world with his new series, Pritam and Pedro. The series, streaming on JioHotstar, stars Arshad Warsi, marking their third collaboration together. But this isn’t just Rajkumar Hirani’s debut in the OTT world; with the thriller-comedy series, he has introduced his son, Vir Hirani, to the acting world. All of this created a lot of buzz around the series, but does the Hirani-Warsi duo deliver like always? Read our Pritam and Pedro review to know.

Pritam and Pedro review: When a cop meets a coder

Pedro (Arshad Warsi) is an old-school cop. He believes in legwork, instinct, and knocking on the right doors. Being on the field and chasing criminals gives him the thrills. However, after landing in trouble over an unrelated case, he’s transferred to the cybercrime department as a punishment, and he’s hopelessly out of his element there. He even struggles to log in to his computer every day.

Then there is Pritam (Vir Hirani), a tech-savvy young lad who just wants to file a complaint for his grandfather’s lost recorder. He is so stubborn about it that he ends up in custody for the night. Somehow, this odd meeting turns into a partnership, with Pedro agreeing to help find the recorder if Pritam helps him navigate a case that’s rapidly spiralling out of control. That case turns out to be the disappearance of a politician’s son, and things get more complicated once a hacker called Martin (Vikrant Massey) enters the picture as the story’s chief troublemaker. Beneath the case itself, there’s an attempt to say something about how unsafe the internet can be for young people.

A comedy that actually feels funny

If you want a break from very grim and dark thrillers or comedy movies and shows that are just unfunny, Pritam and Pedro will feel like a refreshing watch. While the series has its flaws, it manages to deliver several things we had hoped for. The plot of the series is simple yet enjoyable. The makers of Pritam and Pedro have managed to keep the series light and fun while also introducing us to the more relevant-than-ever theme of cybercrime. The humour never feels forced or irrelevant. Though the series has a few surprise twists, none of it feels overwhelming or unrealistic.

Arshad Warsi is, without question, the biggest reason to tune in. He makes Pedro funny without ever making him silly. It’s a performance that never looks like it’s trying too hard for effect, which is exactly what makes it work. Vir Hirani holds his own impressively for a newcomer. Nothing about his acting feels like he is a debutant, and his scenes opposite Warsi have an easy, believable warmth. Their dynamic is what keeps the show afloat whenever the plot itself falters. Vikrant Massey, sadly, doesn’t get nearly enough to do. He shows up fairly late as the antagonist and exits before he’s had the chance to feel like a true villain.

The pacing of the show betrays it

This is where things come undone a bit. The show can’t settle on an identity. Is it a comedy, a family drama, or a crime thriller? It tries to be all three at once, and the constant switching between tones means some of it doesn’t land. Moments that are clearly meant to be emotional gut-punches, especially anything tied to Pedro’s past sorrow, end up feeling rushed rather than moving. The series also tries to overexplain everything to its audience, instead of trusting their intellect.  The show’s idea of a serious online threat is also stuck in the past. What is portrayed as cyberbullying in the series is more about luck and relying on social media for hints. This dilutes the gravity of the topic for today’s internet generation. 

Overall, for a low-effort weekend watch, Pritam and Pedro does the job. It’s light, it’s pleasant enough, and the lead pairing alone makes it worth a look. Just keep your expectations modest, as this sits well below Hirani’s usual standard.

Can you watch Pritam and Pedro with family? Yes, it can make for a fun and light watch for the fam!

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