Dupahiya Review: Gajraj Rao and team steer a heartfelt breeze through the storm of formulas

3.5/5

Dupahiya Review: Story In a crimeless village called Dhadakpur, Roshni (Shivani Raghuvanshi) is getting married. Her groom-to-be, Kuber (quite literally), has asked for a bike worth ₹5 lakh (with petrol included for two years). Her father, Banwari (Gajraj Rao), even agrees to buy one and purchases a brand-new bike. The said bike is stolen one night, triggering a comedy of errors. Of course, he can’t file a missing report because the village will lose its ‘crimeless’ status, and the Mukhiya (Renuka Shahane) cannot let this happen. If an FIR is filed, she will lose funding and her golden opportunity to become the Sarpanch. How will Banwari and his family find the bike? Will Roshni get married?

Dupahiya Review:

Every ecosystem needs a bit of everything to create synergy that, in a way, sustains it. This analogy isn’t just to fill word count but to remind decision-makers that streaming is a similar ecosystem that needs variety to thrive. When there is a storm of content where everything looks the same, it becomes an overdose. But what works as an antidote? One distinct show that goes against the obvious and serves something fresh. Amid the pool of thrillers, violent content, and leading men burdened with daddy issues, Amazon Prime Video has delivered a show that stands apart, embracing slice-of-life storytelling and hope without alienating any audience.

Created by Salona Bains Joshi, Shubh Shivdasani, Avinash Dwi vedi, and Chirag Garg, Dupahiya is directed by Sonam Nair. Together, this team sets out to tell a story that follows no formula, which is the most effective and fresh part. The events are triggered by a missing bike—one you’ve barely seen for a few minutes before it is stolen. What is truly stolen is not just a bike but a man’s lifelong dream of marrying his daughter into a good household. The best part about Dupahiya is that it reflects every evolving Indian household—one that is right at the center of leaving behind old conditioning and embracing a modernized life.

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It is not easy to weave a story around one missing object, especially one that is not a prized possession that has been with the person for years. But Dupahiya takes a bold step from the start, daring to shape a village with no crime or criminals. The police aren't feared, and there is no underlying tension—people are simply living better lives, as they should. “Ye Bihar ka Belgium hai,” says one cop while describing the landscape. While mainstream media often portrays Bihar through a lens soaked in blood and crime, this show dares to take a different approach.

In Dupahiya, the messaging is done so seamlessly that it never feels preachy. The engaging storyline keeps you absorbed, and as the end credits roll on the ninth episode, you realize how much you’ve fallen in love with this world. The humor is situational and doesn’t feel scripted, which is a major win for a comedy show. Moreover, casting Renuka Shahane in an interesting role as a mother and aspiring Sarpanch is a great choice. She is a woman seeking agency but is constantly reminded that her power was given to her by men. Yet, she doesn’t let that stop her from empowering her daughter.

Her daughter struggles with insecurity about her dark skin and defines herself by it. Dupahiya examines these insecurities and reminds viewers that such superficial aspects were never meant to define a person. The aspirations of small-town folks to move to Bombay, the excitement that comes with the thought, and so much more are explored. But at no point does the team forget to add a dash of humor along the way. This is where Dupahiya excels—it knows exactly what it is doing. It reminds us that the police should be there to help, not instill fear. That the system was built to serve the masses, not the other way around. These subtle messages come across clearly, making you realize this show is much more than the gags on the surface.

Gajraj Rao is a delight to watch on screen and embodies Banwari effortlessly. Renuka Shahane plays her part brilliantly, and hopefully, she has a bigger role in the second season. Sparsh Srivastava delivers the standout performance of Dupahiya, making you forget he is an actor playing a role—a massive achievement. Bhuvan Arora is impressive as Amvasya. The rest of the cast supports each other to create a show that is both potent and worthy of the space it is about to claim. Sonam Nair is a skilled filmmaker who understands the pulse of storytelling and executes it masterfully.

However, the show could have been slightly shorter. Shivani Raghuvanshi’s Roshni deserved more depth than just being the bride for most of the show. But overall, the brilliance of the show makes up for these minor shortcomings.

Dupahiya Review: Final Verdict

Dupahiya delivers exactly what India’s streaming space is missing right now—a show that dares to be different in a world where content is curated based on data and trends, often sidelining the art of storytelling that truly touches souls.

Dupahiya hits Amazon Prime Video on March 7, 2025. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more updates on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

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