‘Life Hill Gayi’ Season 1 Review: This Desi ‘Schitt’s Creek’, Starring Divyenndu Sharma and Kusha Kapila, Is Devoid of Laughs! (LatestLY Exclusive)

Life Hill Gayi Review: Life Hill Gayi is a comedy series about two bratty siblings, Dev and Kalki, who are tasked with transforming a dilapidated mansion in a hill station into a functioning resort. The series explores how they manage this challenge and its impact on the local villagers. Directed by Prem Mistry (Campus Diaries), Life Hill Gayi features a decent ensemble cast, including Divyenndu Sharma, Kusha Kapila, Vinay Pathak, Kabir Bedi, Annapurna Soni, Mukti Mohan, Atul Shrivastav, and Hemant Pandey, among others. Although the theme is intriguing and the actors perform well, the show often falls flat in the humour department. Sadly, your 'Life' doesn't get shaken as promised by the title. Ahead of ‘Life Hill Gayi’ Premiere on Disney+ Hotstar, Kusha Kapila Opens Up About Her Relationship With Co-Star Divyenndu.

Dev (Divyenndu) and Kalki (Kusha Kapila) arrive in the hilly region of Panchmoli at a rundown resort, accompanied by their father (Vinay Pathak). Through video calls, their grandfather (Kabir Bedi) promises the quarrelling siblings that they need to revitalise this resort and turn it into a profitable business within six months. The sibling who performs better will inherit the grandfather's multi-million business.

Watch the Trailer of 'Life Hill Gayi':

Despite their lack of interest, Dev and Kalki must focus their efforts on the resort for six months. The task proves challenging as they face bizarre obstacles, such as a serial killer who becomes their first guest and a 'ghost' who keeps eating their sandwiches. Additionally, their locally recruited hotel staff constantly find ways to shirk work.

'Life Hill Gayi' Season 1 Review - Why This 'Schitt's Creek' Wannabe Doesn't Work

It's hard not to draw parallels between Life Hill Gayi and the acclaimed comedy series Schitt's Creek and then second-guess yourself for doing so. The similarities are undeniable: a wealthy family forced to manage a hotel they didn't know existed, one of the protagonists forming a deep friendship with a local girl, Hima (Mukti Mohan), that improves him as a person, and the protagonists getting to know the locals and embracing their new circumstances. Life Hill Gayi may not be a replica of Schitt's Creek, but its influences are evident.

With this thought in mind, it is also easy to comprehend why Life Hill Gayi doesn't succeed as a series in entertaining you. Despite the presence of talented actors like Vinay Pathak, Divyenndu, and Atul Shrivastav, and a surprisingly standout performance from Mukti Mohan as well as from Annapurna Soni (who plays the receptionist), the writing around these characters leaves much to be desired. Kusha Kapila is well-suited to her role as the more ambitious and snobbish sibling, but her character development feels rushed and lacking in depth. Gunaah Episode 1 Review: 'The Count of Monte Cristo' Meets 'Khoon Bhari Maang' in Gashmeer Mahajani, Surbhi Jyoti and Zayn Ibad Khan's Disney+ Hotstar Series.

'Life Hill Gayi' Season 1 Review - Weak Character Development and Humour

You expect the lead characters, initially presented as unlikable snobs, to grow and become less insufferable over time. Life Hill Gayi does achieve this, but the hastiness in developing these dynamics fails to flesh out either the characters or their interpersonal dynamics. When Kalki and her staff find common ground, it feels abrupt and unearned. A major revelation around Kalki near the end felt ludicrous since there was no sense of its involvement in her portions earlier, and it also makes you wonder why she would even stay in Panchmoli and not keep running back to her city. The only storyline that somewhat works is the deepening camaraderie between Dev and Hima.

The biggest flaw in the show, however, is its lack of humour. Despite quirky situations, including a nod to Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning film Parasite, the jokes often fall flat, making Life Hill Gayi feel like an awkwardly staged production that narrowly avoids complete embarrassment. Fortunately, the show improves in its final episodes, with the concluding 'twist' providing a genuinely amusing moment. It is just that you need enough patience to sustain till then.

'Life Hill Gayi' Season 1 Review - Final Thoughts

Life Hill Gayi offers an interesting premise and a talented cast, but it struggles to deliver consistent humour and depth in character development. With shallow characterisation and unfunny gags, it is more difficult for this show to connect with the viewer than for the protagonists to start a hotel in the middle of nowhere. Life Hill Gayi is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 09, 2024 10:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).