Single Papa series review: Kunal Kemmu anchors a heartfelt family affair

Kunal Kemmu’s lively comedy-drama, Single Papa, gets right into action from get-go. The actor plays Gaurav Gehlot, a brash, Haryanvi man-child, who wants to become a father much to the dislike of his wife, Aparna (Isha Talwar), an independent working woman. She complains about his immature outlook to life, his never-ending boyish behaviour as they decide to part ways. Gaurav’s persistence to father a baby, stays, though there’s little explanation about his desperation, and before exploring his motivations as a character, a bubbly, red-cheeked toddler is already wriggling in the backseat of his car. Call it Gaurav’s carelessness or convenient writing — he had merely left the car window open.

Gaurav affectionately calls the baby Amul, caring for him as though he were his own child. Trouble begins when Romila Nehru (Neha Dhupia) from the Central Authority of Child Adoption deems him unfit to adopt. Undeterred and resolute, Gaurav decides to fight back. At home, he faces disapproval from his disgruntled, alcoholic father Jatin Gehlot (Manoj Pahwa in his usual element); his overly emotional mother, played by Ayesha Raza; and even his sister Namrata (Prajakta Koli), who worries that the adoption might upset her soon-to-be conservative in-laws. However, Gaurav is willing to go to any lengths to prove his love for Amul.

Created by Neeraj Udhwani and Ishita Moitra and directed by Shashank Khaitan, Hitesh Kewalya and Neeraj, the show’s central idea rests upon exploring if men can raise a child alone. The writing stumbles initially to strike a chord but finds its footing along the way. Ishita and Neeraj infuse timely doses of humour in the writing. It is also interesting how a comical scene turns slightly heartfelt within seconds. Like the time when Gaurav’s argument with his parents about Amul reaches a crescendo, prompting his father to take out a gun as his mother threatens to end her life with a knife. The loud antics of the moment switch to being a bit serious when later Gaurav confronts the two, now with a change in tone.

Gaurav’s relationship with Amul develops the emotional core of the series. Even as he is called entitled and chauvinistic by some of the female characters, Gaurav remains tender in his interactions with Amul. Kunal embodies these moments with earnesty. There is a genuine innocence in his appeal which comes out in these scenes. His comic chops are noteworthy as usual, pitched lower than what he has done before in Go Goa Gone (2013) or the Golmaal films. His playful advances are contrasted with an antagonistic demeanour by Neha, the no-nonsense adoption officer. The only jarring element is Prajakta, whose high-pitched performance feels out of place and doesn’t find a clear resonance among others.

There is a fun, feel-good and festive vibe to the show, even though the sets and production design carry a sense of plasticity. It is a Netflix series after all and the grandness is up for show. So, barring the disjoint created by the overly-sanitised aesthetics, Single Papa gets the emotions right. It offers an alternate display of masculinity which is particularly pleasing to watch. It is also a treat to witness a giant Dayanand Shetty in the role of a male nanny or a “manny”, as the show calls him. “Why can’t manliness be maternal”, he argues in a scene. The show blossoms in these smaller moments, sprawling a thought, shedding a tear and bringing a smile, all at once.

Single Papa is currently streaming on Netflix