Although the final episode of the original Everybody Loves Raymond aired almost ten years ago, the show did not quite fade away. Remakes of the popular American sitcom found quite a few takers over the years in Israel, Holland, the Middle East and England. Finally, the sitcom made its way to India too as Sumit Sambhal Lega, which aired on Star Plus last night.
The original series, had standup comedian Ray Ramano play the title role of Raymond Barone, a sports writer for Newsday. A flippant and funny character, Raymond takes everything with a pinch of salt, makes jokes out of most situations and is often seen shirking responsibilities, especially those of his kids. However, there is something very lovable about him. His wife Debra compliments him well. Raymond’s parents, the manipulative mother Marie and obnoxious father Frank, and an insecure older brother Robert live across the street, and frequently make their presence felt in Raymond’s home to the dislike of Debra.
The Indian version, borrows the characters as they are and add an Indian touch to them. Raymond becomes Sumit, Debra becomes Maya and Marie is Mummy ji. The situations are more Indianised in Sumit Sambal Lega and the focus is more on the constant banter that happens between Maya and her mother-in-law.
Sumit, much like Raymond, finds himself in the middle of all the problems and arguments that take place between his wife and mother. Right from the first episode itself it is made clear that Sumit is incapable of taking any stand, as he would end up being at the losing end either way.
Sumit played by Namit Das, has a natural flair for acting, while Maya played by Mansi Parekh is good in her role as a nagging wife. However, the star attraction of the show are Bharti Achrekar (of Wagle Ki Duniya fame) who plays the mother and Satish Kaushik, who makes a comeback to Indian television, after over a decade and a half. The comic timing of the duo is impeccable.
The original series was a sensation in the US during the decade it spent on air. It won 13 Emmys, a Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America award. Towards the end of its run, standup comedian Ray Romano – the show’s lead actor, producer and co-creator – was the highest-paid television actor in America, commanding a fee of $1.7m per episode.
Although it did not provide constant and consistent laughs, like 30 Rock, The Simpsons or That 70s Show did, Raymond had more straightforward and very poker-faced humour. It was a rather unfashionable comedy and that is what the makers here have retained, and perhaps that is what will work in their favour too. The makers here have also made sure to be up to date with the current socio-economic conditions and lingo and that makes it easier for an audience to relate to.
The first episode delivered a few good punches, but for the show to sustain the writers will need to up the bar for the laughs. When the Sumit Sambhal Lega promos were aired, it looked like it might slip into the saas bahu zone, but the first episode surprised us by giving each and every character equal mileage. But all said and done, it isn’t as funny or engaging as other desi sitcoms like Sarabhai vs Sarabhai or Dekh Bhai Dekh. Raymond has always been an easy watch and if the makers of Sumit Sambhal Lega stick to a pattern, then everybody might end up loving Sumit too.