‘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
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
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)
