Premiering on Prime Video on March 24, 2023, with the next two chapters of the lot, Happy Family Conditions Apply Episode 7-8 star the stunning ensemble of actors including Ratna Pathak Shah, Raj Babbar, Atul Kulkarni, Ayesha Jhulka, Sanah Kapur, Meenal Sahu, Raunaq Kamdar, and Ahaan Saboo. The Hindi family dramedy series is directed and created by Aatish Kapadia and Jamnadas Majethia, under the banner of Hats Off Production, the same production house that brought us the classic sitcoms of the early 2000s – Khichdi and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai.
Episodes 7 and 8 out of the 10-episode series are out, and each one of them follows the usual sitcom trend of having a runtime under the 30 minute mark. Amazon’s Original Series follows the highs and lows of four generations of the joint Dholakia family living in Mumbai. Despite their respective quirky personalities and the arising dysfunctionalities, the family’s dynamics are just as relatable as they’re humorous.
-Happy Family Conditions Apply Episode 7-8 Review Contains Mild Spoilers-
Last week’s new entries, Suresh and Kwamboka, are nowhere to be seen this time as a new chapter in the lives of the Dholakias begins. They embark on the quest to find Ayushi a potential match for marriage. Following Jatin and Falu’s advice, they attend the reception they’ve been invited to and meet the boy, who’s supposedly a record-holder. However, how he is as a person is a sound knowledge unknown to the photo-showing couple.
As expected, the encounter is as disastrous as it could’ve been. Pinkesh’s passive aggression speaks volumes, and a pseudo-feminist emerges on top, who’s seemingly nice enough to “allow” his wife to pursue hobbies of her choice, as long as she doesn’t cut her hair. Surprisingly, but also not, Hemlata shows him the mirror in her usual style that we can’t help but love and root for at times like this. And even Ramesh stands up for Ayushi.
In the meantime, Ayushi opens up to her family about her friends-with-benefits relationship with Timmy, which again puts into motion a chaotic comedy as it’s one task to be as candid as that with your family and another to explain the whole arrangement to Chemist Ramesh. In other news, Tisca has news of her own to disclose that brings happiness to all. However, the following action only dawns dread upon Sanjuoy.
The whole family moves out of the reception after expressing their true views on their company therein and the tasteless snacks delivered to them. Heading over to the new apartment, they plan on surprising Sanju with Tisca’s news. Little did they know that he had a surprise of his own. Ayushi is the first to see it all unfold, and she helps her brother cover up the truth as the rest of the family makes it to the address.
Eventually, Tisca is advised bedrest, and all the family members switch and trade places to keep the show running. Hemlata’s nosy behaviour gets in the way of the chemist business, just like Ramesh’s eclectic aesthetic sense turns Sanju and Tisca’s new flat’s vibe upside down. Episode 7 already begins Mansukh’s detective work as he suspects Sanju of infidelity, but uncovering the truth makes him realise it’s far from what he’d imagined.
So far, the show has been sensitively and sensibly making the audiences laugh. No joke till now has been at the expense of any lifestyle or meant to corner a particular person. The last two episodes of the package will finally open our eyes to whether the show has passed with flying colours or only put on a deceptive cheery, and loveable front to take us all down in the end.
The long-running banter between the family members has made me chuckle regularly. As said before, this series is a new revival of the old taste of comedies with a modern understanding. Each episode balances out the role played by each character in the series. So, if a former episode had you calling someone your favourite person in the show, the next one will make you switch your ideas up until they all reserve a spot in the list of your favourites.
And, to add another bit, I can’t let go of – I’m in love with this show’s women. Casting Ratna Pathak Shah, Ayesha Jhulka, Sanah Kapur, and Meenal Sahu has brought out the best combination we didn’t know we deserved.
Happy Family Conditions Apply Episode 7-8: Final Thoughts
As anticipated, the twist landed right, per my theories, last week. Raj Babbar’s character as the grandfather is the warmest in the lot, and I feel thankful that his empathetic self was turned around in the face of this new revelation. Often, characters are made out to look like the modern and accepting figures in the family but ultimately turn away when big reveals like such are planted in their know-how. However, things seem a bit easier with him on the right side.
Bigger challenges await Sanjuoy next week, and I can’t wait to see how his family will respond to this insight. It can go either way because that’s how grey the rest of the figures are. Their characterisation can suffer the same fate unlike Mansukh , or they may all safely emerge from this upon accepting Sanjuoy.
More comical chuckles await us in the upcoming episodes of the series. The new episodes are now streaming on Prime Video, while the rest will be released in the counts of two every Friday until March 31, 2023.
Also read: All of our Happy Family: Conditions Apply reviews