Reviews

For those who do not know about the director, he is the one who has the rare record of achieving national award (for Bakita Byaktigoto) among the herd of so called 'film directors' nowadays. He always stands apart from other directors in storytelling.

The title card of apparently lengthy movie (2:26:40) mentions that it's based on Srikanta (Part1). But if you try to compare both, it's futile. The director takes only the characters and some of the events as well as few rural sketches to build his story, from the veteran author. The story is set on modern time, but takes its journey to down memory lane throughout the screenplay. So, two timelines flow simultaneously until he fully builds all the characters.

A movie can have various techniques of storytelling, theoretically. Pradipta uses the methods of alternative reality, alternative timelines beautifully. Especially when he delivers the final blow, the climax. Spectators will expect another dull movie, and boom- the blow, the climax comes.

Commercially cinema-fed eyes will feel the first half tad dragged, boring. But as soon as the second half folds itself, it catches the pace.

Acting wise everyone seemed realistic; especially Ritwick. The songs are very aptly placed. Dialouges are few but crisp. Only the BGM is too loud sometimes.

NB: Those who are still wondering about what really happened at the end, which one is the reality and which one is reality, or is it open ended ; here is my view : actually all four of them met their inevitable destiny, death. The middle and last scenes of happiness were only the dream vision of both Srikanta and Rajlokkhi, coz they really longed for love throughout their lives.

Paatal Lok is surprisingly an oddball in the middle of a fair of typical crime mystery thrillers that baits a worm at the last to make a new season. Yes, it's apparently complete in itself; at least let's the viewers to sleep at night, but not sure if on an optimistic note. Comparing Paatal Lok with Sacred Games or Mirzapur is rather misguiding ; it is totally different from those, both from magnitude to temperament. As the name suggests, the show delves into the deep of our system; which is corrupted from the root hence, can not be reformed.

Hathi Ram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat), a middle class cynical police officer, having nothing but failure in life, gets a very high profile case when apparently four murderers are caught red handed attempting a murder of Sanjeev Mehra( Neeraj Kabi), a news tycoon. When he investigates deeper, he founds more than what he barely imagined. Jaideep gave his all to do justice to his character. Neeraj Kabi is always in form, Abhishek Banerjee needs a serious mention, and others too, did good job.

Mysteriously dark, the show is a real stunner; especially when it shows the pasts of four of the captives - equally astonishing and eye opener about real India. So real, so touching, so gruesome and so undeniable truth. From politics to underworld to business policy to religious intolerance to sexual assault to child abuse - every part is touched and touched with care. This Anushka Sharma produced show is my current favourite with a serious direction by Avinash-Prasith. Kudos to the four writers especially Sudip Sharma. The show is really worth a binge watching and then gives a scope to think about it for the rest of the time. Though, overall it also gives opportunity to give a new season to answer the fate of the two captives .

I wish there would be any word which could express the combined feeling of overrrated,hype, a worst story and a big waste of 8 precious hours. Naturally, expectation was sky high after so much hype, but after a binge watching, ultimate gain is - only regrets why did I go for it.

In every review, I desperately want to give a synopsis about the story, but I think here the director himself doesn't know what the storyline is. DJ, a CBI head officer, is accused of murdering is wife and is sent to jail. Then Nikhil Nair, his student replaces him to do further enquiry on the series of serial killings in similar pattern. But eventually he is kidnapped by the serial killer just to help him doing further murders ? Why ? Later when the killer is caught, he says that he is not one, but many. When a ninja attack takes place from a coffin, all the officers die but magically Nikhil survives. Later, in absense of the computer expert, Naina Naik ,who has no connection with the CBI by far, suddenly becomes the main computer expert. Kesar is given overdose of drugs,but he seemed not even a bit affected. The plot is itself ludicrous. Furthermore, there are so much more loopholes that even the moon with so much holes will be ashamed. The murder of the young entrepreneur Aditya Jalan is shown in so bad way that a thriller lover would want to commit suicide. He is killed by venom mixed with his drinks,but no investigation was done on that. Later, when Inspector Lolark is killed, no investigation is done on that; everyone just casually accepted Rasool. The worst scene, probably, is the enquiry scene where DJ takes three pills to save humanity. Why the hell other officers sit outside and allow it ? No answer of that. What was the result of the third pill?

The direction pattern desperately tries to mimic Anurag Kashyap style and the photography is as much dull. All the actors presented substandard acting. The storyline reminds of many Hollywood movies prominently, from The last house to the left to Saw series; ultimately doing nothing. If you have hope to experience a catching thriller mixed with Hindu mythology, then Asur will surely raise your expectations, only to disappoint you till the last. A nothing plot, hilarious logic, predictable climax and weak direction is only the outcome of this Asur.