Single Papa review: Kunal Khemu sitcom is a throwback to Mehmood’s classic Kunwar Baap
The six-episode series focuses on a Haryanvi man who is a single parent. The sitcom is reminiscent of Mehmood’s 1974 hit, Kunwara Baap, and also tries to tackle several important subjects in a lighter tone.
At a time when there is a lot of discussion on social media about how most men avoid the responsibility of parenting, single dad Completely changes the game. The six-episode series focuses on a Haryanvi man with a child (quite a bold choice here). And while it starts off on a note reminiscent of Mehmood’s 1974 hit, single father (Lonely Man, Abandoned Child), the drama produced by Ishita Moitra and Neeraj Udhwani also attempts to tackle a bunch of important topics, albeit in a lighter, sitcom-y tone.
This is where the show’s message really hits home. single dad It fosters quiet conversations about equal parenting, gender discrimination within child care (because why only a mom knows how to soothe a crying baby?), and how workplaces are ridiculously unequipped to handle new parents. Whether it’s crèches or co-workers, a lack of policies, or the general assumption that everyone can afford a nanny, the problems are many. Through the single father’s on-screen sister Namrata (Prajakta Koli), we also get a parallel story about a young woman who is pressured to get married at an ‘appropriate’ age, who juggles regressive in-laws, saving her own sanity and dignity, and dealing with a crazy family and their crazy difficulties.
The show also deals with postpartum — yes, the stage we easily limit to biological mothers. Here, also through adoption, it portrays the shock of having a newborn suddenly enter one’s life: the sleepless nights, the hormonal-ish meltdowns, the emotional shocks, and the not-so-subtle truth that asking for help doesn’t make you a bad parent. Honestly, if this message reaches even a small section of the audience, then the show has done its job.
But what is lacking for whom? single dad This is how many conflicts feel forced. In a show that is based on gentleness, these dramatic shocks come to the fore: whether Gaurav (Kemmu) lying about Mrs. Nehra’s grandmother, or Namrata bumping into Namrata at the restaurant, almost lying to her, or even Gaurav’s ex-wife failing to give a peer presentation because she doesn’t arrive on time. Like girl, why didn’t you build the deck yourself? These unnecessarily constructed moments make you wonder if the writers drank bad coffee the day they brainstormed these scenes.
The script also could have been tighter. In fact, sometimes, single dad It often feels like someone crammed a perfectly lovely story into a six-episode series just because they could. and music? Well, two minutes after the credits you won’t remember a single track. And what really touched our hearts was the way Neha Dhupia’s character was written. Mrs. Nehra, who is handling the adoption, should ideally be sympathetic, but here she is villain-coded to the point of caricature. And if her disdain for men is the root of her behavior, at least tell her a story. Why make a low-key show and then leave out the most important emotional beats?
Speaking of performances, Kunal Khemu continues to defy time – this guy looks like he’s still doing it gediWhile bunking in college. However, he perfectly portrays the emotional arc of a man-child growing to become a loving father. His scenes with the kid will melt even the stone-cold heart. However, the surprise package is Dayanand Shetty, who comes in and breaks every stereotype (like he breaks doors). CID), to deliver a vulnerable, sweet Parbat Singh. Manoj Pahwa and Ayesha Raza are reliably great, although the Godman track sounds like someone added it during a lunch break just to fill the runtime. Prajakta Koli brings sincerity and carries her emotional scenes beautifully, but the child is the real star of the film. He is expressive, natural and a complete pro, making you wonder if the term ‘born actor’ is really true.
However, the bigger attraction lies in how the show depicts Haryanvis in Delhi – their grand homes called Buckingham Palace, their glitz and their lovely swag. The writing here is at its sharpest, especially in the portrayal of Haryanvi men, who are often perceived as aggressive, macho, angry young types. This show completely subverts that stereotype by telling a tender, vulnerable story of adoption and parenthood. It celebrates their ‘maternal masculinity’, a side we rarely acknowledge about men, but which desperately needs to be normalised. However, it also does not shy away from introducing gender biases in child-rearing, and how a pampered son often turns into a man-child, an issue that women often face in relationships today.
single dad Far from perfection. It’s messy, sprawling, sometimes clumsy. But its heart is in the right place. And in a world where we’re still arguing over who should change diapers, a show that highlights men parenting, crying, being soft — and still going strong — seems worth a conversation.
