ZEE5 Global’s ‘Bakaiti’ enters the ever-growing league of nostalgic middle-class dramedies—think Gullak, Panchayat, or Yeh Meri Family—by delivering a warm, relatable portrayal of family life, chaos and all. Set in the dusty lanes of old Ghaziabad, Bakaiti revolves around the Kataria family, where love, frustration, laughter, and bickering sit around the same dining table.
At the heart of the story is Naina (Tanya Sharma), a headstrong college aspirant, forced to share her room with her annoying younger brother Bharat (Aditya Shukla). Their constant squabbles provide comic relief, while their hidden care for one another adds emotional weight. Their father Ajay (Rajesh Tailang), a lawyer struggling to make ends meet, and their mother Sushma (Sheeba Chadha), a homemaker with an abandoned dream of opening a boutique, anchor the family with quiet resilience.
Bakaiti—a colloquialism for aimless, exaggerated chatter—truly lives up to its name. From buying an expensive, useless chair to awkward moments during family prayer meets, the series thrives on everyday absurdity. Yet, the seemingly meaningless “bakaiti” is what keeps the family emotionally afloat.
Rajesh Tailang and Sheeba Chadha shine in their third on-screen pairing, bringing subtlety and soul to their roles. Tanya Sharma and Aditya Shukla are equally compelling, striking the right balance between irritation and affection.
However, the show suffers from repetitive plot loops and occasional tonal inconsistencies. The subplot involving a mysterious tenant (Keshav Sadhna) feels undercooked and distracts from the core family narrative.
Despite its flaws, Bakaiti delivers a breezy, feel-good weekend watch with seven short episodes. It may not break new ground, but it embraces the charm of everyday dysfunction, reminding us that family bonds—though noisy and complicated—are built on shared chaos.
Verdict: Seen it before, yes. Still worth a watch? Absolutely.
