Vitthal Teedi Review: Post Scam 1992 Pratik Gandhi Returns Full Force In His Native Tongue
After roaring success with Scam 1992, Pratik Gandhi is back with the impressive Gujarati series Vitthal Teedi
Family first for Vitthal.And last. The early scenes of the siblings’ childhood, lay down the family’s ground rules sensibly. The series begins with the mother’s death and the way the tragedy impacts young Vitthal played by the child Vishal Thakkar who gazes into the distance as though he knows what, and who is coming.
I wish the scenes showing Vitthal at the card table were reduced. After a point, they look like spacefillers meant to keep the episodes stretched out to a playing-time of 30 minutes per episode. The crux core and heart of the series is contained in Episode 4 where after winning a bonanza for his dear sister’s marriage, Vittthal must take a very tough moral decision.
It’s to the actor Pratik Gandhi’s credit that he is so closely attuned to his character’s heartbeat. Full marks to all the actors, even those playing minor roles of Vitthal’s card buddies, for keeping the faith alive till the final episode.
Some episodes work better than the others. While the rural Gujarat locations are drop-dead authentic and the camera-work (Tapan Vyas) significantly articulate, the background music does most of the ‘heavy lifting. It sounds heavily lifted from extraneous sources.
Watch this engaging though uneven series for Pratik Gandhi’s performance as well the other actors who surrender to the plot without a jot of misgiving. It is a humane and heartwarming story with enough fuel to keep the momentum going.
Directed by Abhishek Jain, Vitthal Teedi gets 3 stars!
Watch this engaging though uneven series for Pratik Gandhi’s performance as well the other actors who surrender to the plot without a jot of misgiving. It is a humane and heartwarming story with enough fuel to keep the momentum going.
Directed by Abhishek Jain, Vitthal Teedi gets 3 stars!
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