Parents' Guide to

Motu Patlu

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Violence, iffy messages in buddies' absurd adventures.

Motu Patlu Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 4+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 5+

#1KIDSINDIANSHOW

Motu Patlu has been a success since 2012 in India.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
age 2+

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (4):

Cultural discrepancies complicate English viewers' overall enjoyment of this series, but the fact that it's so different from the typical U.S. fare means it's intriguing, too. The protagonists are two balding (or, in Patlu's case, bald), seemingly unemployed adult men with copious amounts of time in which to immerse themselves in the ridiculous plots the show sets up for them. Bad guys are less threatening than they are laughable, although they do employ physical tactics to assert themselves and, in the case of John's goons, blindly follow orders.

Motu Patlu isn't a series that will impress upon kids much that's positive. Most of the characters use violence on some level to vent anger or to get their way, and pranks and jokes at the expense of one or more of them are common. More than the obvious physicality of their interactions, there's a pervasive theme of revenge that exists among the characters. When one person is wronged, he looks for a way to even the score rather than use gentler tactics like communication to reach a solution. It makes for some funny moments, but it also sends questionable messages about conflict resolution and interpersonal skills.

TV Details

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