Category: Hindi Webseries Reviews

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Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2: A pulpy sequel with engaging twists and a Shakesperean touch

Ya Kaali Kaali Aankhein Season 2 web series banner

A famous quote of Shakespeare on how “The course of true love never did run smooth” perfectly describes this twisted love story. Director Sidharth Sengupta along with his co-writers maintain a palpable tension about what would be the fate of Tahir Raj Bhasin’s Vikrant

Starcast: Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anchal Singh, Surya Sharma, Swetha Tripathi, Arunoday Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Gurmeet Choudhary and others

Director: Sidharth Sengupta

Writers: Varun Bodola, Anahata Menon etc

Producers: Jyoti Sagar and Sidharth Sengupta

Production Company: Edgestorm

Cinematography: Murli Krishna

No of episodes: 6

Streaming site: Netflix

For those who aren’t familiar with Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein season 1 it was a twisted love story with a gender twist. Instead of a male obsessive lover there was a possessive female in the form of Anchal Singh’s Purva. She makes life hell for Tahir Raj Bhasin’s Vikrant. What made the show click in spite of a familiar love triangle was its treatment. Director Sidharth Sengupta kept the viewers guessing about what turn the story would take. The performances of Tahir Raj Bhasin and Anchal Singh in particular also made the show engrossing. Season 2 of Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein is for most part a worthy follow up to Season 1. There are enough tension filled moments to keep the viewers hooked and the characterizations of Tahir Raj Bhasin and Anchal Singh are like an icing on the cake.

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 1

Season 2 of Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein begins with the kidnap of Aanchal Singh’s Purva. The kidnapper is Arunoday Singh’s Jalan but the one who orchestrated the entire situation is Vikrant. Vikrant had actually hired Jalan to get rid of Purva forever but now Jalan has double crossed Vikrant. The reason for Jalan’s double crossing is he wants more money. Adding to Vikrant’s woes is his lover Shikha (Swetha Tripathi) getting married to another man. Additional problems pile up for Vikrant with the entry of Guru (Gurmeet Choudhary). He is a tech savvy agent along with being Purva’s close friend. At one point Guru and Shikha had spent considerable time together and he had confessed his feelings of love to Purva too. But Purva had made it very clear that she doesn’t love him. Guru is determined to bring Purva back at any cost, it is both professional and personal for him. He gets suspicious of Vikrant having a hand in the kidnap leading to an exciting cat and mouse game.

A strong aspect of Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein season 2 like the first season is the layered characterization of Tahir Raj Bhasin. Towards the end of season 1 Vikrant had transformed from a normal small-town boy to a man on mission. The characterization had undergone a significant change with Vikrant becoming a morally ambivalent person. In this season the grey shades are more pronounced. Much like Sushmita Sen’s Aarya Vikrant too is forced to bring out the inner demon in him. He was just a normal guy wanting to lead a happy life with his sweetheart Shikha and stay away from both Purva and her politician father Akheraj Awasthi (Saurabh Shukla) but due to certain circumstances his life had taken a very different route.

Tahir Raj Bhasin does a splendid job in pulling off Vikrant’s emotional turmoil. For example, there is a scene where Vikrant visits Shikha a day after her wedding to cover up an important matter. He is absolutely devasted on discovering that Shikha is no longer his and blames her for giving up. Shikha retorts by saying that he too had married Purva surrendering to the circumstances. The way Tahir portrays the breakdown of Vikrant’s ego in that particular moment is exemplary.

Tahir Raj Bhasin does a splendid job in pulling off Vikrant’s emotional turmoil

Some of Vikrant’s actions are indeed questionable but at the same time there is a strong vulnerability too making it hard for the viewers to dislike him completely. Apart from Tahir Anchal Singh’s Purva too successfully takes off from where she left from the previous season. The character of Purva in comparison to the first season is more layered. The viewers get a physiological insight into how she has grown into this extremely possessive person. Anchal does a very fine job in humanizing the role of an obsessive lover. The dynamics between Vikrant and Purva continue to be the major backbone of the web show.

Anchal Singh does a very fine job in humanizing the role of an obsessive lover

Special mention must also be made of Saurabh Shukla’s Akheraj Awasthi. His role of a powerful politician acquires new shades in season 2. There is a scene where Akheraj confesses on how he should have brought up his daughter better apologizing to Vikrant. Brijender Kala much like the first season raises many chuckles with his comic timing. A standout scene between Tahir and Brijender Kala is when Vikrant questions the father about his unwavering loyalty to Akheraj, how he is willing to sacrifice the entire family in name of devotion. In fact, both the fathers function as a major catalyst for how Vikrant and Purva have shaped up.

Gurmeet Choudhary as the new entrant proves to be a worthy opponent for Vikrant. He does a fine job in showcasing Guru’s determination along with the emotions of love. Anant Vijay Joshi of 12th Fail fame is only used to give a humorous touch to an otherwise tense narrative. His portions come as a welcome relief amidst the chaos although the writing could have been better. The show at times also suffers on the account of a few cinematic liberties like Guru’s omnipotent surveillance technology.

Murli Krishna’s cinematography is of a very high standard whether it is the snowcapped mountains or how he captures the brilliant action set pieces. The stunts designed by Amar Shetty are on par with any big screen action movie. The iconic title track of Baazigar ‘Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein’ has been recreated wonderfully. The recreated track enhances the tension at many places.

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein is definitely worth watching for those who like dark thrillers.

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Freedom At Midnight web series review: A brilliant exploration of events leading up to the partition

Director Nikhil Advani skillfully captures the political turmoil of the time, which ideally should have been the celebration of free India but ended as a harrowing experience with the religious conflicts. 
Freedom At Midnight (Hindi), 14-11-2024, Historical drama ,7 episodes, 13+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Sidhant Gupta, Chirag Vohra, Rajendra Chawla, Luke McGibney, Cordelia Bugeja, Arif Zakaria, Ira Dubey, Malishka Mendonsa, and Rajesh Kumar
  • Director: Nikhil Advani
  • Producer: Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani
  • Music Director: Ashutosh Patak
  • Cinematography: Malay Prakash
  • Rating: 4/5

Starting from Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and Salaam- E- Ishq (2007) director and producer Nikhil Advani has had a fascinating career so far.

He has dabbled in various genres whether it is the action dramas Batla House (2019) and D-Day (2013) or the two seasons of Mumbai Diaries— a medical thriller.

This year Nikhil further proved his versatility with the movie Vedaa—a gritty social drama with hardcore action.

Synopsis

The web series Freedom At Midnight, streaming on Sony Liv, though has to be the biggest risk taken by the director. Given the complexity of the events and also the probability of being accused of aligning to a particular political spectrum.

The series is based on the book “Freedom at Midnight” by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins.

Fortunately, Nikhil has passed the test with flying colours. He has succeeded in not only making a gripping series but at no point does the show take sides blaming a particular person or party. Instead, it places the viewers amidst the powerful leaders who have fought for India’s independence letting the audiences make their own judgments.

At the heart of Freedom At Midnight are the complex political scenarios represented by the numerous leaders. The main ones are Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (Sidhant Gupta), Sardar Vallabhai Patel (Rajendra Chawla), Mahatma Gandhi (Chirag Vohra), Mohammad Ali Jinnah (Arif Zakaria) and Lord Louis Mountbatten (Luke Mc Gibney).

Through the seven episodes, Nikhil Advani along with writers Gundeep Kaur, Ethan Taylor, Divy Nidhi Sharma, and Revantha Sarabai, gives a strong insight into the political machinations and the numerous differences of opinions leading to clashes.

Analysis

A still from the series Freedom At Midnight
A still from the series ‘Freedom At Midnight’. (X)

As already mentioned, Freedom At Midnight doesn’t take sides at any point, instead, it presents the viewers with various perspectives.

Whether it is Gandhiji’s unwavering idealism in spite of the clash of opinions between Nehru and Sardar Vallabhai Patel, or Jinnah’s uncompromising attitude on wanting Pakistan among others.

The series presents the leaders with their flaws, fears and contradictions. The best examples of this are the portions involving Jinnah’s calculated decisions or Nehru’s quiet torment.

The scenes of religious discord leading to incidents of communal violence give the show some of its best emotional scenes. Although these scenes are set in a particular time period, there is contemporariness to them, as religious discord, is still a major issue in the present time.

Technical brilliance

Freedom At Midnight is a historical drama
‘Freedom At Midnight’ is a historical drama. (X)

Freedom At Midnight immerses the viewers from the first frame and a major reason for this is Malay Prakash’s cinematography.

The close-up shots of the emotional upheavals faced by Nehru, and Gandhi in particular transports the viewers into those turbulent times making them feel that they are watching the happenings from up close.

Both the cinematography and the production design are the main pillars of this web show.

Talking about the production design, the scenes of the Viceroy’s house along with the portions showcasing the riot-torn neighbourhoods serve as a perfect masterclass in creating an authentic world in an era where VFX is dominating mainstream cinema.

Ashutosh Patak’s music is equally poignant enhancing the series’ emotional scenes significantly. There is a haunting quality to the tunes in perfect sync with the nature of the show.

Performances

Sidhant Gupta as Nehru in ‘Freedom At Midnight’. (X)

The performances of the entire cast are brilliant starting from Sidhant Gupta. The young actor successfully takes off from his fantastic performance in Jubilee (2023).

As Jawaharlal Nehru, he perfectly portrays the inner conflicts of a leader who is torn between his ideals and the grim pragmatism that was the need of the hour, his scenes with Chirag Vohra’s Gandhi in particular are very impressive.

The scenes of the unfortunate discord and how he portrays a quiet resolve are truly brilliant.

Arif Zakaria is also terrific making sure that Mohammad Ali Jinnah never becomes a caricature. He portrays him as a complex personality with shades of frailty, ambition and conviction.

Jinnah is someone who is both formidable and tragically flawed. Both the writing and Arif Zakaria’s performance bring out these nuances wonderfully.

Chirag Vohra as Gandhi plays his part with lots of grace. His performance particularly in the scenes of anguish is praiseworthy.

Rajendra Chawla as Sardar Patel portrays both the grit and the gentleness of the leader in a perfect manner. Special mention must also be made of Rajesh Kumar playing Liaquat Ali Khan. The actor makes for a perfect partner in crime for Jinnah.

The women characters though needed better etching. Both Ira Dubey’s Fatima and also the actress playing Lady Mountbatten are introduced with great promise but end up mostly relegated to the background.

Final take

Keeping aside this small niggle, Freedom At Midnight is a moving emotional tale of how freedom came at a heavy price.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/freedom-at-midnight-web-series-review-a-brilliant-exploration-of-events-leading-up-to-the-partition/

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Citadel: Honey Bunny web series review: Slick action coupled with the solid performances makes this an engaging thriller

Raj and DK’s spin-off to Priyanka Chopra’s ‘Citadel’ is far superior to the American web series.
Citadel: Honey Bunny (Hindi); 06-11-2024, Action, Thriller, 6 episodes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashavi Majumdar, Kay Kay Menon, Saqib Saleem, Sikander Kher, and Simran Bagga
  • Director: Raj and DK
  • Producer: Syed Zaid Ali and Alek Conic
  • Music Director: Sachin- Jigar
  • Cinematography:J ohn Heurlin Aidt
  • Rating :3/5

The American show Citadel (2023) is considered to be one of the most expensive web series produced. However, the response was quite lukewarm with not-so-great reviews from both the critics and the audiences. Despite that season two of Citadel has been announced.

Raj and DK’s Citadel: Honey and Bunny is a spin-off to this show. It doesn’t completely match up to the finesse of Raj and DK’s previous web shows— The Family Man (2019) and Farzi (2023)—but still it keeps you hooked.

The storyline of Citadel: Honey Bunny moves along two parallel timelines 1992 and 2000. Honey (Samantha) is an ambitious young woman who has run away from home with dreams of becoming an actress.

In pursuit of becoming an actor, her path crosses with that of Varun Dhawan’s Bunny a stunt coordinator. The friendship blossoms into love however Bunny is not what he appears to be. He is leading a double life as a spy for a secret agency.

Synopsis

Things take a turn when Honey, who first approaches Bunny to seek his help in becoming an actor, requests him to train her to be a spy.

Though Bunny initially hesitates, he soon agrees seeing her courage. Amidst this, enters another character Baba, played by Kay Kay Menon.

Kay Kay Menon is the leader of the spy group. He is also the one who has turned Bunny’s life around by picking him up from the orphanage and bringing him up with lots of love. Due to this, Bunny is devoted and loyal to Baba.

The aim of Kay Kay Menon and Co is to bring down “Operation Talwar” sabotaging a rival spy organization “Citadel” in the process.

As the mission progresses, big differences creep up between Honey and Bunny leading to a major cycle of events.

This is the story in brief, which is now available on Amazon Prime Video.

What works and what doesn’t

Samantha and Varun from Citadel Honey Bunny
Samantha and Varun from ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’. (X)

A strong aspect of Citadel: Honey Bunny is how Raj and DK have crafted the love story of the two primary characters. From the initial meet-cute moments to them developing feelings for each other has been wonderfully written and enacted.

The chemistry between Varun and Samantha comes across as organic. Even the scene leading up to their first kiss in the middle of a fun moment doesn’t feel forced.

Another strong aspect of Citadel: Honey Bunny is the dynamics between Baba and Bunny. Kay Kay Menon’s Baba is someone who alternates between being a bad man and also a fatherly figure for not just Bunny but the other guys too.

He inspires both fear and respect. The conversations between Baba and Bunny have an emotional depth with a particular mention of an orphanage scene in the sixth episode. Kay Kay Menon as usual does a very fine job of capturing the various nuances of Baba.

The production design of Citadel: Honey Bunny is quite commendable. Raj and DK along with the technical crew do a fine job in transporting the viewers back to the 90s and early 2000s.

One major problem with Citadel: Honey Bunny is the constant back-and-forth exploring the motivations of the various characters. This back-and-forth does help in giving a psychological insight into how the various struggles have shaped up the protagonists but it also slows down the show.

Another problem with Citadel: Honey Bunny is the underdevelopment of Simran’s character. Her character of Zooni needed better etching to have a stronger impact.

Performances

Samantha with Kashavi in Citadel Honey Bunny
Samantha with Kashavi in ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’. (X)

Child actor Kashavi Majumdar playing Honey and Bunny’s daughter Nadia proves to be a major ace of this web series. Nadia has had to grow up well before time. She is thrust into the dark underbelly of the spy world.

Kashavi does a terrific job of portraying the internal conflict of a young girl whose carefree childhood has gone for a toss. She more than holds her own opposite Samantha brilliantly conveying resilience. The mother-and-daughter scenes give the show some of its best moments.

Samantha as Honey is successful in bringing out both the inner strength and vulnerability of her role. She simply aces the action sequences bringing in the intensity of a mother who is also a deadly spy.

A particular scene where she takes on a group of assassins while gently closing her daughter’s eyes to shield her from the bloodshed is brilliantly written and executed. Action is one of the mainstays of Citadel: Honey Bunny and the fight sequences are indeed a treat to watch particularly for those who like raw action.

Varun Dhawan as Bunny also shines particularly in the emotional scenes. A special mention must be made of his few scenes with Kashavi Majumdar. Saqib Saleem as the menacing KD also makes a striking impact. He proves to be a worthy opponent for Samantha and Varun.

Final take

To sum it up Citadel: Honey Bunny is worth a watch for those who are into gritty action and the spy world.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula.)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/citadel-honey-bunny-web-series-review-slick-action-coupled-with-the-solid-performances-makes-this-an-engaging-spy-thriller/

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Call Me Bae: A breezy coming of age story

Director Collin D’Cunha manages to create a strong sense of sisterhood, the journey of Ananya Pandey’s Bae in carving her own identity comes across as sanitized but still the show has enough spunk

  • Starcast: Ananya Pandey, Muskkaan Jaferi, Gurfateh Pirzada, Varun Sood, Vihaan Samrat, Vir Das and others
  • Story: Ishita Moitra, Samina Motlekar and Rohit Nair
  • Director: Collin D’ Cunha
  • Producers: Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Somen Mishra
  • Production Company: Dharmatic Entertainment
  • No of episodes: 8
  • Streaming site: Amazon Prime
  • Music: Rochak Kohli

Collin D’Cunha’s Call Me Bae focuses on the transformation of a rich housewife Bella aka Bae (Ananya Pandey). The show begins with Bae getting ousted from her sasural when she is caught getting cozy with the gym trainer played by Varun Sood. From here we go to a brief flashback establishing her rich lifestyle. Mini Mathur plays Bae’s mother Gayatri. She takes it upon herself to set the daughter’s marriage with an equally rich guy Agastya (Vihaan Samrat). Their relationship starts off a great note, but soon the marriage takes a big hit because of Agastya’s detachment. It is during this time that Bae falls for Varun Sood’s Prince Bhasin. What adds to Bae’s woes is the attitude of her mother who distances herself. Now Bae has to fend for herself and in this process her path crosses with that of Satyajit Sen (a delightful Vir Das). Satyajit Sen is a news anchor modeled on the likes of Arunav Goswami. Aiding Bae in the growth is Muskkaan Jaferi’s Saira Ali.

Call Me Bae focuses on the transformation of a rich housewife Bella aka Bae
Bae’s path crosses with Satyajit Sen (Vir Das)

First and foremost, the tonality of Call Me Bae is not of the typical riches to rags storylines. Ananya Pandey’s Bae doesn’t sleep on a footpath and nor do we see her hustle in local trains. The process of finding a place and job doesn’t become a big hassle. There is a lot of tongue in cheek humor in the way the writers have written Bella. Once the viewers get adjusted to this tonality there is quite a bit to enjoy.

What makes the series work in spite of the sanitized situations is the characterization of Bella coupled with Ananya Pandey’s winsome act. Some of Bella’s quirks jell perfectly with the personality of Ananya and the actress raises many chuckles in portraying Bella’s cluelessness. One of the humorous bits include a scene where Bella sprays hand sanitizer on a beach bench. At the same time, she also aces the emotional scenes like the one where Bella sees her husband Agastya being close to another girl. The process of Bella becoming a more layered person has been wonderfully portrayed by the actress. Also, to the credit of Ishita Moitra and co Bella doesn’t drastically transform into a down to earth person. Her quirky nature is very much there but at the same time there is a subtle growth.

What also works for the series is the camaraderie between Ananya Pandey and Muskkaan Jaferi. Muskkaan Jaferi’s character enters at a crucial point and soon becomes an important ally. Muskkaan Jaferi’s comic timing is simply wonderful, her one liners add a lot to the show. Through her performance Muskkaan Jaferi makes you wish that you also had a strong friend like her.

Vir Das’s act of an arrogant and oversmart journalist is clearly reminiscent of Arunav Goswami’s antics. The character is more of a caricature but still Vir Das does a splendid job in making the viewers detest him. There is a devilish glee in the way Vir portrays him. The confrontation scenes between Ananya and Vir spice up the show in a major way.

Vir Das as Satyajit Sen
Ananya Pandey and Vir Das confrontation scene

Mention must be also made of the equation between the characters of Ananya Pandey and Gurfateh Pirzada. Gurfateh Pirzada plays Bella’s colleague Neel. Neel also contributes significantly to Bella’s progress, there is also a cute love story. Gurfateh Pirzada pitches in a fine performance making his presence amply felt. Varun Sood as the lovable gym trainer also has his moments.

As mentioned in the beginning director Collin D’ Cunha brings a strong sense of sisterhood. This sisterhood is reflected through not just the track of Muskkaan Jaferi. There is also Niharika Lyra Dutt as Tammarrah Lisa Mishra as Harleen. These two women also become an important part of Bella’s life.

Towards the end the series gets into a serious territory of Me Too and also data privacy. These important themes needed stronger writing, also the cinematic liberties taken by Colllin D’Cunha here becomes hard to digest. Thankfully though the series doesn’t get into a preachy zone. The costumes of Ananya go perfectly well with the pitch of the series. initially they are very glitzy and over the top but in the later episodes they are more subdued.

Rochak Kohli’s music has a good mix of fun and emotional songs particular mention must be made of Churaaiyaan.

Ananya Pandey in Churaaiyaan

Call Me Bae is a perfect watch for those like frothy entertainment without going very deep.

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Shekhar Home: Sherlock Holmes with a Bengali twist

This desi rendition is a treat for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective. Directors Srijit Mukherjee and Rohan Sippy do a fine job in capturing the eccentric nature of Sherlock Holmes while giving it their own twist. The atmospherics of Kolkata becomes a major character in itself

  • Starcast: Kay Kay Menon, Ranvir Shorey, Rudranil Ghosh, Kaushik Sen, Rasika Dugal, Kriti Kulhari and others
  • Directors: Srijit Mukherjee and Rohan Sippy
  • Creators: Aniruddha Guha and Srijit Mukherjee
  • Inspired by: Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes
  • Screenplay: Aniruddha Guha Niharika Puri
  • Production house: BBC Studio Productions
  • No of episodes: 6
  • Streaming site: Jio Cinema

The characters of Sherlock Holmes and his associate Dr Watson have captured the imagination of many readers even to this day. The combination of Sherlock Holmes eccentrics and Dr Watson’s more grounded approach makes these stories very entertaining. In Hollywood numerous movies and web shows have taken inspiration from Arthur Conan Doyle’s work. For example, there is the British mystery/ crime series Sherlock. There is also Robert Downey Jr starrer Sherlock Holmes and the sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. There was also the 2020 Enola Holmes with Millie Bobby as Sherlock Holmes sister. In Indian context you have the character of Byomkesh Bakshi a fictional detective similar to Sherlock Holmes. Shekhar Home has the Bengali atmospherics reminiscent of Byomkesh Bakshi but in tone this detective is closer to Sherlock Holmes whacky nature

Kay Kay Menon and Ranvir Shorey as desi Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson

The story of Shekhar Home unfolds in a serene town of Lonapur in Bengal. Shekhar (an excellent Kay Kay Menon) is a detective who draws conclusions with his sharp observations. Shekhar’s biggest strength is his perceptive mind and the ability to second guess. Jayavart Saini (Ranvir Shorey) is an ex-army doctor and Shekhar’s new housemate. Together both of them solve many cases ranging from blackmail, murders and also supernatural events. The solving of all these lead to a major revelation in the climax.

The best part of Shekhar Home is its anthology-like structure. Every episode comes with a fresh bunch of suspects, as a result the approach of Shekhar and Jayavart also varies. This makes the show very interesting. The series particularly picks up pace when the action shifts to a place in Bihar. These portions have Jayavart in a stressful mood resulting in some chuckle worthy moments. The task of Shekhar and Jayavart is to catch the person blackmailing a politician. Rasika Dugal plays Iravati, she is a Sitar expert whose observation skills are on par with Shekhar. The chemistry between Kay Kay Menon and Rasika is a delight to watch.

Rasika Dugal in Shekhar Home

Iravati is a seductress with a hidden agenda. The scenes of Shekhar and Iravati using their observation skills to stay one step ahead is wonderful to watch.

Mention also must be made of the segment involving Kriti Kulhari as Mumtaz. Mumtaz is a liaison officer responsible for inter- departmental coordination. Shekhar and Jayavart are on the hunt for a certain M. This segment also keeps you hooked, and the ultimate revelation is indeed a pleasant shocker.

Kriti Kulhari in Shekhar Home

Shekhar Home also benefits from excellent cinematography. The visuals of bustling streets and hidden alleys makes you feel like you are solving the crimes alongside Shekhar. The charm of Kolkata coupled with the eerie mood heighten the tension. The incorporation of the Bengali Folklore is also first rate. Joel Crasto’s background score is in perfect sync. The series ends with a cliffhanger leaving the viewers excited for the second season.

It goes without saying that Kay Kay Menon and Ranvir Shorey shoulder the show with their first-rate performances. Kay Kay slips into the eccentric nature of this desi Sherlock with utmost ease. He portrays the role with the right blend of humor and intensity. Ranvir Shorey as Jayavrat proves to be a perfect partner. Apart from the comic scenes Ranvir particularly shines in the pre climax bringing out an unexpected side of him. Rasika Dugal and Kriti Kulhari also do well in their respective parts. Shehnaz Patel as Shekhar’s landlady comes across as tad too animated which could have been toned down.

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IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack: An immersive web show revisiting a hugely agonizing period

The decision of releasing the three terrorists is something that is debated even to this day. Refreshingly Director Anubhav Sinha doesn’t take any sides and neither does he resort to the current over the top nationalism

  • Starcast: Vijay Varma, Manoj Pahwa, Aravind Swamy, Pankaj Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Dia Mirza, Rajiv Thakur and others
  • Based on the book: Flight Into Fear – The Captain’s story by Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury
  • Director: Anubhav Sinha
  • Writers: Adrian Levy and Trishant Srivastava
  • Production houses: Matchbox Shots and Banaras Mediaworks
  • Streaming site: Netflix
  • No of episodes: 6
  • Cinematography: Ewan Mulligan and Ravi Kiran Ayyagari

In simple terms the story of ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ focuses on a flight hijacked by three Pakistani terrorists. The flight was going from Delhi to Katmandu. After being taken hostage the airplane lands at three different locations before the final destination of Kandahar which was then under the control of Talibans. These terrorists want the release of their imprisoned Kashmiri comrades along with a dead body of a militant. Director Anubhav Sinha and the other two writers recreate the eight harrowing days in a gripping manner. The continuous negotiations between the Indian agents and the Pakistani terrorists and the efforts of the passengers for survival is depicted authentically.

Passengers in the hijacked plane

Before going forward, I will slightly touch upon the unnecessary controversy that the show has found itself in. A section of people has raised objection to some of the hijackers having Hindu codenames, this objection feels very redundant. Assuming false names is a very common practice when you don’t want the real identity to come out. When the terrorists used certain code names how can a director change it, specially as this is based on a true story.

Now moving on to the show, earlier too we have seen stories of this genre where a larger-than-life hero saves the day. Here that has been subverted in a refreshing manner. Vijay Varma’s Captain Sharan Dev is the major pivot of this story as he is the head pilot. But the character never comes across as larger than life. He is as vulnerable as the other passengers and the fellow staff; Sharan Dev simply wants to survive through this ordeal so that he can meet his daughters again. At the same time, he shows determination too. This mix of fear and determination has been wonderfully portrayed by the actor. With this web show Vijay Varma once again proves his capability in adapting to different roles.

A mix of fear and determination

This web series follows a pattern of blending real life situations with dramatized events. A voice over runs alongside the archival footage. The merging of archival footage and the re-created scenes is not easy to blend but director Anubhav Sinha does a very good job in intermingling both.

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is also refreshing in its portrayal of the terrorists. Thanks to the nuanced writing they never come across as one note characters. There is a scene of them participating in Antyakshari with passengers. In another scene one of the terrorists comforts an air hostess who vomits as she is unable to bear the stench. There is also a moment where a terrorist expresses his admiration for Sharan Dev.

The series also does a wonderful job in portraying the sheer hopelessness of the situation. In a particularly impactful scene, a helpless flight attendant is trying to clean out an over flowering toilet. It is a very disturbing image.

There isn’t much space in a show like this for lighthearted moments, but Manoj Pahwa raises many chuckles with his sarcastic humor. He plays an aggressive official and the senior actor as expected delivers a solid act. Whether it is the scenes of negotiation with the hijackers or his conversations with the suave Aravind Swamy in the role of an MEA official. In spite of a bulky physicality the actor commands your attention. Aravind Swamy as the smooth-talking officer with a different approach is charm personified.

Manoj Pahwa commands your attention
Aravind Swamy as the smooth-talking officer is charm personified

Like other hostage dramas this too comes with certain backstories. Anubhav Sinha does not explore them in detail but there is enough to chew on. For example, you have an orthopedician shrugging off his responsibility in saving a heavily wounded passenger. The same attitude can be seen later when he is stranded with a differently abled son. The Director links this behavior to a larger picture concerning the politicians and bureaucrats. Hijackers get into the aircraft with guns and bombs in a very convenient manner. These scenes show how a security lapse can result in deadly consequences.

The crux of ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ is more about the emotional battles, and less about combat. This has come out well. The role of Afghanistan in rescuing the passengers also gives the show some of its most heart warming moments.

Rajiv Thakur, a comedian earlier does a good job in the role of a menacing hijacker. Yes, the actor does fall short on certain occasions particularly in the scenes with Manoj Pahwa but still it is a commendable effort. Among others Dia Mirza and Amrita Puri also do a fine job. As a member of Press Dia portrays both the tenderness and intensity in an effective manner. Through the track of her and Amrita Puri Anubhav Sinha brought the conflict between newspapers and television into the story.

Rajiv Thakur cast against type

A special mention must be made about Pankaj Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah playing senior officials. They are actors par excellence with a huge body of work behind them. It is a pleasure to watch the two veteran actors in one frame. Their interactions are laced with conflicting ideologies but underlined with mutual respect.

The cinematography of Ewan Mulligan and Ravi Kiran Ayyagari is also first rate. Both do a splendid job in capturing the high tension through their lens.

One aspect of the show which feels slightly underwhelming is the structure. The cuts between the episodes feel abrupt giving the impression that this was originally planned as a movie, but this doesn’t hamper the proceedings in a significant manner.

The final moments leave the viewers with a lot of thoughts on how the hijack happened so easily in the first place. But I suppose there is always scope for security lapses.

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Gullak Season 4: An engaging slice of life series that makes for good weekend watch

The conflict points of the 4th Season doesn’t quite hit the high notes of the previous one but still there is enough to joy

Starcast: Jameel Khan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Harsh Mayar, Sunita Rajwar and others
Director and writer: Shreyansh Pandey
Additional writer: Vidit Tripathi
Production Company: The Viral Fever Media Labs
Genre: Comedy/drama
Streaming site: Sonyliv

The production house of The Viral Fever (TVF) has made a strong place in the streaming space. They have produced quality shows like the three seasons of Panchayat, Kota Factory and Gullak etc. Producer Arunabh Kumar has backed stories that have resonated with audiences of different age groups. The first three seasons of Gullak were hugely appreciated for how it depicted a typical middle-class family with their quirks and eccentricities. For those who haven’t seen the first three seasons the story revolves around the family of Mishras headed by Santosh Mishra (Jameel Khan) and the wife Shanti (Geetanjali Kulkarni).

Gullak web series has always had a format of a new problem in every episode, this time this time too the story is peppered with new conflicts of different nature. This time the focus is on adolescence and the challenges faced by Santosh Mishra and Shanti. This aspect is covered through the younger son Aman (Harsh Mayar). His equation with the elder brother Annu (Vaibhav Raj Gupta) has undergone a significant change too, there are no longer the inalienable siblings. There is also the nosy neighbor played by Sunita Rajwar who lands up in the house of Mishras on odd occasions.

A strong aspect of this season is the depiction of adolescence along with the challenges faced by the parents in trying to find a way on how to deal with the growing defiance of their off spring. The situations are portrayed in a lighter vein but at the same time the proceedings never get frivolous.

Director Shreyash Pandey does a wonderful job in showcasing the perspective of both Aman and the parents without getting into a judgmental mode. The banter between the siblings and their dynamics is a major highlight of season 4.

The scenes of affection between Santosh and Shanti are also wonderful to watch. The love is portrayed through just a few words and glances, but it still makes a huge impact.

Sunita Rajwar as the troublesome neighbor continues to bring the house down with her antics. This time though the character goes beyond just fun, there is also an impactful transition scene in the final episode.

The voiceover by Shivankit Singh Parihar is also filled with comic punches that leaves you in splits. His voice over at important junctures adds a lot to the fun quotient. Much like the previous season this time to the storytelling is crisp, but on occasions the conflict points seem rather hurried as well. The show could have benefited with more flesh in writing.

Fortunetly the universe of Gullak has been expanded with the addition of a love story. Helly Shah as a possible love interest of Aman though underutilized has a charming screen presence and their scenes are quite cute. Here’s hoping that the romantic angle is developed more in the coming seasons.

Actors Jammel Khan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Vaibhav Raj Gupta and Harsh Mayar succeesfully take off from the previous seasons. They are all brilliant in their respective parts. Gullak Season 4 is a must watch who enjoy slice of life dramas.

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Panchayat Season 3: A joyous return to the village of Phulera

Director Deepak Kumar Mishra does a wonderful job in mixing humor with emotions. The rural politics add a new dimension to the show

Starcast: Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy and others
Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra
Writer: Chandan Kumar
Producer: Arunab Kumar
Production Company: The Viral Fever
Music: Anurag Saikia
No of episodes: 8
Streaming site: Amazon Prime

For those who haven’t seen the two seasons of Panchayat the plot is about a young man Abhishek Tripati (Jitendra Kumar). Abhishek takes up the position of a panchayat secretary for lack of better options. In the first two seasons the viewers saw Abhishek getting himself acclimatized to the ways of a remote district situated in Ballia (Utter Pradesh). He forms a bond with the locals particularly the ones played by Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Faisal Malik and Chandan Roy.

Season 3 begins with Abhishek back in the city. At the end of the second season, he was axed from his job. A new secretary comes to the village to take his place but in a sudden twist of events Abhishek gets reinstated. His friendship with the village head /Pradhan Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) and the husband (Raghubir Yadav) has reached a strong level. There is also the pronounced romance between him and Pradhan’s daughter Rinky (Sanvika). Sure, there is no confession but for viewers it is apparent that they have grown fond of each other. Faisal Malik’s Prahalad is the depressed father who is still grappling with the death of his son. Chandan Roy’s Vikas is juggling between multiple duties job, married life and also being a pillar of support for Prahalad. Things take a turn when the arch army of Pradhan Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar) and co plan to settle old scores with the help of a local MLA. This leads to a major upheaval in the village ahead of the Panchayat elections, Abhishek finds himself in a tangle, he is sandwiched between village politics and aspirations of a higher job.

A strong aspect of Panchayat Season 3 is the director’s integration of the grassroot politics. There is a palpable intensity in the political rivalry that reflects the current times. Director Deepak Kumar Mishra deserves an appreciation for how he has dwelled into village politics and corruption at the grassroot level while maintaining the humor.

The love angle between Abhishek and Rinky is also fun to watch. On certain occasions she is the one who takes the lead. The light scenes between them work as a perfect contrast to the intense politics playing out. Sanvikaa does well in her limited role.

Neena Gupta’s character has come a long way, she has finally come out of her husband’s shadow. in this season Manju Devi participates actively in the council meetings and also voices her opinions without any fear showing a refreshingly different side. But just like the second season this time too the show could have done with more of Neena Gupta.

Apart from the political aspect the director also deserves appreciation for how he has dealt with the themes of mental health, loneliness, financial independence etc. through multiple characters. Both Chandan Roy and Faisal Malik continue to be an important pillar for the show. The character arcs of both is another plus. Jitender Kumar is good as always particularly in the moments of intensity.

Although gripping for most part some of the writing could have been better. For example, the role of MLA’s daughter doesn’t serve much purpose. Also, you have a person who joins a strike out of blue with hardly any build up.

These small niggles aside Panchayat Season 3 is a good follow up to the first two seasons particularly for those who like village-based stories.

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Murder in Mahim: A gripping drama that explores homophobia in depth

Throughout the series, Raj Acharya sheds light on the challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community and how societal acceptance still lags.
Murder in Mahim, 12-05-2024, Crime drama/Thriller, 8 Episodes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Ashutosh Rana, Vijay Raaz, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Rajesh Khattar
  • Director: Raj Acharya
  • Producer: Tipping Point Films, Jigsaw Pictures Productions
  • Music Director: Not known
  • Cinematography: Not known
  • Rating: 3.5/5
  • Published in: Southfirst

Undoubtedly, as a culture, we have made significant progress in our understanding of homosexuality, but there is still a considerable distance to traverse.

While the removal of Article 377 was undoubtedly a significant victory, there is still a great deal of societal discrimination.

Based on Jerry Pinto’s novel of the same name, Murder In Mahim, focuses on a spat of murders, targeting young boys from the LGBTQIA+ community.

These murders send shock waves through the locality of Mahim, and the police team led by Shivajirao Jende (Vijay Raaz) has a huge task.

Synopsis

In his quest to find the criminal, Shivajirao finds support from a long-lost friend. This friend is Peter Fernandes (Ashutosh Rana).

Peter Fernandes is a retired crime journalist and shares a troubled history with Jende’s father.

As the inquiry continues, Peter struggles with conflicting emotions over his son’s sexual orientation.

Peter believes his son is homosexual.

Analysis

Shivani Raghuvanshi plays Firadus Rabbani, a member of Shivajirao’s force. She is a closeted homosexual herself.

The plot of the story alternates between a murder mystery and a social critique of homophobia as it goes along.

A strong aspect of Murder In Mahim is the father and son dynamics, whether it is the one between Peter and his son Sunil, or Shivajirao with his father.

The diametrically different views of Fernandes and his son regarding homosexuality give the show, some of its best moments.

Because of the resentment in Shivajirao’s connection with his father, he feels uneasy all the time.

They both have a distinct temperament. In certain situations, Shivajirao treats his son more like a father would.

A stellar cast

Murder In Mahim also does a good job of revealing society’s murky side.

For instance, the Mumbai local station has a sombre restroom that is meant to be a place of safety for this community; yet, instead of providing comfort, this increases worries about how acceptable they are in society.

The character of Shivani Raghuvanshi is another highlight of the show.

Firdaus Rabbani has been in a secret relationship with a girl for a long time. She finds it difficult to reveal her relationship to the public.

Performances

The filmmaker has done a good job of highlighting the inner struggle that coexists with her professional responsibilities but some pointless digressions cause the audiences to twitch.

Murder in Mahim is a compelling series that not only keeps you interested in learning who the murderer is but also features some powerful dialogues about acceptance.

A case in point is the subplot of a knife, which belongs to a character who has nothing to do with the murders. The middle episodes do suffer from convoluted plotting, though.

Regarding performances, Ashutosh Rana and Vijay Raaz are seasoned performers who don’t require an introduction.

They both deliver strong performances and fully embody their respective roles.

Furthermore, Shivani Raghuvanshi contributes significantly to her ability to compete with Vijay Raaz.

Verdict

Murder in Mahim is definitely for those who enjoy whodunits and have empathy for the LGBTQIA+ community.

(Views expressed here are personal)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/murder-in-mahim-review-a-gripping-drama-that-explores-homophobia-in-depth

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Undekhi Season 3: Watch it for the performances and the visuals

Despite its flaws, ‘Undekhi Season 3’ has some strong performances and interesting twists that make it worth watching.
Undekhi: Season 3 (Hindi), 11-05-2024, Crime drama/Thriller, 8 Episodes, 18+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Surya Sharma, Harsh Chhaya, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Ankur Rathee, Shivangi Shah, Varun Badola
  • Director: Ashish R Shukla
  • Producer: Applause Entertainment, Banijay Asia and Edgestorm Ventures
  • Music Director: Anuj Danait
  • Cinematography: Murzy Pagdiwala
  • Rating: 3/5

For those who missed the first two seasons of Undekhi, the murder of a young girl, who loved dancing was at the center of the show’s premise, which was based on a true story.

A dancer was shot and killed after turning down an influential man’s advances during a marriage.

Considering how well-connected the family patriarch is, nobody speaks forward to reveal the truth.

Intermingled with this story was the track of the DSP in search of a tribal girl.

Previous seasons

It was widely appreciated that the first two seasons of Undekhi exposed how easily corruption sneaks into our society and how powerful and wealthy people can get away with crimes by abusing their power.

The series equally addressed women’s difficulties, especially underprivileged ones, by using the character of a runaway tribal girl.

The performances of the actors; Harsh Chhaya and Surya Sharma as the utterly despicable father and son Jodi also worked wonders.

There are definite expectations for the third season for fans of socially conscious crime series.

There are a little too many new characters and subplots in the third season. However, there are some excellent moments in the show.

Synopsis

The third season begins with the reopening of the dancer’s death case. DCP Ghosh (Dibyendu Bhattacharya) has found an important video. He is hopeful about getting justice for the deceased girl, along with putting an end to the crimes of the Atwal family headed by Papaji (Harsh Chhaya) and Rinku (Surya Sharma).

On the other hand, Rinku is hell-bent on reviving the illegal drug business. He, along with the cronies, is searching big time for Samrat (Nandish Singh Sandu) to take revenge.

Papaji’s younger son Daman (Ankur Rathee) and daughter-in-law Teji (Aanchal Singh) are searching for a buyer for the resort at the same time, intending to move there. The plot takes numerous unexpected turns as it goes along, with certain secrets coming to light.

An aspect that works strongly for Undekhi Season 3 is the characterization of Rinku.

Unlike the previous seasons, the viewers see an emotional side of Rinku beneath the toughness.

This comes out well in the husband and wife-related scenes. Surya Sharma’s scenes with Muskaan (Shivanghi Singh) bring out a delicate side, that is refreshing to watch.

A scene depicting Muskaan’s death during her pregnancy follows. It’s heartwarming to see Rinku remember the good times he had with her before breaking down.

Engaging moments

The face-off between Rinku and DCP Ghosh also gives the show some of its best moments. The banter between them and the constant tussle keep the viewers engaged.

Dibyendu Bhattacharya adds a lot of colour to the show with his quirky one-liners.

He does a wonderful job of showcasing the determination of a man who wants to bring justice.

Harsh Chhaya as Papaji continues to ace his role. He takes off from the first two seasons without any hiccups. Yes; the antics are repetitive, but the swag with which he plays, is remarkable.

The juxtaposition of Manali’s scenic beauty with the darkness of the character’s deeds also enhances the atmosphere.

Cinematographer Murzy Pagdiwala does a first-rate job of capturing this distinction through the lens of his camera.

Undekhi Season 3 comes with twists that catch the viewers unaware.

The best example of this is a key revelation about Rinku’s actual father.

Despite Rinku being a horrible person, it is hard to not feel for him emotionally.

Verdict

One big problem with Undekhi Season 3 is some of the underdeveloped characters.

Key characters from the previous seasons, Ankur Rathee and Aanchal Singh, have been largely wasted.

In a similar vein, there are times when it gets hard for the audience to follow the plot.

Lesser subplots would have contributed to making the show more cohesive.

Undekhi Season 3 has its problems, but there is enough intrigue that will hold your attention.

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/undekhi-season-3-review-watch-it-for-performances-and-visuals