‘Gullak’ Season 5 review: Still comforting, still relatable, but beginning to show signs of ageing

In an OTT landscape crowded with violence, crime, and larger-than-life spectacles, Gullak remains refreshingly ordinary. Five seasons in, the TVF series continues to draw its strength from the everyday realities of a small-town, middle-class Indian family. That remains both its greatest strength and, increasingly, its biggest challenge.

Season 5 returns to the familiar confines of Mishra Nivas, where a fresh coat of paint and a newly installed Wi-Fi connection hint at a household slowly adapting to changing times. New aspirations, pressures, and responsibilities have found their way into the Mishras' lives, even as the family continues to hold on to the rhythms that define them.

Spread across seven episodes, Season 5 juggles multiple storylines. Santosh Mishra is occupied with getting the house whitewashed, while Shanti Mishra finds herself dealing with conflicts of her own as the neighbour, "Bittu Ki Mummy", finds online fame. Anand continues to grapple with the pressure of proving himself, torn between professional aspirations and personal responsibilities, while Aman finds himself trapped in the consequences of his own lies.

There is even a subplot involving Bittu Ki Mummy's feminist activism, though the show's most compelling voice of resistance continues to be Shanti. Like Kranti Devi in

Panchayat, Sunita Rajwar once again manages to test your patience and entertain you at the same time.

A lot is happening, but unlike most shows, Gullak is less interested in where these stories are headed and more invested in how its characters navigate them. That has always been the show's biggest strength. Gullak understands that ordinary lives come with their own share of victories, disappointments, anxieties, and absurdities. The series doesn't manufacture drama, it finds it in everyday conversations, family disagreements, career struggles, and the quiet sacrifices people make for one another.

Also Read: Why Hindi cinema seems increasingly detached from India’s anxieties

The performances remain the show's strongest asset. Anant Joshi steps into the role of Anand (previously played by Vaibhav Raj Gupta) with remarkable ease. Replacing a familiar face is never easy, but Joshi never makes the audience miss his predecessor. He brings sincerity, vulnerability, and quiet charm to the character, making Anand's struggles feel deeply relatable. His understated chemistry with Preeti (Helly Shah) adds some of the season's sweetest moments.

Geetanjali Kulkarni and Jameel Khan as Shanti and Santosh Mishra are as dependable as ever. Whether sharing a light-hearted exchange or navigating emotional moments, they bring an authenticity that has become central to the show's appeal. Harsh Mayar is equally effective as Aman.

Technically, Gullak remains a polished production. The casting is impeccable, performances are uniformly strong, and the show's visual language continues to complement its grounded storytelling. The problem, however, lies in the writing.

The series occasionally feels weighed down by the very familiarity that once made it special. The season attempts to juggle numerous subplots into a larger portrait of family life, but the stitching isn't always seamless. Some tracks feel more compelling than others, and there are moments when the pacing wavers. While the emotional payoffs eventually arrive, the journey towards them isn't consistently engaging. There are stretches where you will find yourself wondering whether to continue immediately or return later.

Nostalgia has always been one of Gullak's strongest assets, and Season 5 continues to mine it effectively. Yet somewhere along the way, a bit of the innocence and freshness that once defined the series seems to be fading. At times, the show appears content relying on the audience's affection for its characters rather than giving them stronger material.

Also Read: Pahlaj Nihalani dies: Remembering the producer who shaped 90s Bollywood and courted controversy at CBFC

Yet even when it stumbles, Gullak remains difficult to dislike.

Part of that credit goes to the earthen piggy bank itself, which continues to serve as the show's narrator, offering commentary on the Mishra family's life. Interestingly, this season sees the Gullak displaced from its traditional spot by a newly installed Wi-Fi connection. It is a small detail, but also a fitting metaphor for the season itself: a family negotiating change while trying to hold on to the values and relationships that define them.

At its best, Gullak still delivers what few shows can. There is no grand mystery here, no looming catastrophe, and no race against time. It remains a simple slice-of-life drama about people trying to get through life one day at a time, that will not make you laugh out loud, instead, it will make you smile, tear up, and feel at home.

Even with its shortcomings, Gullak remains one of the rare family-friendly shows that can genuinely be watched across generations. In a streaming landscape increasingly driven by spectacle, that comfort still counts for a lot.

Gullak Season 5 is now streaming on SonyLIVAlso Read: Persepolis creator Marjane Satrapi dies of 'sadness' — an exile who dared