An Indian version of cult TV series The Office never did seem like the most inspired idea. The show is now streaming on Hotstar and the verdict is out on Twitter. It's not pretty. The Office was originally created by British comedians Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant; an American version followed - both were wildly successful. Ricky Gervais and Steve Carrell played the central character - a well-intentioned but completely clueless general manager - in the UK and US series respectively. The Office, as we've already noted, is cult as are its characters - moving the setting to a Faridabad milieu was never going to end well; for a start, it's Fawlty-esque humour is difficult to translate for Indian sensibilities. For another, the original series and it's US version were both made in the early 2000s; much of what was considered funny then might not get the laughs in a more politically correct 2019.
On Twitter, it's a bloodbath. Actor Mukul Chadda, who takes over boss duty from Ricky Gervais and Steve Carrell, has been singled out for overacting. Mr Gervais and Mr Carrell played their essentially obnoxious characters - David Brent and Michael Scott - with a comedic genius that allowed audiences not only to laugh at them but very often with them. Mukul Chadda had a hard act to follow and Twitter doesn't think he's up to it. Fans have also skewered The Office India's 'Punjabi dad jokes,' the lazy naming of Pammi based on Jenna Fischer's character Pam from the The Office US and the 'sanskaari vibes.'
What the hell forced you guys to make #TheOfficeIndia ? Aur atleast copy to ache se karo yr.
— Upkar Kesar (@upkar_k8) June 28, 2019
P.S. Pam ka pammi bnaa dia.
Watched the first three episodes of #TheOfficeIndia. I've mixed feelings.
— Sonal (@SonalHayat) June 27, 2019
They have replaced Michael's jokes with punjabi dad jokes. Rest of the dialogues are just directly translated into Hindi.
I am sure they have used the same subtitle file as the @theofficenbc.
So Indian version of The Office is out, three minutes into the first episode and -
— i declare bankruptcy (@vrunketchup) June 27, 2019
1. The intro is like a bhajan
2. The boss sucks
3. PAM IS LITERALLY CALLED PAMMI
4. It's induced a kind of gag reflex & I feel uncomfortable af
5. EVERYTHING IS WRONG#TheOffice #theofficeindia
Lost a bet just now. Couldn't even survive the first 5 minutes of #TheOfficeIndia Can't say about the people who are being introduced to "THE OFFICE" franchise for the first time but surely it is not for Michael Gary Scott or David Brent fans.
— Akash Garg (@thislowsong) June 27, 2019
9.the most annoying thing is the camera stability & the lack of the shaky rusty movements of an actual camera crew being there.
— i declare bankruptcy (@vrunketchup) June 27, 2019
10. Way too much sanskaari vibes here already, I wouldn't be surprised if they made thoe to cater & steal audience from Kapil sharma#theofficeindia
#TheOfficeIndia
— JCB wala (@pmkXOXO) June 28, 2019
There is No office in India which resembles #TheOfficeIndia ...
Also when ADAPTING some series just ADAPT ...
Difference between #TheOfficeIndia & #TheOfficeUS is like someone just made Maggi and calling it Lasagna !
Michael Scott was invoked in many tweets:
#TheOfficeIndia was a bad decision! pic.twitter.com/nJ60K3v4JL
— Shabdika Pandey (@shabdtweets) June 28, 2019
#TheOfficeIndia @hotstartweets why though? pic.twitter.com/gXZyB9AnZW
— Shabdika Pandey (@shabdtweets) June 28, 2019
Still a no. #TheOfficeIndia pic.twitter.com/udw6uRctFJ
— Shabdika Pandey (@shabdtweets) June 28, 2019
Chaddha is over doing it! #TheOfficeIndia pic.twitter.com/vZJuiTMRp6
— Shabdika Pandey (@shabdtweets) June 28, 2019
There can only be one JAM ( Jim + Pam). No one will come close to recreating their relationship! #TheOfficeIndia pic.twitter.com/CiVesyWXm9
— Shabdika Pandey (@shabdtweets) June 28, 2019
Me looking at Indian Dwight and over the top Punjabi Dad joke#TheOfficeIndia pic.twitter.com/ihMSJsYykH
— Shabdika Pandey (@shabdtweets) June 28, 2019
Me to #TheOfficeIndia pic.twitter.com/bC3ZOvQEpe
— JCB wala (@pmkXOXO) June 28, 2019
Fans of the original The Office were never going to like an Indian version.
do we need #TheOfficeIndia pic.twitter.com/fDv4NUs2Ur
— arvind (@arvindworld) June 25, 2019
#theofficeindia will turn cringe comedy into pure cringe.
— Kesar (@Kesaroid) June 26, 2019
Wish I lived in a world where #TheOfficeIndia didn't exist..
— Rohan (@therohan97) June 28, 2019
There are some tweets calling the dreadful reviews unnecessarily harsh: it's not as bad as it could have been, say some tweets - expectations were plainly rock bottom.
The Office UK and US made stars of its fantastic casts - Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Lucy Davis and Mackenzie Crook in the original; Steve Carrell, Jim Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson and BJ Novak in the American version. The Office US also boasted a who's who list of actors appearing in smaller roles - from Mindy Kaling to Randall Park.
The Office India transports the scene to a paper company called Wilkins Chawla: Mukul Chadda stars as the boss Jagdeep Chadda; the cast includes Gopal Dutt, Gauahar Khan, Sayandeep Sengupta and Samridhi Dewan.
