Prime Video’s Siddharth Malhotra-starring series will debut on January 19.
You strap your seatbelt and prepare yourself for a fast-paced journey consisting of car chases, intense combat sequences, bristling drama, herogiri, dialoguebaazi, and a tempo that will leave you gasping for air as Rohit Shetty (Sushwanth Prakash is also credited as director) launches a cop series.
That’s Shetty’s specialty. As the first (and only) Indian filmmaker to create a hugely successful police series, there has been a lot of hype surrounding the primary cast, which stars Tara Shetty (Shilpa Shetty), Vikram Bakshi (Vivek Oberoi), and Kabir Malik (Sidharth Malhotra).
Shetty’s vast universe of super cops is the reason the series exists. It’s an effective formula. An A-list actor joins the already superb cast each year. Turning this franchise into a web series was a smart move. Indian Police Force, on the other hand, is more in line with television programs like Crime Patrol than it is with the Singham, Simba, and Sooryavanshi style of movies.
The director chooses a different tone, possibly in an attempt to set his film franchise apart from the web series. This one goes deeper into romantic music, lighthearted efforts at humor, and drama. At the conclusion of four episodes, there were just two action moments, neither of which featured cars, which surprised me. The explosive final episode includes plenty of carnage if that’s your thing. That implies numerous vehicle crashes, altercations, and gunshots.
As the series begins with multiple explosions taking place in the Indian capital, tragedy befalls the characters at an early stage. Police rush to the scene. The formula is usually the same: good cop DCP Malik is hunting for the villain Zarar (Mayyank Taandon), who for some reason doesn’t seem very menacing. In terms of plot, but not storytelling, a few parts reminded me of Anurag Kashyap’s Black Friday and Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se.
The fundamental plot involves Vikram, Tara, Kabir, and a wanted terrorist who are pursuing him. Though not much momentum, there is a purpose. We’ve seen it all before: a police officer gets killed; another is suspended for disobeying the law; tensions arise between senior and less experienced officers.
We also witness the development of a terrorist, his dual existence, and the effects it has on his family. This is merely a preview of what to expect; it’s not a spoiler. Franchise material has both advantages and disadvantages. a benefit since the writers may now work with the formula because it is real. A curse because, while knowing what to expect and paying for it, the audience still wants to be amazed.
Writing dhansak in a world of dal fry, dal tadka, and plain dal is the writers’ responsibility. To create an interesting cuisine for the franchise enthusiasts, simply add a few new ingredients to the old ones.