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“Jaanta hai mera baap kaun hai (You know who is my father)?” the statement comes loaded with privilege, boast of connections and more than a mild interest in having a confrontation. However, for Sahil, the lead star of Pop Kaun, it is an expression of his exasperation as he tries to actually figure out who he is father is. The six-episode series on Disney Plus Hotstar has Kunal Kemmu playing the protagonist, who has found out that he was adopted. While the situation is supposed to establish a comedy series, what’s tragic is the reason behind finding his real father — the father of the woman he loves (played by Nupur Sanon) won’t give his nod to a boy who is not aware of his real surname. How progressive!
Now, we have seen films delve on similar subjects. Be it Kabhi Kabhi where Neetu Singh goes back to reunite with her biological mother to more recent father-son confrontation in Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara or even a full-fledged film Dil Aashna Hai starring Divya Bharti and Shah Rukh Khan. However, unlike them, Pop Kaun uses humour to tackle the situation. With actors like Rajpal Yadav, Chunkey Pandey, and the late Satish Kaushik playing the ‘probable’ fathers, they will leave you with some big smiles and a few giggles. While the show’s heart is in the right place — we can’t help but cheer for content that speaks of communal harmony in these polarised times — but its execution is tardy and dated.
While it wasn’t done on purpose but the current situation makes a couple of the sequences gut-wrenching. Johnny Lever’s character, who adopted Sahil, is seen getting a heart attack. As he clutches his chest and flails around in pain, everyone around him thinks he’s doing some kind of dance moves and copies him, to the point of him falling on the ground and writhing in anguish. In another scene, as Kemmu has an outburst over his life’s misery, a dog also suffers a heart attack. Given the show is the first project after Satish Kaushik‘s death, they definitely seem in bad taste.
Now coming to why the show needed six episodes and three men before Sahil unites with his ‘real father’, it is the show’s way of serving the message of religious harmony — the ‘Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isai, sab apaas mein bhai bhai’ — in one jumbled up show. After being brought up in a Hindu family, Sahil first gets to know his father was a Muslim, then a Sikh and finally a Christian man. In just a span of days, he sports a turban to a skull cap and greets people with ‘As-Salaam-Alaikum ‘ or ‘Sat Sri Akal’ as needed. The jokes are also quite old and the first two episode seemed like a collation of funny Instagram reels. You have seen those skits, those punch lines on TV and social media for years.
Not giving any spoilers, but the climax is quite predictable as you figure out where the story is heading. Leave aside a few moments, most of the show is quite forgettable. It’s Kunal Kemmu‘s honest performance that lets you sit through Sahil’s journey. Also, with Johnny Lever and Saurabh Shukla joining the other senior actors, the show aces in terms of casting. Kriti Sanon’s sister Nupur Sanon delivers a full-fledged role and does a fair job. Her scene with Satish Kaushik, which she confessed was a challenging yet fun experience, are quite cute. Also, Jamie Lever is hilarious as Sahil’s smitten lover and we wish she had more to do. Our verdict is that you can watch the show for some light weekend laughs but manage your expectations.
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