Critics Review:
Some stories do not arrive with noise. They do not announce themselves through spectacle or dramatic twists. They simply enter, sit quietly, and begin to feel familiar. Shabad – Reet Aur Riwaaz is one such narrative. It does not chase drama. It observes it. It does not glorify conflict. It reveals it. At its core, this series is a reflection of countless households where silence speaks louder than words and traditions weigh heavier than love.
Starring Suvinder Vicky, Mihir Ahuja, Maahi Jain, and Taranjit Kaur, the show brings to life the emotional geography of a family torn between legacy and longing. It is the story of a common man, carrying extraordinary expectations on ordinary shoulders, trying to protect what he believes is sacred, while unknowingly losing what truly matters.
Tradition as Inheritance, Not Choice
The protagonist stands at a crossroad that many Indian parents know too well. On one side lies tradition, built over generations, polished with pride and preserved through sacrifice. On the other stands the present, restless, curious, and aching to breathe. His commitment to legacy is sincere, yet his rigidity slowly erodes the emotional bridges within his own home.
In this pursuit of duty, love becomes conditional. Conversations turn into commands. Affection is replaced by obligation. And somewhere between rituals and rules, understanding is lost in translation.
A Society That Observes, Rarely Empathises
What Shabad portrays so delicately is the social pressure that quietly dictates family dynamics. A powerful example of giving in to the social pressure is the father’s denial of his son having a problem with speech and disciplining the child to do what the father expects. This is not just a household struggling. It is a society that is opportunistic, cold, and often unforgiving. Appearances matter more than emotions. Compliance is valued over connection.
Every character becomes a silent participant in this cycle. The child absorbs disappointment. The parent suppresses regret. And the home becomes a space where everyone coexists, yet feels alone.
Emotions That Feel Personal
One of the most affecting aspects of the series is its emotional authenticity. You will feel the helplessness that arrives with declining age, when strength slowly gives way to fear of irrelevance. You will recognise teenage rage, born not from rebellion, but from invisibility. You will sense the weight of expectations pressing against dreams that never found permission.
There is a quiet ache that lingers in every episode. A lump in the throat that mirrors shared realities across generations. This is not just a story of one family. It is a story of many.
Performances Rooted in Reality
Suvinder Vicky delivers a restrained yet deeply moving performance, capturing the internal conflict of a man who believes he is protecting his family, even as he isolates them. Mihir Ahuja brings youthful vulnerability, embodying the emotional unrest of a generation desperate to be seen. Maahi Jain and Taranjit Kaur add emotional depth, making the family feel lived-in, not written.
There is no theatrical exaggeration here. Only quiet truths.
Where Affection Survives Silence
Despite its melancholic tone, Shabad is not devoid of warmth. It celebrates family affinity, sincerity, and respect, even when they are imperfect. It acknowledges that love often exists beneath misunderstandings, waiting for the courage to be spoken.
The narrative does not resolve conflict easily. It allows discomfort to exist. Because real healing is slow. It begins with listening.
The Quiet Reconciliation Between Then and Now
What makes Shabad – Reet Aur Riwaaz truly resonate is the way it gently bridges the emotional gap between generations. It does not position one as right and the other as wrong. Instead, it reveals how both are victims of inherited fears, unspoken rules, and societal conditioning. The series also holds a quiet mirror to social evils we often normalise such as emotional neglect, generational trauma, rigid patriarchy, and the silent pressure to conform. By addressing these without moral grandstanding, the story allows reflection to replace resistance, making its impact deeply personal rather than preachy.
Final Word
Shabad – Reet Aur Riwaaz is not a series you watch. It is one you feel. It reminds us that families are built not only on traditions, but on empathy. That legacy means little if love is lost. And that sometimes, the bravest act is choosing understanding over expectation.
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
By: Anushka Singhal
