It’s rare for a television show about two South Asian men inheriting a crime business from their recently deceased father to be described using words like “relatable” and “hilarious.” Heck, it’s rare for there to be a television series with two South Asian men at the helm, in general. In spite of obstacles like racism, pigeonholing, and a premise that sounds closer to The Sopranos than it does a feel-good comedy, Deli Boys succeeds in flipping the script on its head and making us laugh all the while.
The new Hulu series starring Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, and Poorna Jagannathan tells the tale of Raj (Shaikh) and Mir (Ali), the spoiled sons of a Pakistani business magnate in Philadelphia who is suddenly and violently killed in front of them. Although — per the comment above about flipping the script — Baba’s (Iqbal Theba) death has nothing to do with his illegal enterprise, so right out of the gate, the show tells you to expect the unexpected. After their father’s untimely death, Raj and Mir are let in on the secret of how their dad really made his money as the FBI swoops in and takes everything from them. The Dar brothers are subsequently let in on the family business to the dismay of everyone involved, including their no-nonsense Lucky Aunty (Jagannathan), who should be the obvious successor to the throne.
What ensues is 10 straight episodes of silliness juxtaposed with drama of the familial and criminal varieties, making for one entertaining series that I never wanted to end. Immediately, I was struck by how this show manages to be about the understandable sibling struggles and a culture with such distinct touchstones and references. This show is made by brown people and stars brown people, but it’s not just for brown people, and that is clear from the get-go.
Do understand that some jokes, storylines, and scenes will absolutely resonate more if you were raised in a Pakistani family or have a decent knowledge of the culture. They don’t attempt to dumb themselves down to have a wider appeal, and I love that about the writing of the characters and the humor. But also know that if you were to go in and just be looking for a comedy about two brothers who are in over their heads and ill-equipped to fill their father’s shoes, you will still walk away with so much to love about the show.
Make no mistake: while Ali and Shaikh lead the cast, it’s Jagannathan’s Lucky Aunty that makes the show what it is. The veteran actress steps into a role of a badass crime boss from her first minute on-screen, channeling uncompromising and ruthless in her role as the Dar brothers’ unofficial liaison. Jagannathan’s job of walking the line between the humor of Mir and Raj and the danger of drug trafficking and money laundering is not an easy one, but it is done with the grace of a ballerina, albeit one who won’t hesitate to pull the trigger of a gun at a moment’s notice. It’s an invigorating performance that, dare I say, should get some Emmy buzz.
It would be criminal for this show to roll out on Hulu without giving it some love, of which it deserves endless amounts. If you sign up for the ride for no other reason, rest easy knowing that you will find some of the best one-liners out there, buried inside an over-the-top and hilarious show overall. Do your future self a favor and, more importantly, don’t let me down: watch Deli Boys as soon and as quickly as you can. Because if Hulu doesn’t give us a second season, I’m going full Lucky Aunty and hunting some people down.
The entire first season of Deli Boys is currently streaming on Hulu.