BOTTOM LINE
Light-Hearted Workplace Drama
PLATFORM
SonyLiv
What Is the Film About?
Piyush Prajapati, now a Team Lead at Synnotech, faces increased pressure at work with tighter deadlines and complexities of handing a team. Meanwhile, as Synnotech is on the verge of being acquired by PIC, the team dynamics get affected whereas Piyush, who has found a new romantic interest, grapples with the stress of balancing his personal and professional life.
Performances
Abhishek Chauhan continues to make an impression as the gentlemanly Piyush, who’s gradually finding his groove in the corporate sector, learning to be an efficient leader. He mirrors the vulnerabilities of Piyush well and carries the show on his shoulders with a mature performance.
The new addition – Zayn Marie Khan – plays Dhwani with the right mix of elegance and measuredness. The other actors – from Ketaki Kulkarni to Niketan Sharma to Ayushi Gupta to Nimit Malhotra, Shivankit Parihar and Arnav Bhasin – do the needful with their lively portrayals, slipping into their roles with ease.
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Analysis
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It’s a bitter-sweet feeling to watch a favourite show progress across every season. You know what to expect from it; the characters and the backdrop are more or less established and the story moves on in an auto-pilot mode, connecting the dots, finding excuses to develop newer seasons. While some shows genuinely attempt to up the ante and better itself, some are content within its cocoon.
Cubicles began as a one-of-a-kind relatable, slice-of-life workplace drama in the digital space, tracing the journeys of multiple characters in the corporate sector with a refreshing lightness. With the evolution of its lead character Piyush, it’s true that the show has naturally lost its bite and innocence. The show has continued to be engaging though the aftertaste hasn’t been the same.
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In its fourth season, Piyush grows to be a self-aware, empathetic leader, who’s conscious of doing the right thing without upsetting his subordinates. It’s a dicey situation as Synnotech is set be acquired by PIC, while the rumours of downsizing, surprise pink slips float around. One of his team members is likely to be the sacrificial goat and Piyush wants to handle the situation responsibly.
Meanwhile, Piyush is no longer on great terms with his former roommate and best friend Kalpesh. Given the delicate scenario in the office around the acquisition, employees make desperate efforts to switch jobs, planning long leaves and attending interviews. Just when the team morale is on an all-time low, Piyush turns things around and reignites their spirits.
The show is authentic in its attempt to capture the anxious mood of a company – across all levels – in the middle of a high-profile acquisition. Piyush’s character trajectory evolves for the better this time. He not only has immense integrity but also proves his mettle as a leader, excelling with his problem solving skills and going the extra mile to get the best out of his team.
The plot keeps chugging along neatly without any major issues in terms of the filmmaking or the performances. The stock characters – Neha, Gautam, Shetty, Angad, Vikram, Sunaina and others – may not get to leave a solid impact in the proceedings but they definitely help with the seamless story progression. The episodes are slick and do well to grab your attention.
Cubicles Season 4 ends with a cute surprise with Piyush making a crucial decision with his career – which has an important link with a newfound interest in a colleague. Though the instalment lacks depth and is not a must watch by any means, it retains its feel-good vibe sans any overt dramatisation. If you’re looking for something light and easily palatable in a workplace setting, go for it.
Music and Other Departments?
Arabinda Neog’s background score is easy on the ears, blending with the narrative seamlessly. The only song by Karthik Rao passes muster. Rahul Vamadevan Jayamma’s cinematography does a neat job at visually exploring the lives of corporate employees within their ‘cubicles’, aided by Shivangi Srivastav’s costumes and production design (by Vikrant Shahi Vish, Mayur Mul). The dialogues are definitely not among the show’s strengths this time – desperately filled with too many quotes of CEOs, philosophers and poets – for context.
Highlights?
Breezy and relatable
Neat performances
Good understanding of the corporate sector
Drawbacks?
Lacks depth and freshness
Conflicts and the resolution are superficial
Did I Enjoy It?
Mostly yes
Will You Recommend It?
If you’re in a mood to explore a light-hearted show on corporate realities
Cubicles S4 Review by M9
