Hamara Vinayak E1 and E2 review: A light-hearted watch with sweet lessons on spirituality, loyalty and compassion!

Swastik Productions' Hamara Vinayak imagines Lord Ganesha as a friend who uncomplicates matters in a jiffy with his wisdom and smile. 

As adults navigating the challenges of an ever-evolving world, there is a constant need to prove ourselves in all spheres of life, leaving us overwhelmed most of the time. I firmly believe that the best way to power through this confusion and mess is a change of perspective. The phrase may sound complicated, but IMO is easy to achieve - some suggest hitting a pause and introspection, counseling, turning to spirituality, or something as simple as a conversation with our loved one. And Swastik Productions’ latest offering endorses a sweet blend of the last two ideas through Hamara Vinayak- A YouTube series that imagines Lord Ganesha as a friend who uncomplicates matters in a jiffy with his wisdom and smile. 

Set in Mumbai, the series follows three young founders, Arjun (Arnav Bhasin), Neel(Luv Vispute), and Meera (Vaidehi Nair), who are building an app that runs a live telecast of all the major temples of India. Their world changes when a young boy named Vinayak (Namit Das) joins their start-up and helps them rediscover what success really means. The show starts with the founders trying to round-off the preparations for the launch of their app. Their struggles, ethical conflicts, and differences set the tone of the characters and story relatably well. Amid the start-up chaos, we are then introduced to Vinayak, a human embodiment of Lord Ganesha who enters the office as a new pantry boy and wins over everyone with his wit and warmth. How the divine figure guides this group of friends turned colleagues through their daily struggles, and what is the actual purpose of his visit to the mortal world, should entail the rest of the series. 

,Also Read: POV: How Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar’s OMG! made me re-think my relationship with God!

The first two episodes of the YouTube series come across as a lighthearted watch whose innocence reminds you of ITV daily soaps from the 2000s. They are short, relatable, and deeply human, which endorsed the idea of looking at God, not as a figure on a pedestal but as a friend who is always there for you and would do what is right for you. An aspect that I really liked about the episodes was the fact that the two episodes didn’t feature Vinayak performing unbelievable miracles, but offering moments of realization that change the founders quietly, smartly integrating reality and spirituality, something that the youngsters would find pleasing. The 10-12 minute episodes also felt like an undertone of the Indian idea of finding God in the ordinary people around you, irrespective of their socio-economic standings. Das does a lovely job essaying Vinayak, and you do see a glimpse of Lord Ganesha in him, credit for which also goes to the make-up artists of the show. He delivers a measured performance carrying the divinity and innocence of the godly figure sincerely without making it caricaturish. The remaining cast, too lends the series an impressive support. 

Overall, the first two episodes of Hamara Vinayak serve as a light-hearted watch that provides entertainment and enlightenment with cute little moments that will teach its audiences, especially the young ones, some thoughtful lessons on compassion, loyalty, and spirituality!  

Hamara Vinayak premieres on October 31 on YouTube