By Rupang Bhatt

Life Hill Gayi on Disney+ Hotstar

“Life Hill Gayi” on Disney+ Hotstar is a delightful series that’s both fun and engaging. It’s a light-hearted, comic sitcom with a well-crafted script.

If you enjoyed the first two seasons of “Panchayat,” you’ll likely appreciate “Life Hill Gayi.” Set in a picturesque hill village in Uttarakhand, the series follows an urban family—consisting of young siblings and their father—as they undertake the challenge of rebuilding and operating a hotel.

Each episode introduces a new obstacle, keeping the storyline fresh and entertaining. The performances by Divyendu as Dev, Kusha Kapila as Kalki, and Mukti Mohan as Hima are commendable. However, Vinay Pathak’s role feels underutilized. His character doesn’t contribute meaningfully to the plot, and his sporadic, alcohol-promoting scenes disrupt the narrative flow. Despite this, writers Jasmeet Singh Bhatia and Prem Mistry have crafted engaging dialogues and sharp lines that enhance the viewing experience.

Amid the overwhelming variety of content available on OTT platforms, “Life Hill Gayi” stands out as a source of genuine entertainment. The anticipation for the second season is already building.

Shekhar Home on Jio Cinema

“Shekhar Home” (inspired by Sherlock Holmes) is another notable release this month. This detective series is reminiscent of the classic Doordarshan series “Byomkesh Bakshi,” with its setting in early 1990s Bengal. Like “Byomkesh Bakshi,” “Shekhar Home” features two central characters—a detective and his assistant.

Kay Kay Menon stars as the titular Shekhar Home, with Ranvir Shorey playing his partner, Jayvrat Sahni. One of the appealing aspects of this series is its setting in a pre-technology era, which relies on traditional detective skills rather than modern tech like CCTV cameras and mobile phones. This backdrop allows for a more classic approach to solving cases, driven by human intuition and deductive reasoning.

While “Shekhar Home” is enjoyable and offers a fresh case in each episode, there are moments when Kay Kay Menon’s character appears excessively clever. Additionally, Ranvir Shorey’s character might feel somewhat sidelined. After his recent appearance on “Bigg Boss OTT,” Shorey has gained a substantial fan following, who might have hoped for a more prominent role for him alongside Shekhar Home.

Overall, both “Life Hill Gayi” and “Shekhar Home” offer a solid dose of entertainment for August. Fans will undoubtedly look forward to the second seasons of both series.