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A thriller with a base in deep psychosis. Like many such dark stories, this one could have been laced with grip and the excitement of “What will happen next?” But this does not really happen here as the story drags for the wrong reasons. Make no mistake: I love leisured thrillers that take off with crackerjack speed and impact towards the end, like another Kolkata-based series, Kahaani, but over here, there are issues.
One major hiccup is the usual traumatic backstory for the investigating cop—in this case, cops. Both Rita Brown (Karisma Kapoor) and her assistant, Arjun Sinha (Surya Sharma) have tragic personal stories. Arjun has lost his wife and daughter in a car mishap while Rita has lost her lover Nitin (Shaan) as well and is an alcoholic since.
Now, will someone kindly explain why every reel espionage officer or police investigator needs a traumatic background? Is there any evidence that only such complexed people turn out to be aces at their job??
Rita has been suspended but is called back for a macabre case where a young lady, Ahana (Vaibhavi Malhotra) has been horrendously decapitated. She is the daughter of an influential and rich family led by a domineering Deepak Jaiswal (Ajinkya Deo), her father, and an overtly caring brother, Sanjay (Paresh Pahuja). Sanjay does not even get along with his wife, Ananya (Pamela Bhutoria). Ahana has been living separately as she cannot jell with her family except for Sanjay. And Sanjay is a debauch with other women and frequents the brothels.
Politicians too are involved as Deepak funds them and so there is major interference in the police investigations. Rita’s mother (Soni Razdan) is all along is after her to “eat something”. There is also an aunt (Helen, billed here as Helen Khan) who would like to see Rita married and settled.
Ahana has only one friend in Shefali (Ahalya Shetty), who also gets involved with Ahana’s newfound boyfriend, Saikat (Aryann Bhowmik), a dicey character. Saikat would find Ahana ‘frigid’ and thus fell for Shefali. Ahana is also seeing a psychiatrist, Dr. Sandip Chakraborty (Jisshu U. Sengupta) for her issues. As Rita and Arjun try their level best to unravel the threads, Usha Jain (Jayashree V.), an unrelated girl, is similarly murdered. She has had a gay husband but seemingly affectionate in-laws. Now anyone familiar with the whodunit game can cotton on to the obvious killer if his or her mind travels in the logical direction.
Rita is even taken off the case midway but is told to return after Usha’s murder. A TV journalist is set to make things difficult for Rita at Deepak’s behest but is stonewalled by Arjun. The case goes on to its logical solution.
And Lo! And behold! There is no relevance whatsoever to Rita’s and Arjun’s past sagas, but for a forced remark made by Rita to him. So, why could Rita and Arjun not have been shown as normal investigative cops?
The pace plods when too much emphasis is put on Rita’s and Arjun’s past as reflected on their present. Otherwise, the script would have been quite thrilling for all its unhurried narration. The excess of Bengali songs, many of which, as per subtitles, have abstruse meanings, is another dull addition. Kolkata is made to look grimy, and great efforts have been put in to make Rita disheveled and continually sad—all of which, in the context of the plot, was supremely unnecessary.
Karisma Kapoor nevertheless puts in a seasoned performance in what must be her most de-glam role to date. Surya Sharma has an underplayed straight role and quietly impresses. Paresh Pahuja, Aryann Bhowmik and K.K. Raina as Arjun’s father impress. The rest are mechanically competent.
Technically, the series is decent, and Abhinav Deo does a competent job when he could have impressed highly instead.
Rating: ***
Z5 presents Zee Studios’ Brown Produced by: Umesh Kumar Bansal & Raedita Tandan Directed by: Abhinav Deo Written by: Abheek Barua, Diggi Sisodia, Sunayana Kumari & Mayukh Ghosh Music: Gaurav Chatterji Starring: Karisma Kapoor, Surya Sharma, Jisshu U. Sengupta, Soni Razdan, Helen Khan, Shaan, Ajinkya Deo, Meghna Malik, Aniruddh Roy, Paresh Pahuja, Aryann Bhowmik, Anupam Bhattacharya, Vaibhavi Malhotra, Ahalya Shetty, Jayashree V., K. K. Raina, Pamela Bhutoria, Kenny Basumatray, Leena Lal, Neha Zulka, Phalguni Chatterjee, Kharaj Mukherjee, Arijit Dutta, Purnendu Bhattacharya & others
