‘No gaali, no dunaalli‘ – that’s how Dhadakpur is introduced to viewers in Dupahiya. And it aptly describes the web series too. Over the past few years, we have watched various films and series based in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. They have more than their fair share of violence, gratuitous sex, and abusive language, prompting individual viewership rather than communal. However, Dupahiya, directed by Sonam Nair, is a refreshing change, reminiscent of the TV shows that brought families together every Sunday 20-30 years ago. Dupahiya shows us the involuntary slow life and ambitions of the residents of Dhadakpur, a fictional village in Bihar known for being crime-free for the past 25 years.

Starring Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Sparsh Shrivastava, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Bhuvan Arora, Yashpal Sharma and other delightful actors, Dupahiya is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.

Dupahiya review: A well-written, entertaining story

School teacher Banwari Jha is compelled to buy a motorcycle (dupahiya), well out of his means, to get his daughter married. But in an unfortunate turn of events, the bike is stolen, triggering a chain reaction. Pushplata (Renuka Shahane), the head of the village, does not want her crime-free record to be marred, especially as the sarpanch election is near. So, she does not let Banwari report the theft to the police. But without the bike, his daughter Roshni’s dream of marrying a city boy and leaving the village will remain a dream. What ensues is a collective effort by the villagers to hide the theft and recover the bike.

Multiple social issues are woven into the story of Dupahiya. However, the series never feels preachy. Dowry, bias against dark skin, mental health, abuse of power, and crippling poverty are omnipresent yet not overpowering themes in the story. It’s rare to come across a web series that is as well-written, as nuanced and as entertaining as Dupahiya.

The stellar cast of Dupahiya

Who doesn’t know of Gajraj Rao’s immense acting talent? It is needless to say that he is one of the shining stars of Dupahiya. And Renuka Shahane shares this accolade with him. She has perfectly portrayed the layered character of demure yet ambitious Pushplata.

Sparsh Shrivastava showed us what he is made of in Laapata Ladies. Once again, in Dupahiya, he has delivered a performance to remember. Sparsh plays Bhugol, Banwari’s son who wants his sister to move to Mumbai so that he can become a Bollywood star. Bhuvan Arora’s Amavas is the quintessential brooding, heartbroken hero of the series with perfect comic timing. Yashpal Sharma, as cop Mithlesh Kushwah, enters the series much later. His performance, however, leaves a mark so strong that you might feel he’s been an integral part of Dupahiya since the first episode.

Dupahiya is one of those web series that doesn’t try too hard to be memorable. All it wants to do is entertain you. What it ends up doing though is much more than entertain.

Can you watch Dupahiya with family? Absolutely. This is one of the cleanest, funniest comedy series on OTT right now.

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