Dupahiya Web Series Review: A Charming Tale Capturing Village Life & Emotions

By Shantiswarup Tripathi

• Rating: ★★★★☆
• Producers: Chirag Garg, Avinash Dwivedi, Salona Bains Joshi, Shubh Shivdasani
• Writers: Chirag Garg & Avinash Dwivedi
• Director: Sonam Nair
• Cast: Gajraj Rao, Shivani Raghuwanshi, Sparsh Shrivastav, Renuka Shahane, Komal Kushwaha, Bhuvan Arora, Yashpal Sharma, Pranjal Pateriya,  Vinod Jeevant, Smriti Mishra, Anjuman Saxena, Sanjay Sonu, Avinash Dwivedi, Guddan Kumar, Mahendra Verma, and others
• Duration: 9 Episodes, 35-40 minutes each
• OTT: Prime Video

In a time when OTT platforms are flooded with violent and sexually explicit content, there are still some heartwarming, life-affirming series like Gullak and Panchayat that are worth watching. Now, director Sonam Nair brings us a light-hearted yet captivating series titled  Dupahiya, which paints a beautiful picture of rural life. This series, streaming on Prime Video from March 7th, offers a completely family-friendly experience, with no violence or explicit content.

The character of Pushpalata, the ward leader of Dhadakpur village, played by Renuka Shahane, beautifully captures the essence of rural life. When asked about the best part of village life, she answers, "In cities, your sorrow is your own, your happiness is your own. In the village, your sorrow is everyone’s sorrow, and your happiness is everyone’s happiness." This reflection aptly describes rural India, and the writers, Chirag Garg and Avinash Dwivedi, have skillfully highlighted this in their storytelling.

Dupahiya Story: A Motorcycle's Journey Through Rural Life!

At the heart of Dupahiya is the story of a motorcycle, which is bought as a dowry but stolen on the very night it arrives. The series spans over nine episodes and explores various aspects of rural life, the dynamics of village communities, and the mindset of rural people.

Dhadakpur, a village in a remote part of Bihar, has prided itself on being free from crime for the past 25 years. The village’s leader, Pushpalata Yadav (Renuka Shahane), is preparing for the upcoming panchayat election, where she is set to be nominated as the next candidate. Meanwhile, Banwari Jha (Gajraj Rao) is arranging for his daughter Roshni (Shivani Raghuwanshi) to marry Kuber Tripathi (Avinash Dwivedi), and a motorcycle is the promised dowry. Banwari manages to gather five lakh rupees and buys a motorcycle, but on the night it arrives, it gets stolen.

Banwari’s family keeps the theft a secret and begins searching for the thief, suspecting Amavas (Bhuvan Arora), who was Roshni’s lover seven years ago but has a habit of stealing. As Banwari’s suspicion grows, he forces Amavas to leave the village under the panchayat’s orders, thus ending his relationship with Roshni. However, Roshni believes that Amavas wouldn’t lie to her. On the other hand, the story also follows Nirmal Yadav (Komal Kushwaha), Pushpalata’s daughter and Roshni’s best friend. Meanwhile, politics also plays a role in this narrative.

The series unfolds over eight days, with each episode revealing various incidents in the village, leading up to the resolution of the mystery. Will the thief be caught? Will Roshni’s wedding go ahead? These questions form the crux of the series.

Dupahiya Review: A Raw, Nuanced Tale of Rural Life & Social Struggles!

For the generation that has grown up in urban environments, this series offers a refreshing glimpse into rural life, something they may not have experienced first-hand. Writers Chirag Garg and Avinash Dwivedi have brilliantly captured the nuances of village life, from the communal bond to the joys and sorrows shared by everyone. The series also explores serious issues, such as the allure of city life, the allure of modernity, the practice of dowry, and the societal pressures related to skin color.

For instance, the practice of launda naach (a folk dance form popular in Bihar) is incorporated into the series, a nod to an important cultural element of rural Bihar. The writers skillfully raise several significant issues without making it feel preachy or heavy-handed. A dialogue, in which a skin specialist tells a dark-skinned character, Nirmal, “In this world, every day, I become something else. It’s hard to keep myself, myself,” encapsulates the struggles faced by many. These serious topics are handled with grace, avoiding any overt moralizing.

The series does have its weaknesses, especially in its length. With nine episodes averaging 35-40 minutes each, the series sometimes feels slow, and the introduction of numerous characters in the initial episodes can be overwhelming. While the show never feels boring or dry, trimming the length and focusing on the core elements could have made it even better. Another issue is the lack of promotion. Despite having such a strong and engaging storyline, the series struggles to gain visibility because of limited promotional efforts. Even the co-writer and actor Avinash Dwivedi, who plays Kuber, hasn’t had time to engage with the media, which adds to the difficulty in reaching a wider audience.

Dupahiya Acting: Stellar Performances Bring Rural Drama to Life!

The performances in Dupahiyaare nothing short of stellar. Shivani Raghuwanshi, portraying Roshni, delivers a remarkable performance as a girl caught between the lure of city life and her complex feelings about her family and her relationships. Komal Kushwaha, who plays Nirmal, Roshni’s best friend and a key suspect, leaves a lasting impression. She skillfully portrays the emotional complexity of her character, torn between her goodness and the pressures she faces due to her skin color.

Bhuvan Arora as Amavas, who suffers from kleptomania, does an excellent job of conveying the inner turmoil of his character. Gajraj Rao shines as Banwari Jha, the father willing to sacrifice everything for his daughter’s marriage. His portrayal of a father navigating his daughter’s troubled marriage prospects is deeply moving. Sparsh Srivastav, playing Roshni’s brother, Bhugol, impresses with his portrayal of a boy with dreams of becoming a film hero. His comic timing adds a light-hearted touch to the series.

Other supporting characters, such as Yashpal Sharma as the police inspector and Avinash Dwivedi as Kuber, also deliver strong performances. Renuka Shahane as Pushpalata, the village leader, is flawless in her portrayal of a strong, pragmatic character. Every actor, from the main cast to the supporting characters, contributes to making Dupahiyaa a memorable and engaging watch.

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