Category: Hindi Webseries Reviews

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Waking of a Nation: A slow burn but an engaging watch particularly for history buffs

The web series suffers somewhat from the constant back and forth and also the theatrical nature of the courtroom proceedings still the series is worth watching. Apart from exploring the events leading up to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre the series also gives an underlying message on the importance of unity
  • Starcast: Taaruk Raina, Sahil Mehta, Nikita Dutt, Carl Wharton and others
  • Director and creator: Ram Madhvani
  • Writers: Shantanu Srivastava and Shatrujeeth Nath
  • Genre: Historical Drama
  • No of episodes: 6
  • Streaming site: Sonyliv
  • Cinematography: Kavya Sharma
  • Music: Sameer Uddin
  • Producers: Ram Madhvani and Amita Madhvani

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre is easily one of the most gut wrenching chapters in Indian history. The blood bath which took place on the peaceful protesters that day can never be forgotten. The Jallianwala Bagh episode has already been explored with gut wrenching affect by director Shoojit Sarcar in the moving biopic of Sardar Udham Singh portrayed masterfully by Vicky Kaushal. The 2006 movie Rang De Basanti also featured a crucial subplot related to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Ram Madhvani’s latest directorial is more about the events which trigged the massive bloodbath through the character of Kantilal Sahani (Taaruk Raina).

Director Ram Madhvani on the set of the web series Waking of a Nation

Kantilal Sahani is a member of the Hunter commission . Kantilal Sahani is a young lawyer newly returned from London. He is a beneficiary of western education. This makes him an outsider amongst the friends group something which he is always reminded about. This character of Kantilal Sahani is supposedly inspired from Sri Chamanlal Harilal Setalvad. A man known for cross examining General Dyer. Through the turbulent journey of Kantilal Sahani the web series explores the ideological struggles of the times between various aspects like reform and revolution etc. The close knit friends of Kantilal Sahani include Ali Allahbaksh (Sahil Mehta) and Poonam Aulakh (Nikita Dutta) among others. The friends represent different perspectives of the Indian freedom movement embodying the diversity of India both religious and ideological.

An image from Waking Of a Nation

A strong aspect of the web series is how Ram Madhvani along with his writers dwell into the political environment leading up to the bloody massacre. Ram Madhvani and the writers are particularly successful in shedding light on the controversial Rowlett act. This Rowlett act gave Britishers complete freedom to imprison individuals without any trial.

A major portion of the web series is about the aftermath specifically the hunter commission inquiry meant to investigate the massacre. The courtroom drama though bordering on theatrics offers a fresh lens.

A very interesting aspect of the web series is also how Ram Madhavani depicts the massacre. He avoids the explicit route instead the reliance is more on sound design and the panic stricken reactions of the people present there along with the not visible carnage makes for a haunting experience.

He allows the viewers to interpret and fill in the gaps using their own imagination. This method leaves a much more impact than the use of graphic method.

The friendship angle and the creeping ideological differences between Kantilal Sahani and his friends has also come out well. The journey of Kantilal Sahani both internally and externally has been well written and brilliantly performed by Taaruk Raina. There is a very poignant moment where Kantilal Sahani imagines his group of friends whom he has lost along the way. The audiences see Kantilal pouring out his anguish on how he has been left behind with so many families looking at him as a beacon of hope. In the same portion there is a key revelation acting as a layer of guilt. This acts as a major trigger point for the case Kantilal is fighting. Previously the viewers see that Kantilal has major ambitions of going to London. While he is fighting the case an unofficial offer is made to him but Kantilal refuses.

These events show the growth of Kantilal. There is another equally poignant bit where he reads out the names of the people who have lost lives in the massacre. The pain in the eyes of Kantilal perfectly reflects emotions which others in the room are also undergoing.

The web series also subtly touches upon the aspect of racial discrimination followed not just by the British but Indians too along with the tendency of discrimination on the basis of religion and caste. The underlying message of how we need to be united irrespective of which religion and caste we come holds a lot of relevance to today’s political environment.

Waking Of a Nation is very non linear in style with multiple timelines. This for a section of people can prove to be a major hindrance. Also the web series can feel sluggish for some given the deliberate slow pace.

The cinematography of Kavya Sharma is also of a very high order. He brings the colonial times to life with his fantastic cinematography. His camerawork deserves a special mention too in the recreation of 1919 Amritsar along with the massacre. The soundtrack of Sameer Uddin is haunting as well perfectly capturing the emotional turmoil.

Apart from Taaruk Raina Sahil Mehta also deserves major appreciation for his striking performance in the role of Allahbaksh. Allahbaksh is often assertive with his ideology and acts as a major foundation for the change in Kantilal.

The British characters thankfully don’t speak in broken Hindi. Among the foreign actors Carl Wharton is top notch as the head of human rights commission. Alexander West as General Dyer is also successful in making the viewers hate him. Paul Mcewan as Michael O’ Dyyer is understated yet highly effective as a man who is extremely calculative.

Alexander West as General Dyer

Final Word: Waking of a Nation is a searing take, a must watch for fans of detailed history lessons.

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Dabba Cartel : Solid performances marred with uneven narrative

More than a crime drama, ‘Dabba Cartel’ works as an interesting character study of women across different strata of society.

Dabba Cartel (Hindi), 28-02-2025, Action, Drama, 7 episodes, 16+, OTT

  • Main Cast: Shabhana Azmi, Jyothika, Shalini Pandey, Nimisha Sajayan, Anjali Anand, and Sai Tamhankar
  • Director: Hitesh Bhatia
  • Producer: Farhan Akhar, Ritesh Sidwani, and Shibani Akhtar
  • Music Director: Gaurav Raina and Tarana Marwah
  • Cinematography: Eeshit Narain
  • Rating: 3/5

Hitesh Bhatia’s Dabba Cartel centres on various women across different social strata. The director is successful in creating interesting characters and also making some impactful social commentary.

More than a crime drama, Dabba Cartel works as an interesting character study of women across different strata of society.

Synopsis

There is Raji (Shalini Pandey) running a small Tiffin service with her maid Mala (Nimisha Sajyayan), this soon becomes a drug cartel service thanks to Mala.

Mala secretly distributes a certain kind of Viagra to get extra cash. As a frustrated single mother grappling with society’s degradation of her, she wants to make sure that her daughter gets the best education.

Adding to the mix is a local broker, Shahida (Anjali Anand), and Varuna (Jyothika), the wife of Shankar Dasgupta (Jisshu Sengupta), a top executive at a pharmaceutical giant. Varuna, an ex-employee of the company, is now a regular housewife. Her relationship with her husband is on the brink of disintegration.

Shabana Azmi plays Raji’s mother-in-law referred to as Baa aka Sheila. She has a dark secret of her own. Due to certain circumstances, these five women form a group. On the surface, the connection between women and a drug cartel may seem dubious but here it’s more about survival rather than power.

Strengths

Shabana Azmi in Dabba Cartel
Shabana Azmi in ‘Dabba Cartel’. (X)

A strong aspect of Dabba Cartel is how Hitesh Batia uses the set-up of the pharmaceutical company. It becomes a very useful accessory for women to run the drug cartel while using the Tiffin service grounded in home-cooked meals as a front.

This setup is used cleverly to play up on some of the societal norms that we reduce women to particularly homemakers.

Thankfully director Hitesh Bhatia, along with the writers Vishnu Menon and Bhavana Kher ground the narrative from the lived experience of these women. The show is shaped more by the biases which play a significant role and the subsequent decisions they make under pressure.

The show also excels in its depiction of gender dynamics. The male characters, particularly the husbands are very dismissive of their wives, particularly Shankar.

There is a brilliant confrontation between Varuna and Shankar, concerning an important revelation. This revelation acts as a major drive for Varuna.

In more ways than one Dabba Cartel is a character-driven show rather than a plot-driven one.

Flaws

A major problem with Drug Cartel is some of the patchily written tracks. For example, in the beginning episodes, a character called Chavan is given a lot of importance but is soon forgotten after a point.

Even the LGBTQ+ track involving Anjali Anand’ Shahida and Sai Tamhankar’ Preeti isn’t organically woven. Varuna’s acceptance in the group could also have been better written particularly given that she is an outsider for others.

Characterisation

Gajraj Rao in Dabba Cartel
Gajraj Rao in ‘Dabba Cartel’. (X)

The supposed invisibility of these housewives becomes their biggest weapon. Mention must also be made of the track involving Gajaraj Rao and an eager-to-prove police officer played by Sai Tamhankar.

Gajraj Rao’s character is an officer from Narcotics who wants to unveil the duplicities happening in the pharmaceutical company VivaLife. His detective-like persona coupled with the desperation of Sai Tamhankar’s Preeti in solving her first major case adds an interesting layer to the web show, particularly in the middle episodes.

Some of the tension-filled moments where a heist kind of mission takes place with the use of the song from the famous Excel Entertainment movie Don add a touch of mischievousness.

Performances

Shalini Pandey and Jyothika in Dabba Cartel
Shalini Pandey and Jyothika in ‘Dabba Cartel’. (X)

Not surprisingly, Dabba Cartel is mostly shouldered by its female cast with particular mention of Shabana Azmi, Nimisha Sajayan and Jyothika.

Shabana Azmi has a towering presence and portrays the role with her usual finesse, she conveys a lot through her eyes and overall body language. Nimisha Sajayan does a very good job of capturing the fiery nature of a woman from a marginalized community.

The character’s need for respect has been portrayed brilliantly by the actor. Jyothika as the seemingly happy housewife with a growing resentment is also a delight to watch.

Among the men, Gajraj Rao leaves the biggest impact as the no-nonsense investigator followed by Jisshu Sengupta.

Technical aspects

The music composed by Gaurav Raina and Tarana Marwah is funky jellying perfectly with the nature of the series.

Eeshit Narian’s cinematography is also of a very good standard. He effectively captures the rooted middle-class milieu through his lens. His cinematography is particularly impressive in the scenes of the crowded alleys and the heavy monsoons.

Final take

To sum it up Dabba Cartel doesn’t completely deliver, still, the show is worth watching for its fantastic female cast.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/dabba-cartel-web-series-review-solid-performances-marred-with-uneven-narrative/

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Aashram Season 3 Part 2 : A strong conclusion

Director Prakash Jha once again succeeds in delivering a strong socio political drama headed by the fantastic cast. In spite of a few elongated stretches the series makes the viewers introspect about the hold that these fake babas have.
Aashram season 3 part 2 (Hindi), 27-02-2025, Drama, Thriller, 5 episodes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Bobby Deol, Aaditi Pohankar, Chandan Roy Sanyal, and Tridha Choudhary
  • Director: Prakash Jha
  • Producer: Prakash Jha
  • Music Director: Sunny Inder
  • Cinematography: Chandan Kowli
  • Rating: 3.5/5

The filmography of Prakash Jha has always been dominated by subjects of social importance.

Whether it is his initial films like Mrityudand (1997) focusing on injustice practices set in Bihar or even the later ones like Gangajaal, Apaharan and others.

The filmmaker has often drawn inspiration from real life. Of course, the results haven’t been always great, particularly in the last few years but the director’s commitment to portraying socially relevant issues is undeniable.

Synopsis

His web series debut Aashram streaming on Amazon MX player, which released its first instalment in 2020, marked the rebirth of both Prakash Jha and Bobby Deol. The core plot of Aashram revolves around a magnetic godman, played by a brilliant Bobby Deol.

Bobby Deol’s Nirala Baba pretends to be a messiah but in actuality, it is just a façade. Aaditi Pohankar’s Pammi starts off as one of his numerous devotees but things take a huge turn when she realizes that Nirala is no saint but a monster with ulterior motives.

In the second season, the viewers see Pammi turning against Nirala fighting a huge battle, and undergoing many tribulations, including the death of her close ones.

Additionally, the mother believes that her daughter has gone ashtray and is maligning the name of Baba Nirala to cover her wrongdoings.

The first part of Aashram’s third season saw Pammi getting some political support but due to certain change of events, she ended up behind bars.

A revenge

Aditi in Aashram Season 3 Part 2
Aditi in ‘Aashram Season 3 Part 2’. (X)

In the second part of Aashram’s third season, the focus is primarily on how Pammi makes a return back to the Aashram and systematically plots her revenge.

She puts a façade in front of Nirala Baba by saying that she has unnecessarily wronged him and now wants to correct her mistakes.

Baba Nirala arranges her bail and gets her shifted to the Aashram much to the disdain of his friend and partner in crime Bhopa Swami (Chandan Roy Sanyal).

Pammi pretends to be an ardent devotee but her actual intentions are different. The rest of the story focuses on how Pammi reveals the true colours of Nirala Baba to the court along with the back story of this magnetic godman who has several skeletons buried in his closet.

Strengths and flaws

A strong aspect of Aashram season 3 part two is how Pammi goes about her plan in an unhurried manner. The way she tempts Bhopa Swami turning Bhopa and Nirala against each other is interesting to watch.

A still from the film Aashram Season 3 Part 2
A still from the film ‘Aashram Season 3 Part 2’. (X)

The scenes of Pammi seducing Bhopa gradually might test the patience of some viewers but are necessary in the larger scheme of things.

The back story of Baba Nirala and how his manipulations come back to haunt him has been wonderfully written and enacted. The portions of Baba Nirala’s psychological battles are also gripping to watch.

The series also does a very fine job of raising uncomfortable questions about power and faith. Prakash Jha also does a fine job of showcasing devotion being a double-edged sword and how playing with someone’s faith through numerous lies can take you down however big your empire is.

The characterizations of the three central characters coupled with the performances are another major backbone, the transformation of Pammi from a victim to an avenger treading on a very dangerous path is a delight to watch.

Performances

Aaditi delivers a fantastic act perfectly capturing both the pain and anger while systematically plotting Baba Nirala’s downfall, the way she seduces Bhopa Swami by turning on the charm pretending to have accepted defeat makes for great viewing.

Bobby Deol in Aashram Season 3 Part 2
Bobby Deol in ‘Aashram Season 3 Part 2’. (X)

Bobby Deol as Nirala Baba delivers once again. This character has played a huge role in the rebirth of Bobby and that is clearly visible this time too.

Bobby once again delivers a first-rate performance portraying the various shades of his character with ease. The actor particularly shines in the scenes when the tables are turned against him like the dramatic breakdown during a crucial moment. His obsession with Pammi has undertones of genuine love.

Chandan Roy Sanyal has a bigger canvas to play with in comparison to the other seasons and the actor does a terrific job.

The devilish charm with which he portrays the role is a delight to watch, at the same time we also see a vulnerable side to him after he gets castrated by Nirala leading to a change in their dynamics. The confrontation scene between the two towards the end is a wonderful example of this.

Among the rest, Tridha Choudhary does a very fine job as a woman who quietly helps Pammi. Darshan Kumar as the determined police officer is also pretty solid although the screen time is quite limited.

Final take

To sum it up Aashram Season 3 Part 2 is a very satisfying conclusion.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/aashram-season-3-part-2-web-series-review-a-strong-conclusion/

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Crime Beat: A competent investigative drama

‘Crime Beat’ streaming on Zee 5 does a fine job in showcasing the cut throat world of journalism. The integration of the Commonwealth Scam and the characterization of Rahul Bhatt as a gangster/ Robin Hood figure gives the show some of its best moments.

Crime Beat directed by Sudhir Mishra and Sanjeev Kaul is the latest addition to the trend of novels being adopted as web series.

For those who are not aware the core plot of Crime Beat is based on The Price You Pay written by Somnath Batabayl.

Somnath Batabyl is both a journalist and a writer. He worked as a special correspondent for NDTV in Calcutta for two years. He is also a recipient of The Dhiren Bhagat Award for investigative journalism.

His novel focuses on the journey of a rookie reporter Abhishek wanting to make it big in the world of investigative journalism. Apart from the protagonist another very important character in the book was that of Babloo Shankar a wanted gangster who targets the rich operating as an outlaw on the lines of Robin Hood.

Synopsis

In Sudhir Mishra and Sanjeev Kaul’s adaptation of the novel Saqib Saleem plays the role of Abhishek Sinha, a very determined reporter from Banaras wanting to make it big.

In the process of establishing his identity, he comes across a major scoop involving a wanted fugitive Binny Chaudhary (a charismatic Rahul Bhatt). As Abhishek dives deeper into the case he unravels some shocking secrets about a huge financial scam involving the Commonwealth Games.

Saba Azad plays Maya, a colleague and a love interest of Abhishek. Maya too has her own ambitions of making it big as an investigative journalist. Sai Tamhankar plays the mole of Binny Chaudhary— Archana Pandey.

Archana is not your stereotypical mole; she is a very capable woman with an agency of her own. Revealing further would be a giveaway to the many twists and turns the show offers.

Strengths

Crime Beat is a thriller drama
‘Crime Beat’ is a thriller drama. (X)

A strong aspect of Crime Beat is how the two directors have depicted the power struggle among the journalists. At numerous junctures, we see a constant battle for the supremacy of getting front-page exclusives.

The cutthroat rivalry among the journalistic group is very much palpable. This has come out strongly in the dynamics between Abhishek Sinha and Maya.

Initially there is a feeling of them being a lovey-dovey couple but all this changes at a critical juncture when Maya steals Abhishek’s story on Binni Chaudhary after they make love.

Strong characterisation

The background of Saqib Saleem’s character also gives an interesting dimension. Abhishek Sinha unlike Maya doesn’t come from a very rich background. He is a small-town boy whose ambitions are bigger than his financial status. This adds a certain authenticity to the struggles of Abhishek.

Another strong aspect of the web series is that most of the characters come with shades of grey whether it is Saqib Saleem Abhishek or Rahul Bhatt’s Binni Chaudhary. Few very characters in the show are completely black and white.

Talking about Rahul Bhatt’s Binni Chaudhary, there is a lot of enigma in the way the role has been written. Binni Chaudhary isn’t your typical trigger-happy gangster. There is a sense of vigilantism about him. At no point, you can call him a good or bad person. This adds a lot of depth to the show.

The integration of the Commonwealth Games scam and how Binni Chaudhary helps Abhishek in unearthing the huge financial scams has been both well written and enacted.

Performances

Saqib Saleem in Crime Beat
Saqib Saleem in ‘Crime Beat’. (X)

Rahul Bhatt brings in a lot of charisma perfectly capturing the grey shades.  After his stellar turn in Black Warrant, this is another noteworthy performance from the actor.

Mention must also be made of Danish Hussain as Editor Aamir Akhtar. He delivers a nuanced performance as a seasoned editor. Aamir Akhtar is someone who can go to any lengths for a good story and Danish is successful in bringing out the nuances.

Sai Tamhankar as Binny Chaudhary’s accomplice adds an extra layer of intrigue with her solid act. She brings in the right amount of oomph, intrigue and menace. She looks every inch the badass woman that Archana Pandey is supposed to be.

Lastly, Saqib Saleem in the role of Abhishek Sinha also delivers a compelling act. He does a first-rate job of portraying both the ambitions of Abhishek and also the internal conflicts of a journalist caught between truth and survival.

Flaws

One major problem with Crime Beat is the undercooked love story. The professional rivalry between Maya and Abhishek is a lot more compelling to watch than their romantic moments.

Saba Azad’s characterization could have done with more meat although the young actress does do a fine job with whatever she has been offered. Also, the jump to the love scenes comes across as rather abrupt. The tonal shift is very jarring, to say the least.

Final take

To sum it up Crime Beat is worth watching for fans of investigative dramas, but don’t expect the quality of Hansal Mehta’s Scoop.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/crime-beat-web-series-review-a-competent-investigative-drama/

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Paatal Lok Season 2 : Fantastic deep dive into Nagaland’s socio-political landscape

Director Avinash Arun Dhaware and creator Sudip Sharma push the envelope further giving a new perspective. The absence of the chilling Abhishek Banerjee from the first season is definitely felt, still there is a lot to admire in the way the duo construct a social drama in the guise of a police procedural.
Paatal Lok Season 2 (Hindi), 17-01-2025, Crime, Thriller, 8 episodes, 16+, Web series
  • Main Cast: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Tillotama Shome, Gul Panang, Nagesh Kukunoor, and Merenla Bose
  • Director: Avinash Arun Dhaware
  • Producer: Karnesh Ssharma and Babita Ashiwal
  • Music Director: Naren Chandavarkar and Benedict Taylor
  • Cinematography: Avinash Arun Dhaware
  • Rating: 4/5

For those who haven’t seen the first season of Paatal Lok, it was loosely inspired by Tarun Tejpal’s Novel The Story of My Assassins.

Acclaimed actor Neeraj Kabhi played the role of the journalist-novelist Tarun Tejpal. The show revolved around an assassination attempt gone wrong. Jaideep Ahlawat played a low-ranking officer called Hathiram Chaudhary.

Hathiram is suddenly assigned a high-profile case changing his life forever. The series also took inspiration from the traditional concepts of heaven, earth and hell.

These served as metaphors to explore the different classes of India along with other aspects. Through a police procedure, various burning topics like caste atrocities, media biases and Islamophobia among others were explored in an impactful manner.

Apart from Jaideep Ahlawat’s stellar act, the first season is also remembered for Abhishek Banerjee’s deadly Vishal Hathoda, a notorious hitman with a love for dogs.

The role of Vishal Hathoda showcased a different facet of him; Abhishek got rave reviews for his excellent act. After a gap of five years, Paatal Lok Season 2 has arrived amidst high expectations.

Bingeworthy season 2

Jaideep Ahlawat in Paatal Lok Season
Jaideep Ahlawat in ‘Paatal Lok Season 2’. (X)

Thankfully the second season turns out to be even more bingeworthy. What sets apart the second season is the setting of Nagaland, giving the viewers a new perspective on the socio-political situation of the state.

Just like the first season the second one also starts as a police procedural. The plot begins with the brutal murder of Jonathom Thom, a prominent personality of Nagaland.

Jonathom Thom was deeply involved in the peace process of the state involving 20, 000 crore investment. On the surface, this may appear as a simple peace process but there is a lot at stake for the local government.

Running parallel to this is the case of a missing daily wage labourer and a nightclub dancer. Hathiram Chaudhary is investigating this. On the other hand, Ishwak Singh who played Constable Ansari in the first season is now an IPS officer.

Ansari has deep respect for Hathiram’s honesty and investigation skills in spite of being in a higher place. As the plot progresses these threads become intertwined.

The eight-episode saga covers a vast range of topics like the socio-political turmoil of the North East, and the struggles of orphans who fall into the trap of crime.

Nagaland politics

Ishwak Singh in Paatal Lok Season 2
Ishwak Singh in ‘Paatal Lok Season 2’. (X)

A major USP of Paatal Lok Season 2 is undoubtedly its depiction of Nagaland politics. The contrast between the beautiful landscapes with the immense turmoil of the local population has been wonderfully depicted.

The writing team of the second season which also includes Abhishek Banerjee does a terrific job of bringing alive the ethnic clashes between the different groups.

One of the major themes in Paatal Lok season 2 is the insider versus outsider topic. There is a section of people who have come from outside creating their own identity. Despite being Nagaland residents for a long time, they have to pay a certain amount of money to a local group in the hope of ensuring their safety.

But sometimes even that doesn’t work. This comes out strikingly in a conversation between Haitharam and a local business family.

The character of Haitharam serves as a medium to make the viewers more aware of the major conflicts involving the North East.

Women stuck in oppressive system

The series also does a terrific job of exploring the plight of the numerous women stuck in an oppressive system. Director Avinash Arun Dhaware along with the writers presents this in a hard-hitting manner through the characters of Rose Lizo and Aslena Thom.

One is a young woman battling addiction; the other is a conflicted widow. Through these subplots, a strong statement is made about the numerous trials and tribulations faced by those living on the fringes of society.

The supporting cast has numerous actors from the Northeast. All of them do a very good job in their respective roles adding a certain authenticity. Avinash Arun Dhaware deserves a major appreciation for casting northeastern actors in supporting parts as this adds to the immersive experience giving it a rooted feel.

Characterisation

Apart from the political aspects, the interpersonal relationships particularly the one between Hathiram and Ansari have been brilliantly written and enacted. Both Haithram and Ansari are unsure of how to behave with each other given the shift in power dynamics.

This aspect also gives the show some of its best moments; an underlying thread of friendship despite the awkward scenarios has come out wonderfully.

Paatal Lok Season 2 is a crime thriller
‘Paatal Lok Season 2’ is a crime thriller. (X)

Special mention must also be made of Tillotama Shome’s SP Meghana Barua. A mother of a six-year-old son and a local police officer who has established her space in what is generally considered as a male bastion.

Meghana’s knowledge of local politics adds a fresh dimension. Tillotama does a fantastic job of portraying the different nuances although the character could have been more developed.

Gul Panag reprising her role of Hathiram’s wife doesn’t get a lot to do just like in the first season, still, she shines bright in the emotional scenes. Director Nagesh Kukunoor as the shrewd businessman with several skeletons in his closet also makes a strong impact.

As Haithram Jaideep immerses himself coming with a superlative act again, the way he portrays the strong determination while battling both professional and personal issues is a sheer delight to watch.

Ishwak Singh is also terrific giving solid support as a young police officer dealing with the complexities of his new role.

Final take

To sum it up Paatal Lok Season 2 is absolutely binge-worthy, and a must-watch for fans of Paatal Lok Season One, and Jaideep Ahalwat admirers.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/paatal-lok-season-2-web-series-review/

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Black Warrant web series review: A gritty insider account into the functioning of Asia’s biggest prison— Tihar

Creator and director Vikramaditya Motwane presents a very gritty picture of the deeply horrifying situations where it is very difficult for a prisoner to reform.

Black Warrant (Hindi), 10-01-2025, Action, Drama, 7 episodes16+, OTT

  • Main Cast: Zahan Kapoor, Rahul Bhat, Paramvir Singh Cheema, and Anurag Thakur
  • Director: Vikramaditya Motwane, Satyanshu Singh, Rohin Raveendran Nair, and Arkesh Ajay
  • Producer: Andolan Films, Applause Entertainment, and Confluence Media
  • Music Director: Ajay Jayanthi
  • Cinematography: Saumyananda Sahi
  • Rating: 4/5

For those who are not aware Vikramaditya Motwane’s latest work is based on the novel of the same name Black Warrant.

It was written by a jailer about the notorious functioning of the Tihar Jail set in the 80’s.

The novel explores the intricate power structure and the various hierarchies based on both caste and religion.

Synopsis

In this web series adaption of the novel Zahan Kapoor plays Sunil Gupta, a shy and confused man starting off as a meek person who eventually grows in confidence and becomes a determined jailer wanting to bring reform. And he eventually does succeed as well.

Sunil Gupta is credited with starting Tihar’s first legal aid cell. The series showcases the various experiences of Sunil starting from his meeting with the enigmatic Charles Sobharaj (a charming Siddhant Gupta).

Then you have also got the killers of PM Indira Gandhi among many others. Rahul Bhatt plays the morally grey deputy jailer Tomar. The other important characters are played by Paramveer Cheema and Anurag Thakur.

Strengths of the series

Zahan Kapoor in Black Warrant
Zahan Kapoor in ‘Black Warrant’. (X)

A strong aspect of Black Warrant is the authentic depiction of the prison world with no artificiality. The division of the prisoners based on their caste, religion and money has come out strongly in numerous scenes.

The operation of the numerous gangs within the prison makes the viewers think about the flawed system where there isn’t much scope for reform. The web series also touches upon the plight of innocent prisoners, the category who are a victim of some malicious police officers.

Black Warrant also dwells on how the prisoners are often viewed as inhuman by the jail authorities. There is a brilliant scene involving a research scholar. This person comes to Tihar jail to get a psychological insight into the minds of prisoners. As a response an inmate says “Why do you want to do research on people like us struck in a cage are we animals?”

To this, the character says, “I am researching to prove you people are not animals.” This perfectly sums up the general attitude of the jail authorities. There is a deeply disturbing portion when Sunil along with his colleagues finds out about a senior jailor making money by depriving the prisoners of their basic needs.

Strong characterisation

Another big strength of Black Warrant is the characterization of Zahan Kapoor. The character of Sunil starts off as a vulnerable young man who in no way looks like a tough jailor capable of controlling the prison inmates but as the series progresses we see Sunil getting more confident.

Black Warrant is a jail drama
‘Black Warrant’ is a jail drama. (X)

There is a palpable determination in the way he wants to bring out prison reforms. Zahan does a very good job of bringing out these nuances. The young actor proves that he is truly worthy of the illustrious Kapoor lineage.

The web series also dwells on how the lives of Jailers aren’t very glamorous at least back in the 80’s. There is an important scene where Sunil’s father tells his son to not reveal his profession while seeing a prospective bride, however, Sunil doesn’t follow his father’s advice, instead, he talks about his profession with absolute honesty.

Black Warrant also works due to the way the other important characters have been written with utmost care. Both Anurag Thakur and Paramveer Cheema also have solid graphs. The camaraderie shared between the characters isn’t hammered in; still, it works strong when required.

Many of the subplots in the web series are inspired by real-life incidents from the times of Indira Gandhi’s government. Certain capital punishments reflect deeply entranced class and casteist biases.

Then you also have the prisoners belonging to a more affluent part of the prison. A serial killer is seen roaming free; there is also an instigator of murder getting plenty of time to have romantic meetings. Apart from these you also have the arrest of JNU Students. There is a hilarious scene exposing the incompetent nature of jail staff.

Technical aspects and performances

Saumyananda Sahi’s cinematography is another major plus. He does a very good in recreating both the 80’s atmosphere and also the grittiness of the prison portions.

Apart from Zahan Kapoor’s breakthrough performance the show also benefits from Rahul Bhatt’s stellar turn. As a mostly self-serving boss with moments of genuine empathy for his fellow men Rahul Bhatt is simply fantastic.

Sidhant Gupta in the role of Charles Sobhraj has brief screen time but the young actor makes his presence amply felt. He perfectly captures the body language starting from the accented dialogue delivery.

The women characters in Black Warrant are mostly relegated to the background except for Rajshri Deshpande— as the firebrand reporter. This is only the slight flaw of the web series.

Final take

Overall Black Warrant is a must-watch for those who like gritty stories based on real-life incidents.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/black-warrant-web-series-review-a-gritty-insider-account-into-the-functioning-of-asias-biggest-prison-tihar/

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Mismatched Season 3 (Hindi web series) : A compelling portrait of love and identity in the age of digital paradox

Directors Akarsh Khurana and Nipun Dharmadhikari dig deeper than the previous two instalments looking the dangers of the online personas that we create.
Mismatched Season 3 (Hindi), 13-12-2024, Romance, Comedy, Drama, 8 episodes, A, OTT
  • Main Cast: Rohit Saraf, Prajakta Koli, Muskkaan Jaferi, Taaruk Raina, Laurena Robinson and Rannvijay Singha
  • Director: Akarsh Khurana and Nipun Dharmadhikari
  • Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
  • Music Director: Jasleen Royal and Anurag Saikia
  • Cinematography: Sudip Sengupta
  • Rating: 3.5/5

For those who haven’t seen the first two seasons of Mismatched, the plot revolves around two diametrically different personalities.

Rohit Saraf’s Rishi is a young man with traditional notions of romance. Prajakta Koli’s Dimple is a tech-savvy girl with contrastingly different views on love and marriage. The series is based on the book titled When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Her perception regarding marriage has zero similarities with Rishi’s filmy ideas. The two have a disastrous first meeting but a summer program brings them together despite the contrasting personalities.

The first two seasons primarily explored the themes of love, coming of age and societal expectations. All this resonated well with the younger audiences making it a popular show.

What also made the first two seasons popular was its supporting cast led by Taaruk Raina and Muskkaan Jafferi.

Taaruk Raina’s character Ammol represents the struggles of disabled people in finding normalcy. To cover up his emotional vulnerabilities he behaves like a bully pretending to be a tough guy. Muskkaan Jafferi’s Celina on the other hand is also someone who pretends to be brave but has secrets of her own.

Synopsis

Rohit Saraf and Prajakta Koli
Rohit Saraf and Prajakta Koli. (X)

Coming to Mismatched Season 3 the plot shifts from Jaipur to Hyderabad. The beginning episodes focus on their long-distance relationship.

Rishi is doing very well in NNIT run by Nandini Nahata (Dipannita Sharma). Dimple on the other hand is grappling with a lack of self-confidence, the reason being she couldn’t secure a place for herself in NNIT.

Their long-distance relationship soon starts cracking leading to a major strain. Dimple eventually makes an important decision to join Siddarth, Nandini’s rival’s (Rannvijay Singha) new institute which is conveniently located right next to NNIT. This move of Dimple isn’t just about beginning her career afresh but it’s also about staying close to Rishi.

The rest of the story focuses on the complexities of career ambitions and relationships coupled with the evolving dynamics of a fresh batch.

Strong points

Akarsh Khurana directorial Mismatched Season 3
Akarsh Khurana’s directorial ‘Mismatched Season 3’. (X)

A strong aspect of Mismatched Season 3 is the exploration of digital paradox through a project called Betterverse. This Betterverse, also called metaverse is a virtual reality space where the users can live out all their wildest fantasies, has been created by Rishi and Co. The central conflict of Mismatched Season 3 is this digital utopia.

On paper, this project looks very exciting as the players can live out their hidden fantasies but as the story progresses the characters find difficulty in drawing a much-needed line between the real and the virtual world.

Directors Akarsh Khurana and Nipun Dharmadikiri have done a terrific job in exploring this theme. Many youngsters and also extremely tech-savvy people would definitely relate to this.

Among the flaws, the characterization of Dipannita Sharma’s Miss Nandini could have been done with more nuances. She is mostly seen shouting at the top of her voice. This gets jarring after a point.

Also, the students aren’t seen attending much of theory and practical classes, also the atmosphere of the college often comes across as more of a corporate world than a tech college.

Strong characterisation 

A still from the series Mismatched Season 3
A still from the series ‘Mismatched Season 3’. (X)

Mismatched Season 3 deals with the new challenges faced by Dimple and Rishi. Before starting this project Betterverse Rishi was introspective and slightly insecure but post becoming the leader his personality undergoes a significant change.

He somewhat drifts away from his original persona leading to some cracks in the relationship with Dimple. He finds a lot of success in Betterverse but this success comes with a certain cost too.

Dimple on the other hand is facing the dual pressure of wanting to carve a space for herself in the world of coding and technology and having a solid love life. The colliding worlds of real and virtual have been wonderfully written and enacted.

The complexities here go beyond navigating romantic feelings; they also involve figuring out your true self and staying true to it. This is a difficult task, given the challenges of the digital age. All of this has been presented in a raw and unfiltered manner, without beating around the bush or trying to sugarcoat it.

Supporting characters

Ahsaas Channa and Taaruk Raina in Mismatched Season 3
Ahsaas Channa and Taaruk Raina in ‘Mismatched Season 3’. (X)

What also adds to the impact of the third season are its supporting characters both the older ones and the fresh entrants. A particular mention must be made of the track involving Lauren Robinson’s Rith.

Rith is assigned female at birth and wants to transition and come out of the closet. The romantic track between Rith and Muskkann Jaferi is wonderful to watch. Through the track of Rith, the directors have touched upon the difficulties faced by the transgender community in embracing their real identity.

Talking about the older characters both Muskkann and Taaruk Raina successfully take off from the previous ones providing solid support to Rohit Saraf and Prajakta Koli.

Performances

Talking about the leads, both Rohit Saraf and Prajakta are in wonderful form perfectly imbibing the fresh nuances. The chemistry between them in both the light and emotional scenes is a delight to watch.

The self-discovery of Muskkann’s character runs parallel to that of Dimple and the actress does a fantastic job in showcasing the different nuances. Taaruk Raina is also equally good bringing in both humour and solid emotions.

Special mention must also be made of Laurena Robinson. Laurena is first-rate in portraying the identity struggle of Rith.

The music much like the first two seasons plays an important role in enhancing the story. Tracks like “Ishq Hai”, “Do Din Ke Bad” and “Pyaar Hai” perfectly capture the joys and the internal struggles faced by the characters at different junctures.

Final take

Keeping aside these niggles Mismatched Season 3 streaming on Netflix makes for a good watch, particularly for those who like soothing love stories with a dash of technology.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/mismatched-season-3-web-series-review-a-compelling-portrait-of-love-and-identity-in-the-age-of-digital-paradox/

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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/