Hotstar Specials’ Kaala offers a gripping narrative presented impeccably: TV review

Crime and investigative thrillers are the bread and butter of the Indian streaming space currently. However, there was little to no innovation in presenting the same to the audience. Bejoy Nambiar, with his new show Kaala, has ventured into the same genre with some spectacular treatment, especially how the screenplay was presented in a non-linear fashion and kept the audience engaged.

The series follows Ritwik, an IB officer investigating the reverse hawala operations of Samsara Corporation. The plotline, while lacking overt innovation, excels in its structural approach and the narrative development of characters to establish their motives. That said, the show is not flawless; some narrative choices might prompt you to question their logic, but never puts you off, echoing Alfred Hitchcock’s famous line: ‘Where drama begins, logic ends.”

Jitin Gulati has been emphatic and a standout throughout the show. The well-rounded main cast has delivered outstanding performances, bringing the series one step closer to perfection. The production quality is commendable, particularly in how they navigated and presented different eras within the screenplay to the audience. The background score and musical choices are splendid and have served their purpose effectively.

About The Show:

Creator and Director: Bejoy Nambiar

Writers: Bejoy Nambiar, Shubha Swarup, Francis Thomas, Prayas Gupta, Mithila Hogle

Cast: Avinash Tiwary, Rohan Vinod Mehra, Nivetha Pethuraj, Taher Shabbir, Jitin Gulati, Elisha Mayor, and Hiten Tejwani.

Rating: 3.5/5.

Platform: Disney+ Hotstar.

Hotstar Specials’ Kaala is among the few investigative dramas that possess the vigour to innovate within the genre, and it has successfully done so. The show is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on September 15, 2023.