Films or series that reflect the harsh truth and the ingrained patriarchy in society are often made these days and some especially highlight the issue of rising crimes against women in India. The makers make a genuine effort to find the deep-rooted problems in society and bring them to the audience as a reality check but in the form of some drama. Kaalkoot is a similar attempt in which the plot revolves around the case of an acid attack victim, however, it is more complex than you think! It is also a cop’s journey of understanding the normalised flaws in Indian men that become a major reason for many crimes against women. Kaalkoot is headlined by Vijay Varma and is directed by Sumit Saxena. The star cast also includes Shweta Tripathi, Seema Biswas, Yashpal Sharma, Gopal Dutt and Suzanna Mukherjee. The thrilling drama series shows a mirror to society, and the raw performances by the star cast do absolute justice to the nuanced script. Here’s our detailed review of the Vijay Varma starrer Kaalkoot.
The plot of this 8-episode series revolves around solving the case of an acid attack victim and is set in the small town of Sarsi, Uttar Pradesh. Vijay Varma as Ravi Shankar Tripathi plays a cop who is not motivated to do the job at all but eventually uncovers the entire truth of the case, and some more. Shweta Tripathi plays the role of an acid attack survivor, and Seema Biswas plays the character of Ravi Shankar’s mother. Yashpal Sharma and Gopal Dutt are also cops, the latter one plays the SHO of the Sirsa police station. The 8-episode series takes you through the police’s investigation to find the real culprit behind the acid attack on a young girl but during the process, it also highlights the deep-rooted patriarchy and taboos related to acid attack victims. Simultaneously, the series also highlights the lesser-known crime against newborn girls and the revelation is unsettling. Not to forget, Kaalkoot also becomes a self-discovery journey of the titular character Ravi Shankar as a man!
Performances
From playing an underconfident cop to doing whatever it takes to catch the culprit, Vijay Varma’s character arc in the series is mind-blowing and very smooth. The actor has done a brilliant job of showcasing the complexities of his character in Kaalkoot and delivers an honest performance throughout. Shweta Tripathi as the acid attack survivor makes a genuine attempt to bring out the pain of her character and make the audience sympathise with it. She is impressive! Yashpal Sharma and Gopal Dutt as cops are simply effortless. Seema Biswas, a mother who just wants her son to settle down is a delight to watch.
Themes, Direction And Script
Gradually, as the story unfolds, Kaalkoot becomes more than just an acid attack case. It tries to go into the depths of society and its regressive mindset to find the problems that lead to a rising crime against women in India. This is shown through the perspective of Vijay Varma’s character. Some dialogues and scenes in this web series hit you hard and they give a reality check on how society has normalised the problematic attributes of men. For eg, a cop hitting his wife because he was frustrated? There is no surprise when the motive of the culprit is known in the end because that is what is happening in the real world! Sumit Saxena’s direction is brilliant and it keeps you engaged throughout.
Also Read: Kaalkoot Teaser: Vijay Varma Stars In Another Thriller, GF Tamannaah Hypes Him Up Like This!
Background Score
Tracks like Khaara Re and Jaag Tripathi just set the tone of the series right. The poem ‘Sooli’ as a background score in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s voice might actually give you goosebumps.
Verdict
Kaalkoot is a series that has suspense, and drama but at the same time, it also deals with the realities of Indian society. Although the series does feel a little stretched at moments when the cops give you an impression of beating around the bush but the performances still manage to hold your attention. Kaalkoot should also be watched to understand where our society is going wrong in treating women. It might also make you realise that our fight against the patriarchal mindset is not an easy one because it is ingrained in the system. Kaalkoot premiered on July 27 and is available on Jio Cinema for free.