Matargashti series on Netflix: critics split on Lucknow father-daughter comedy
By Aditi KulkarniEducation Writer, Peepals Bharat
Representative image: JESHOOTS-com / Pixabay
Matargashti, a five-episode Hindi Netflix series about a Lucknow father and daughter that began streaming on 21 October 2026, has drawn mixed reviews.
What Happened
Matargashti, a five-episode Hindi comedy-drama about a widowed father and his college-going daughter in Lucknow, began streaming on Netflix on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, and searches for it rose in India over the weekend. Rajesh Kumar plays the father, Prakash, and Adrija Sinha plays the daughter, Dhara, with Saumya Uniyal as her friend Charu. Early reviews have been mixed: several critics praised its warmth and its refusal to turn the father into a villain, while others found it slight and predictable.
Key Facts
- Platform and date: Netflix, from 21 October 2026; all five episodes were released together.
- Language and setting: Hindi, set in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- Lead cast: Rajesh Kumar (Prakash), Adrija Sinha (Dhara) and Saumya Uniyal (Charu), with Shakti Kumar, Tulika Bannerjee, Sachin Jeet Singh, Aarav Mavi and Avinash Agarwal in supporting roles.
- Director: Chavan, whose first name is given as Siddhant in one listing and Siddharth in one review.
- Story: Dhara returns to live with her single father after four years with her maternal grandmother following her mother's death; friction grows when she starts using dating apps.
- Reviews: Flickonclick gave it 3 out of 5; Binged gave it 4.5 out of 10; Social Ketchup called it warm and relatable but not a standout.
Why It Matters
Matargashti belongs to a growing group of small Indian streaming shows built around ordinary family life in smaller cities rather than crime, politics or big-city glamour. These shows are cheaper to make than star-led thrillers and depend heavily on word of mouth, which is why early reviews and search interest matter for them.
The series takes on a subject that many Indian families find awkward to talk about: a grown daughter's personal choices and a parent who does not know how to respond. Its central relationship is between a single father and a daughter who has lived away from him for four years after her mother's death. That gives the comedy a layer of grief and distance, and much of the praise has focused on how the show treats both characters with sympathy. One review singled out the decision not to make Prakash an authoritarian figure; instead, he is shown as confused and trying.
The criticism is about depth. Binged's reviewer, who rated it 4.5 out of 10, said Dhara's grievances against her father are not shown in enough detail for the conflict to land, and described the show as easy to skip. Social Ketchup's review said it keeps viewers smiling but leans on familiar beats. Flickonclick was the warmest of the three, calling it a breath of fresh air.
The show's short length also shapes how it is judged. Five episodes leave little room for subplots, so the father-daughter relationship has to carry almost everything; critics who liked it said it does, and those who did not said the conflict is underdeveloped.
| Review | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Flickonclick | 3 out of 5; warm, "breath of fresh air" |
| Social Ketchup | Warm and relatable, but not a standout |
| Binged | 4.5 out of 10; emotional but "very skippable" |
Impact
Short-term: Search interest and mixed-to-positive reviews may draw viewers looking for a short, light family watch; with only five episodes, the series can be finished in an evening or two.
Long-term: How such small-city family shows perform helps decide whether streaming platforms keep commissioning modest, writer-led Indian series instead of only big-budget thrillers.
Who is affected: Netflix subscribers in India looking for family comedies, the cast and crew, and Lucknow, which gains more screen exposure as a setting.
Key Takeaway
Matargashti, Netflix's five-episode Lucknow father-daughter comedy released on 21 October 2026, has won praise for its warmth but criticism for a thin, familiar story.
Questions and Answers
Where can I watch the Matargashti series and when was it released?
Matargashti streams on Netflix. All five episodes were released on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
Who is in the cast of Matargashti?
Rajesh Kumar plays the father, Prakash, and Adrija Sinha plays his daughter, Dhara. Saumya Uniyal plays her friend Charu, with Shakti Kumar, Tulika Bannerjee, Sachin Jeet Singh, Aarav Mavi and Avinash Agarwal in supporting roles.
What is the Matargashti series about?
It follows Dhara, a student who returns to live with her widowed father in Lucknow after four years with her grandmother, and the comic and emotional friction that follows when she starts using dating apps.
Is the Matargashti series worth watching, according to critics?
Reviews are mixed. Flickonclick rated it 3 out of 5 and called it fresh; Social Ketchup found it warm but familiar; Binged rated it 4.5 out of 10 and called it skippable.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Aditi Kulkarni, Education WriterCovers Education and more for Peepals Bharat. All stories by Aditi Kulkarni
Winter flight schedule begins: Air India Express adds 40-plus new routes
Uttarakhand lifts hiring freeze in aided secondary schools; committees to recruit
Aditi Kulkarni is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
