“This is a life of crime and the life of this deli.” –Lucky
Losing a parent is difficult, especially when it’s unexpected. Mir (Asif Ali) and Raj Dar (Saagar Shaikh) deal with this in Deli Boys. However, things take an even more surprising turn when they learn their pampered lives, which they believed were funded solely by their businessman father’s (Iqbal Theba) convenience store chains, were a front for organized crime.
Having to unpack their father’s secret life, Mir and Raj, with the help of Lucky (Poorna Jagannathan), their father’s closest confidante and leader of his underworld enterprise, set out on a new journey that includes Mir and Raj being part of the real family business.
Created by Abdullah Saeed, Deli Boys is a hilariously good time. The series knocks it out of the park from the chaos from one episode to the next or the relatable family dynamics. The series takes traditional organized crime tropes and flips them on their head to create some of its wackier moments, and it’s all the better for it. The show also does a great job at its cultural commentary throughout, and while some moments might be attached to the comedy in the series, it still always has something important to say, and this is where the series shines.
Ali and Shaikh are pitch-perfect as brothers swiftly and unexpectedly thrown into this wild world they knew nothing of. The duo have impeccable comedic timing and are a joy to watch. The two must learn quickly because their lives and the lives of those they care about are at risk, along with the business. The pair get into hilarious shenanigans as they have to rebuild their lives and learn the ins and outs of the family business they didn’t know existed. Ali and Shaikh’s brotherly chemistry is palpable on screen, and you can feel that while there is a divide between them due to their contradicting personalities, at the end of the day, they’re brothers who have each other’s backs.
In addition to Ali and Shaikh, Jagannathan and George are equally hilarious in their portrayals of Lucky and Ahmad, respectively. Like their co-stars, the two have excellent comedic chops but thrive in the profound and ass-kicking scenes. Jagannathan is especially a scene-stealer as the whip-smart Lucky. For much of the series, she is the only woman in the room regarding the family “business” and has no qualms about putting her male counterparts in their place and being a vocal advocate for herself and the Dar brothers. The banter between Lucky and Ahmad is one of the more hilarious aspects of Deli Boys, and Jagannathan and George bring their great acting work to each episode. The fantastic performances of its cast buoy the show to incredible heights.
Deli Boys is one of the funniest new shows to be released recently. The witty writing makes its blend of comedy and crime work exceptionally well. While there is a lot of chaos and ridiculousness, the tale manages to stay grounded due to the fantastic performances and the well-written family dynamic at the heart of the story. Here’s hoping for much more comedy and chaos in a much-needed season two!
Muses of Media 
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