There was a time when everybody in the neighbourhood knew what was happening in your life. One person’s marriage or child was everyone’s topic of discussion. Chumbak takes that very Indian idea of neighbourhood life and turns it into a comedy about what happens when your neighbours become an unofficial part of your family. Created by Aatish Kapadia and JD Majethia, the makers of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Khichdi, does this old-school family comedy work in the age of OTT? Read our Chumbak series review to find out.

Chumbak series review: What’s the plot?

Set in Chumbak Colony, the series follows five families whose lives are constantly crossing over. At the centre are Rajni and Kuku Merchant, played by Neena Gupta and Deven Bhojani respectively. Their grey divorce becomes everybody’s topic of discussion. Similarly, Mickey (Arjun Bijlani) and Twinkle’s (Helly Shah) marriage also gets everybody involved. But there is no single big mystery or dramatic plot driving the show. Instead, Chumbak builds its story around the everyday problems of these families. A disagreement can become a colony-wide discussion, a personal problem can attract unsolicited advice, and a simple conversation can turn into complete chaos. In many ways, the neighbourhood itself feels like the main character. The people living there can be annoying, nosy and intrusive, but they can also be the first ones to show up when something goes wrong. That mix of affection and interference is what gives the show its charm.

The comedy feels familiar, and that’s not a bad thing

The biggest question around Chumbak was always going to be whether it could live up to the legacy of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. After all, Aatish Kapadia and JD Majethia are responsible for one of Indian television’s most loved comedies. Chumbak does not try to copy the OG, which is a good decision. Its humour is much more rooted in everyday Indian life. The neighbour who gives advice nobody asked for, the family argument that suddenly has an audience, and the relative who somehow knows everything about your personal life all feel instantly recognisable. The show is funniest when it does not try too hard to be funny. A lot of the humour comes from watching ordinary people behave exactly like ordinary people do. The situations may be exaggerated, but the emotions behind them feel real.

The strong ensemble cast helps too. Neena Gupta, Deven Bhojani, Manasi Parekh, Sumeet Vyas, Sumeet Raghavan, and the rest of the cast bring enough personality to make these families feel different from one another.

But how far can nostalgia take you?

The idea of neighbours becoming family is comforting, especially when city life can often feel lonely and disconnected. But the show sometimes romanticises this old-school neighbourhood culture a little too much. The show often finds humour in people interfering in each other’s lives, but it does not always dig deeper into what that closeness can mean. The same closeness that can make a neighbourhood feel warm and connected can also become a source of stress, unwanted opinions and problems in people’s lives, something the series does not really acknowledge.

Some situations feel like they have been created simply to get a laugh or an emotional reaction, rather than growing naturally from the characters. This is more noticeable because most of the show feels quite real and relatable. The makers’ focus on making every scene funny also makes some characters feel more like caricatures than real people at times.

Overall, the show works because of its characters. You probably will not finish Chumbak desperate to know what happens next. But you will play the next episode for the warmth and comfort it offers.

Chumbak is now streaming on Netflix.

Can you watch Chumbak with family? If you’re planning a cosy family binge, Chumbak can make for a great watch.

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