TVF Pitchers Review: Episode One- "Tu Beer Hai"

Finally we get to see the long awaited TVF drama ‘Pitchers’. As you know I’m a big fan of TVF and always find each one of their works really admirable. After Permanent Roommates, this is the next TVF original Drama which centers upon the events in the life of four friends- Naveen, Yogendra, Jitendra and Saurabh when Naveen decides to leave his job and begin working full time on their startup.

The story starts with Naveen meeting one of his college seniors (Bhati, the man who inspired Naveen) in the bar where they discuss about Bhati’s company. Naveen is utterly astonished by the valuation of Bhati's company and after a few drinks Bhati’s eponymous theory of ‘TU BEER HAI’ becomes etched in Naveen’s mind. Drunk he calls his boss and abusively quits his job. Only the morning after, he realizes his mistake and tries to make up with his boss, Rajat. Just then he gets a call about his business idea being shortlisted for business conclave and he decides to remain the way he was and not trying to join again. He ropes in his friends- Yogendra and Jitendra. Yogendra quits his job readily and enthusiastically joins the club whereas Jitendra has mixed feelings even after confirmation from his friends that they’ll give him his full salary atleast. Only after a promotion and realizing the state of his seniors, he begins to doubt his significance in his company. Even though he thinks he is a valuable employee to the company, he can’t imagine himself working 15 years in the same place with nothing more than a hike in salary and a changed title. This frustration leads him to decide on his stance in the startup and he finally quits. When almost all three friends are ready to give their all to the startup, Naveen goes back to his boss Rajat to submit his resignation and make it official where Rajat convinces him that the startup isn’t his passion and provides him with another Career opportunity as an employee to head a project in Beijing and asks him to leave for Delhi immediately to confirm his visa. This was the moment of test for Naveen and he succumbs to the insecurities and decides to leave for Delhi. Although on his way to the airport, he has an epiphany resulting in a change of heart and he returns back to his friends in the bar to go ahead with their startup, leaving their old jobs and old lives behind.

The whole episode worked on every level hitting each emotion, dialogue and doubts spot on. The characters are amazing. Each one gives a distinct vibe as each one is there to play a different role in the startup organization. Although on the surface they all might look similar as young enthusiastic people who despite having jobs want to make a name for themselves (As Bhati said,“Tu Kya Hai”). With such characters one could easily connect and become a part of their troubles as they struggle between their startup and keeping their jobs. The music was simply outstanding. From the background score to the little noises to the ringtones, it was very nicely done. The dialogues were crisp and to the point with appropriate amount of humour. Yeah some elements were specially inserted to create humour (the overenthusiastic sales intern) but such things are easily overlooked behind the environment of modern startup industry and aspirations they’ve created so meticulously.

All in all, another great show from TVF after Permanent Roommates which might be even better than it. A much more refined and fresh overall look on the show with so many things different from regular TVF videos. This is a show, an actual thing unlike Permanent Roommates which more or less started as an experiment and it delightfully crushes all before it and anything ever made by any Indian channel. This is how shows are made, its on a completely different level than the regular dramas the Indian audiences are used to. This is TVF’s answer to services like HBO-Go and Netflix. Only piece of advice, don’t miss this one. TVF guys, they rock as usual. And as Yogendra said, “Entrepreneur spelling se nahi spirit se bante hai”