MobLand Melee

Fabulous, terrifying, dark and gripping!

A tale of epic madness!

A brutal saga of blood and gore!

A platter worth of guilty pleasure!

As the child of a mob lord goes missing, tension rises between two crime families and a war is imminent. Any chance of peace is thwarted by the steady undercurrent of enmity that reigns supreme between the rival parties. The inherent craze for the ultimate control adds to the thirst to avenge. Events lead to war that seems to wipe all who stands in the way!

A lie is elaborately staged..... but is seen through, a delicate truce is offered..... but is quickly broken, alliances are forged..... and wreaked, the rats inside are chased for their lives..... and carnage continues.

The creator in Ronan Bennet scripts as well with Jez Butterworth that keeps the drama supreme with loaded yet crisp dialogues. The chilling and dark tone is maintained right through the haunting melody of the opening theme by Ilan Eshkeri and Matt Bellamy.

Performing with the correct blend of craziness and character, is Pearce Brosnan as the mob boss, on the verge of senility, yet hungry for the ultimate control. Synching a notch too high, is the enticingly evil play of Helen Miren in a show of superb insentivity. Balancing the bitterness with his surprise humour, Emmet J Scanlan masks a cruel character in a brilliant show of comedy in every opportunity that arises. But, the centre stage is for Tom Hardy, with impeccable acting, confident gait and with the least predictable demeanour in all types of situations that effectively ushers a sense of foreboding and appeal, at every scene that he treads. Actually, the inherent heart of the series, the finale of the season has the character pinned in a cliffhanger event, essentially promising a required sequel that will again be much awaited with apprehension and eagerness!

নিশির ডাক, করতে পারে হতবাক!

বাঙালীরা রবীন্দ্রনাথকে প্রায় সমস্ত সাংস্কৃতিক প্রসঙ্গে তো ব্যবহার করেই, দেখাদেখি বাঙলার অনেক অনুষ্ঠানেও তিনি সদা; উপস্থিত। তাই তিনি IPLএও আছেন (courtesy, শাহরুখ খান ও KKR), আবার যেখানে কোনোদিন খেয়ে জাননি, এমন জায়গাতেও উল্লিখিত (courtesy, মহম্মদ নাজমুদ্দিন, সৃজিত মুখার্জি ও OTT)!

কিন্তু এবার বোধহয় এই random রবীন্দ্রনাথ ব্যাপারটা একটু থামানো দরকার, নয়তো কেউ আবেগে ভেসে খুব শিগগির কবিগুরু Multiverse খুলে গুরুদেবকে বিভিন্ন প্রসঙ্গে জুড়ে দেবে।

যদিও এতটা বাড়াবাড়ি এখানে নেই, তাহলেও বলব গুরুদেবকেই দরকার ছিল কি? এই কারণে বলছি যে, চরিত্রটা দরকার কিন্তু রবিঠাকুরকেই নয়! বরং সেই জায়গায় কোনো কাল্পনিক প্রবীণ সঙ্গীতজ্ঞ ব্যক্তি থাকলেই চলত। আসলে রবীন্দ্রনাথকে দিয়ে যে প্রসঙ্গের অবতারণা করা হয়েছে, আমার মতে (আমার অবশ্য রবীন্দ্রনাথকে নিয়ে সাহিত্যজ্ঞান ছোটোবেলায় সহজ পাঠ, 'শিশু'র কিছু কবিতা ও বড়বেলায় গোরা ও কিছু নাটকের মধ্যেই সীমিত), বাস্তবে এরকম কিছু হওয়াটা কবিগুরুর মতো দূরদৃষ্টসম্পন্ন মানুষের দ্বারা মুশকিল বলে মনে হয়েছে।

তাই পরিচালক (জয়দীপ মুখার্জ্জী) ও আর্য রায় (ভাবনা) ভবিষ্যতে এই সুক্ষ্ম দিকটার দিকে খেয়াল রাখলে কাহিনীটা (শ্রীজিব) এই ছোটোখাটো ত্রুটিগুলো এড়াতে পারত।

শুরুতে গল্পটা কিন্তু বেশ এগোচ্ছিল। ছয় বন্ধুর এক দল একটি গ্রামে এসে হাজির হয়। গ্রামের নাম সোনামুখী। গ্রামটিতে আসার উদ্দেশ্য গবেষণার খাতিরে। সঙ্গীত ্নিয়ে ভিন্ন রকমের গবেষণা আর বিষয় হল রবীন্দ্রনাথের পাঁচ প্রিয় গায়িকা। এই গায়িকাদের মধ্যে একজনের সম্বন্ধে তথ্য সংগ্রহ করতেই এই প্রত্যন্ত গ্রামে তাদের আসা। নিশিগন্ধা নামক সেই সুগায়িকার বিবাহ নাকি এই গ্রামেতেই হয়েছিল কিন্তু ্তারপরেই ইতিহাসে তিনি যেন বিস্মৃত। তাই তাঁর জীবনের বাকি অংশটার সন্ধানেই ছয় বন্ধুর এই গ্রামে হাজির হওয়া।

কিন্তু আসার পথেই তারা জানতে পারে সোনামুখীতে নাকি আছে মৃত্যুর ভয়াল হাতছানি। বাইরের লোকজন এই গ্রাম এড়িয়ে চলে খুব স্বাভাবিক কারণে -  কে আর সেধে অকালমৃত্যু চাইবে? তার উপর গ্রামে ঢুকে জানতে পারা যায় আরেক অদ্ভুত কথা। গ্রামেতে কেউ গান গাইলে, তাকে তাড়া করবে মৃত্যু! এক প্রতিহিংসাপরায়ণ আত্মার রোষে সে প্রাণ হারাতে পারে। কিন্তু সমস্যা হল, বন্ধুদের মধ্যে বেশিরভাগই গ্রামটাতে কিছুদিন কাটাতে চায়। থাকার জায়গা স্থির হয় পুরানো জমিদারবাড়ি, যেখানে নিশিগন্ধার বিয়ে হয়েছিল। বয়সের ভারে জরাজীর্ণ ভগ্নপ্রায় যে বাড়ি দেখলে হয়তো ভূতেরাও ভয় পাবে, এদের কারুর খুব একটা দ্বিধা হয় না সারাদিন ও সারারাত কাটাতে। অবশ্য না হওয়ার একটা কারণ থাকতেও পারে, তারা পৌঁছেছিল রাতে! বোধহয় ঠিক করে বুঝতে পারেনি জায়গাটা। আর সকালে ্কিছু বোঝার আগেই তো ঘটে গেল সাংঘাতিক এক মৃত্যু! একেবারে জমিদারবাড়ির দোরগোড়ায় প্রায়। ব্যস, পুলিশ এসে তাদের জন্য সেখানে থাকাটা, কিছুদিনের জন্য তো বটেই, পাকাপাকি করে দিল!

তারপর যা হয়, দর্শকরা পাবে অশরীরী, রহস্য, মায় জাতিস্মর সম্বলিত এক রোমাঞ্চকর আবহ, আর আমি পেলাম সঙ্গীতের (বিনীত রঞ্জন মৈত্র) অনবদ্য মূর্ছনা, গতিময় সম্পাদনা (সুমিত চৌধুরি), যা পর্বগুলিকে জমাট রেখেছে ও রহস্যে ঘেরা অতিপ্রাকৃত পরিবেশের সাথে সামঞ্জস্যপূর্ণ চলচ্চিত্রায়ণের (টুবান) মনকাড়া মায়াবী আমেজ।

তাই একবারের জন্য দেখাটা সার্থক হবে, কিন্তু বাকিটা পুরোটাই আপনাদের মত!

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf Rises

Intense and gripping!

Deceptive and shocking!

Scary and pacy!

A tight and crisp prequel that can't be any better.

Inducted into covert operations after being ripped off from his dedicated brotherhood of Navy Seals on grounds of disciplinary actions, Benjamin 'Ben' Edwards, gradually discovers the intricately dark yet strategically concealed side of international intelligence. Working apparently surreptitiously to protect his nation in a joint effort with another espionage agency, the collaboration gets a jolt when a carefully planned operation goes haywire. Tasked with intercepting and countering threats that have the potential to destabilize the world order in terms of nuclear power, retaliations are felt a bit too immediate as well as improbably fast! Inflicting damages to the team not only in terms of casualties, but their morals are also shaken with a sense of distrust clouding the minds of Ben and several members of the unit that are left breathing. With enemies striking hard and fast and those trusted appearing to switch allegiance, the motive and the path chosen suddenly become a bit less simple than what that was promised at the start.

Will Ben be able to trace the truth out of the web of lies and deceit? Will he be able to keep the mind steady in the world where trust gives way to cause that proves dangerously personal? Can he avenge the lives that are lost or will the revelations be shaping him anew?

The viewers of the primary series might take a rough guess but might brace themselves for a twist as well, as though the series means to reveal the character of Ben but the better part of unraveling him is left for the audience to ruminate². This keeps the show enthralling and I must say that I liked the intensity that remains consistent and the gripping thrill that I personally feel, surpasses the primary immensely.

The boldly rebellious demeanour of Taylor Kitsch fascinatingly contrasted with the grimly deceptive looks of Robert Wisdom that elevated the thrill of the drama to greater heights with a solid support from Tom Hopper with his impeccable portraiture of the ruthlessly disciplined fighter.

Based on characters created by Jack Carr, this origin story, is therefore, recommended as a thrilling, if not impressively engrossing watch.

অ্যাডভোকেট অচিন্ত্য আইচ: আইনের আয়নায়!

বিছানায় পড়ে থাকা এক রক্তাক্ত দেহ, এক অভিযুক্ত ড্রাইভার, জনতার দরবার, ময়নাতদন্তে পাওয়া কিছু তথ্য, পুরুষবিদ্বেষী এক দাপুটে মহিলা উকিল নিযুক্ত সরকারপক্ষে বিচারের দাবীতে! ব্যস, আর কি চাই? অভিযুক্তের দোষী সাব্যস্ত হতে তো আর কোনো বাধাই নেই! জনতা তো রায় দিয়েই দিয়েছে! বিচারেও তাই ধার্য হল। অভিযুক্ত দোষী! অতএব শাস্তি চরম দণ্ড! তাই হুকুম হল ফাঁসির! জনতা ওউকিল, উভয়েই খুশি!

কিন্তু বাদ সাধল এক নাছোড় উকিল। একটা ছোট্ট বিসদৃশতা, আর তার থেকেই নতুন করে প্রমাণ যোগাড় করে বিচারের রায়কে আবার একবার খতিয়ে দেখার আর্জি! তাই আবার শুরু হলো তদন্ত। আবার আদালত বসল বিচার করতে! বেরিয়ে এল কিছু চাঞ্চল্যকর তথ্য! এই সাহসী সিদ্ধান্তের জেরে আর সত্যকে বের করতে অ্যাডভোকেট অচিন্ত্য আইচ শুরু করলো এক অসম লড়াই! সাথে থাকল কয়েকজন শুভাকাঙ্খী আর ফাউ হিসেবে জুটল জনরোষ! ঝামেলা বাড়াতে শুরু হল খুচরো কিছু উৎপাত! তার মধ্যেই চলল অচিন্ত্যর লড়াই! এ যেন হেরে যাওয়ার আগে ফুরিয়ে না যাওয়ার তাগিদ।

রহস্যের মোড়কে ঘেরা এই সিজন বেকার কোনো সময় নষ্ট না করে এক সাবলীল গতিতে এগিয়েছে! কয়েক জায়গায় ভুলত্রুটি চোখে পড়তেই পারে, কিন্তু বিষয়ের প্রাসঙ্গিকতায় তাকে গুরুত্ব না দিলেও চলবে! যে সমাজে মহিলাদের সন্দেহজনক মৃত্যুর দায় আর্থসামাজিক স্তরের পিছনের দিকের মানুষের উপর চাপিয়ে দেওয়াটা দস্তুর, সেখানে এরকম কিছু ঘটনাকে আমাদের সামনে তুলে আনাটা বোধহয় সময়ে সময়ে দরকার! তার সাথে বোধহয় মানুষের মনের ঘৃণার দিকটাকে প্রয়োজন চিনিয়ে দেওয়ার, কারণ মানবসভ্যতার সবচেয়ে ভয়ানক প্রবৃত্তি বোধহয় এই রিপুটি যা যুক্তিবুদ্ধির তোয়াক্কা না করে মুহুর্তের মধ্যে দোষীকে ভুলে নিরপরাধকে দোষী বানিয়ে ফেলতে পারে! দর্শকদের চোখটা এভাবে কল্পনার জগতে খুলে দিতে পারলে বাস্তবেও হয়তো একদিন আশপাশের অমানবিকতার বিরুদ্ধে তারা নতুন আঙ্গিকে প্রশ্ন করতে পারবে!

এরকম সিজনের জন্য তাই হইচইকে ধন্যবাদ,

মনকাড়া অভিনয়ের জন্য ধন্যবাদ প্রাপ্য দেবরাজ ভট্টাচার্য, সত্যম ভট্টাচার্য, সোহিনী সেনগুপ্তর,

ধন্যবাদ সামগ্রিকভাবে পরিচালক জয়দীপ মুখার্জ্জীকে ও এই সিজনের বাকি সকল কলাকুশলীকে!

Special Ops 2: Seven days Served!

A threat to the nation, another emergency - internal and escalating and a very personal crisis in his family, Himmat Singh must handle all these three simultaneously!

When a scientist, holding the keys to all the strategic gateways, gets kidnapped and a R&AW agent killed, in different locations but around the same moment, the presence of a link between the two is quite evident to Himmat, but apprehending the criminal behind, seems a completely new ball game.

Add to this is the hunt for a fugitive banker, the man behind ruining several who believed, driving the believers now towards vengeance, caring less for further collateral damages that might follow!

Seven episodes.

Seven days to achieve his target.....

And his own problems to solve!

This can only be handled by Kay Kay Menon (as Himmat Singh) with a characteristic composure that assures but with the ruthless spontaneity of the character that frighteningly appeals. With his band of associates, both internal and foreign, Himmat Singh must fight the enemy at the gate and one outside with his own family, held at a crucial crossroad that threatens to destroy whatever preciously private he had always carefully tried to keep secured.

While Kay Kay Menon is natural in his role as Himmat Singh, so is Vinay Pathak as SI Abbas Sheikh of Delhi Police, the deceptively inconspicuous investigator in the force, radiating a supreme confidence in his enviable knack of sniffing out information from the coldest of trails. Both Pathak and Menon steal the scenes, wherever present by keeping the sequences intense while lacing them with humour, whenever the slightest of opportunities warrants. Added to this, is the chemistry, on the screen, crafted with measured elegance by Gautami Kapoor (as Saroj) with Menon, which adds drama and will surely warrant deserving credit.

With a script (Neeraj Pandey, Deepak Kingrani, Benazir Ali Fida) composed crisply for the correct touch of verbal requirement in a season, based on actions and subtle expressions primarily, the suspense is heightened by the haunting melody of Advait Nemlekar that sets the thrill triggered right from the very beginning.

However, there are a few flaws! The least of them is the not-so-surprising finale of so gripping string of episodes. Thus, the directors (Neeraj Pandey, Shivam Nair) peak their achievement in yet another brilliantly designed "Wednesday" (S2E6) but the zeal is lost in the action-primed climactic cliché of "Thursday" (S2E7) with the thrill subsiding. Again, there are instances where intuition prevails over intellect. Lacking in rationale, certain sequences might feel warily unconvincing and could disappoint the critical viewer.

But the major concern is the childish way the nuclear reactors of the country are shown to be vulnerable to threats. In a country, where nuclear power is not very well accepted by the masses owing to the fact of being unaware of the fundamentals, if a popular series like this, portrays the wrong facts, this may equally add to the deterrent views! A little insightful research could have revealed that Indian nuclear reactors are inherently safe and cannot be compromised by the imaginary way envisaged and the event of a core meltdown being thematically transformed to a catastrophic blast is a famous misconception that once again proves the inadequate awareness of the established safety practices and related technicalities that entail the restraints!

বেপরোয়া বিভীষণ

একদিকে আইসির মেয়ের বিয়ে সামনে, তাই তিনি ভীষণ ব্যস্ত!

অপরদিকে ওসিও নিজের নাতনির অন্নপ্রাশনের আয়োজন করতে বাড়িতে।

তাই বলাগড় থানাটা সেদিনের মতো চালানোর ভার পেল, এসআই বিধান সেন, যার বাড়িতে আবার স্ত্রী একলা থাকে এবং সে সন্তানসম্ভবা, তাই তারও মনে চিন্তা অনেক!

কিন্তু তা বললে চলবে কেন? চোরডাকাত তো আর বসে থাকবে না! তাই সেদিন দুপুরের দিকে কাছের জঙ্গল থেকে একটা অচেনা লাশ উদ্ধার হলেও খুব একটা বিশেষ রকমের অস্বাভাবিক কিছু লাগেনি কারুর। কিন্তু মুশকিলটা শুরু হল তারপর পুলিশের প্রায় নাকের ডগা দিয়ে যখন সেই লাশের মাথাটা কেউ হাপিস করে দিল। এতেই অবশ্য ব্যাপারটা থামল না! এই লাশের মাথা খুঁজতে বেড়িয়ে বেরোল আরেকটা লাশ, তবে এবার মাথা সমেত! বিধান সেনের এই অবস্থায় নিজের মাথা, মানের নিজের চাকরীটা সামলানোই দায় হয়ে পড়ল। একে জোড়া খুন, তার উপর চুরির কেস তো থানায় লেগেই আছে! সাথে মাথা হারানোর সম্পূর্ণ দায়। আইসি হাত তুলে দিয়েছেন, ওসি অবশ্য সাহায্য করে যাচ্ছেন সাধ্যমতো, আর সাহায্যের ব্যাপারে সাথে আছে সহকর্মীরা, যাদের অবশ্য জিজ্ঞাসাবাদ করার ক্ষমতাটা মোটামুটি গুছিয়ে থার্ড ডিগ্রি প্রয়োগের মধ্যেই সীমাবদ্ধ। এ হেন পুলিশের দল নিয়ে বিধান কি পারবে অপরাধী ধরতে? বলতেই পারতাম যে জানার জন্য দেখতেই হবে.....ইত্যাদি, ইত্যাদি। কিন্ত না, তাহলে বোধহয় খানিকটা ভুলই বলতাম।

মজাটা হল, গল্পটা থ্রিলারধর্মী মনে হলেও, তার আসল রূপটা হলো মনস্তাত্ত্বিক। আর এখানেই পরিচালক, রাজা চন্দের মুন্সিয়ানা, যেখানে অপরাধীকে ধরার থেকে তার মনটার হদিশ পাওয়া ও তারপর তার দখল নেওয়াটা গুরুত্বপূর্ণ হয়ে উঠেছে। একদম প্রথম থেকেই যার মায়াবী মুর্চ্ছনা ধরা পড়েছে রথীজিৎ ভট্টাচার্য রচিত অসাধারণ এক ওপেনিং স্কোরের মাধ্যমে। সুবীর মান্নার পরিমিত মেকআপ ও শর্বরী চক্রবর্তীর সামঞ্জস্যপূর্ণ পোষাক চয়ন, দৃশ্যগুলোকে অস্বাভাবিকরকম স্বাভাবিক করে তুলতে পেরেছে।

অভিনয়ে সোহম মজুমদার ঠিকই আছে, তবে কথাটা খানিক কম চিবিয়ে বললে আর ক্ষেত্র নির্বিশেষে চলনবলনটা আরেকটু কম নরম করলে চরিত্রটা প্রয়োজনীয় পুষ্টি পেত! অবশ্য দেখার মতো অভিনয় করেছেন দেবপ্রিয় মুখার্জ্জী ও অমিত সাহা। চরিত্রের মধ্যে সম্পূর্ণ ঢুকে গিয়েও কি সাবলীল অভিনয় দেখানো যায়, আমার উত্তরোত্তর পছন্দের শিল্পী, এই দেবপ্রিয় মুখার্জ্জী, তাই যেন প্রমাণ করছেন বারবার। অমিত সাহাও লা জবাব! স্রেফ যেন অভিব্যক্তি দিয়েই মাত করে দিলেন।

তাই বলছি, সিরিজটা দেখা দরকার। ভুলত্রুটি হয়তো অল্পবিস্তর হলেও আছে, কিন্তু তারই মাঝে ভাবনার কিছু সূক্ষ্ম খোরাকও যে বিছিয়ে রাখা আছে।

Deceptive Dupahiya!

The only thing that might go against the series is if the viewers had already watched Panchayat seasons 1 and 2!

The populace that inhabits the sprightly rural India, with her simple charms and inherent ills, is portrayed yet again in a drama that unfolds the merry ride of life.

In the village of Dhadakpur, apparently famous for being the only crime-free village in Bihar, a sudden theft shakes the balance. A bike, bought as a dowry by Banwari Jha, for the marriage of his daughter, Roshni, gets stolen just eight days prior to the scheduled wedding! This not only puts the marriage at stake, but a lot of other problems crops up as well! The pride of the village being crime-free for 24 years, is threatened as do the promise of the grant of fresh water, for holding the record for just another year. Roshni's dream of settling in the city, far away from the coarsely interfering rustic ambience, is checked as does his father's wish of becoming the permanent principal of the local school, a promise that the wedding grants!

Village politics dutifully comes to play with the scheming opposition trying to expose the crime against the head, seeking to hush the theft for the sake of the record and the people! Added tot this is the lazy but smart inspector of police with a personal grievance against Banwari and the aspiring reporter, seeking for a scoop to apply for a position of a journalist, who add further hurdles to face!

So, all seems to depend on the local kleptomaniac and Roshni's reel-obsessed brother to find a solution and attempt at a replacement.

With twists, prickly and hilarious, the plot becomes increasingly enjoyable as the events unfold and characters are revealed. The simplicity of the rural province is treated with humility while the inherent woes and pains are laced with humour that gives the series a flavour that appeals. With a message, not too subtle against the social evil of dowry and the irrational stigma against the dark-complexioned, the series serves as a stark reminder of who we actually are and what we need to be!

Directed very ably as guided by Sonam Nair, all the performers acted just perfectly and none can be said to be better than the other. A display of classic acting, all who portrayed the characters, even those with a wee bit of screen presence, all marked their presence with superb professionalism! Created and scripted by Avinash Dwivedi, Chirag Garg, Salona Bains Joshi and Subh Shivdasani, the series is highly recommended for both old and young!

Primarily Paatal Lok

There is a word called 'unputdownable', for books. I don't know any equivalent term for TV shows. But if there had been any, Paatal Lok, Season 2, would fit the bill precisely!

If the Season 1 was great, the 2^nd serving will be felt tremendous! With a surprise pace and a gripping tale, the twists are just too many to be comprehensively penned. But leaving the thrill inherent, what wins the heart is the hope that survives and the honesty that satisfies!

The decapitated remains of a Naga leader in his own restroom at the Nagaland Sadan in Delhi threatens the fate of a political summit bitterly. Obvious ripples are felt in Nagaland where the political situation becomes tense. The Delhi cops are alerted and ACP Imran Ansari is assigned the case. Meanwhile, Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary of the Outer Jamuna Paar PS is on a case to find a trumpeteer of a local band party who was reported to have not come home for days at a stretch. Curiously enough, this apparently ordinary case seemed to hold a significant key to the assassination case. The point was brought to notice by Chaudhary, the man with the eidetic memory, a personal asset that came in handy more than once while both the cases proceeded. However, the authorities were initially reluctant in involving Chaudhary, a mere inspector, in the investigation of a murder, labelled to be immensely sensitive in the political regime. But ACP Ansari, the once junior to Chaudhary while in his 1^st appointment, recommended for his revered mentor and the team of two set sail to crack the case just like old times. But the latest mission seemed to be pitted against varied levels of hurdles with the atmosphere of Nagaland turning increasingly hostile, a feeling of mistrust flowing through the ranks, each of their steps being minutely surveilled upon and to top it all, a lone sniper on the loose, apparently on a killing schedule, erasing witnesses at the slightest of opportunities!

So, the stage is set, the suspense is created but what remains is the flurry of twists that creates all the difference!

A season, rivetingly directed (Avinash Arun), well surpasses the predecessor (directed by Avinash Arun and Prosit Roy) both in thrill and pace! Created by Sudip Sharma, the themes are fabulous and twists, though a few tragic, but are unprecedented. Then there is Jaideep Ahlawat as the indomitable Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary whom you'll just love from the word go! With an appearance as gruff as can be, and gait, visibly clumsy particulary while on a chase, the character will inspire awe with the determination that he showcases. Jaideep Ahlawat is simply magnificent with all the naturalness that he portrays and the naive desperation that he projects. The utter helplessness of the salaried, yet the sense of duty that prevails, the character of Hathiram couldn't be more sincerely portrayed. Gul Panag reprises her role as Renu Chaudhary but surpasses her acting with a presence that commands sympathy and respect. Ishwak Singh as ACP Imran Ansari supports ably in a major way while Nikita Grover also refreshes with her wee bit of presence as Constable Manju Verma. Infact, the season seems to be trimmed to perfection, mainly due to all the artists apparently performing, all too precisely without overdoing anything!

The series, designed to be just a thriller, actually becomes appealing not for the rush of adrenaline but for the maturity of remaining practical, while the underlying theme resonates with the dilemma of choosing the priority when protocol of the assigned job comes in conflict with the moral duty that the responsible heart desires.

Red One: the child inside!

Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans team up to save Christmas as Santa apparently disappears from his North Pole citadel. Johnson plays Callum Drift, head of ELF (Enforcement, Logistics and Fortification), security detail to Saint Nicholas while Evans plays a bounty hunter, skilled to precisely trail anything, but, for the right price.

Safely protecting while maintaining the mask of myth around Santa for decades, the ever responsible Drift is aghast to find the security that he headed breached on the very day that he had submitted his proposal to retire from active duty. Intimating MORA (Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority) about the catastrophe, he is updated in due course by Director, Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu) that it was Jack O' Malley (Evans), who hacked into their system to initiate the breach. Actually Malley was hired by Gryla, the Winter Witch, to accurately identify the secret hideout of Santa by precisely monitoring for the only seismic glitch that his security network leaked. Gryla had her own evil plans for Christmas and so she chose Christmas Eve for abducting Santa. With her cronies who could change shapes at will, Gryla was a force to reckon with.

Without much time and option in hand, Zoe picked up Malley and forced him to assist Drift while he started on his quest for rescuing Santa through the mythological domains. Thus it depended on Drift, a mythical entity, gradually frustrated with the increasingly intolerant humankind and Malley, a firm disbeliever in Santa and anything mythical, to join hands to save Santa Claus and Christmas in time!

Jake Kasdan weaves a modern fairy tale for the audience, both old and young. Blending action with humour, the film effortlessly narrates the fun and suspense that the story (scripted by Chris Morgan based on the original by Hiram Garcia) demands. The pace might be a bit abrupt and the thrill a bit suppressed, but the true essence of the film lies in the Christmas charm that it embeds. While the movie searches for the Santa, the theme resonates with the search for the neglected child in the heart that was once honest and full of trust and hope.

So hark, as the herd of reindeer draws the sleigh and the bearded rider cries, 'Kavalame', the movie will be a great way to bid the year goodbye and celebrate the children within us with the hope of merrier moments to cherish ahead.

Cross: A couple of cases

A serial-killer on the loose and a mysterious prowler out with a vengeance, DC homicide detective, Alex Cross must tackle this double trouble that pose threats to both public and his private life. While trying to cope with the trauma of losing his wife, the forensic psychologist in Cross fights the pain within while trying to nab the killer that kidnaps the victims and kills them as a tribute to murderers who became infamous. Racing against time, as Cross tries to save the next victim, there lurks threat to his home and children from a deceptively dangerous enemy, rising from the unforgivingly dormant past. Moles inside add to the worries as strategies get leaked, witnesses killed and evidences lost. Will Cross be able to unmask the adversary? Will he be able to solve a mystery that threatens his family? Will the victims that are in danger be saved?

Primarily based on the characters created by James Patterson, this series by Ben Watkins is a thrill to watch though the suspense is somewhat loosely composed. Aldis Hodge plays the titular character but is eclipsed by the natural acting of Isaiah Mustafa as Detective John Sampson, a supporting role that gets projected to greater significance by the brilliant character portrayal by the superbly refreshing Mustafa. Johnny Ray Grill as the treacherous Bobby Trey will again be felt less impressing in contrast to Ryan Eggold who will send chills through the veins as Ed Ramsay, the psychotic killer who appears increasingly sadistic as the season progresses. Special mention must be reserved for Alona Tal as Special Agent Kayla Craig and the young Caleb Elijah as little Damon Cross, the former breathing relief while the latter giving the touch of genuine innocence, maintaining, all the while, the gravity of the sequences in which they appeared!

Thus, though this season will be a thrill to watch, but a bit of tactful suspense needs to be infused to satisfactorily keep the essence of the series appealing.

Murshid: A Matter of Mindgame

A deal for drugs is sabotaged and a chain of gory events begins. When his surviving son is held captive with his life hanging on the edge, the don returns from his self-imposed exile from a life of crime. Losing a son in a fatal accident, Murshid Pathan had vowed not to touch arms again but fate forced the retired ruler of the underworld to enter the darker arena for saving his family. But the cruel has turned crooked and so did the policy traders. These make the path ahead further difficult for the once revered don of yesteryear. With elections round the corner and henchmen of rival gangs seeking the feeblest of opportunities to strike, the father in Murshid has to strategise his each move in a desperate bid to save his kid! As time ticks in alarming monotony, all that remains to be seen is whether Murshid still had the grip of the underworld! Can he instill command on the young and fear in the heart of his rival? Will he be able to reclaim the throne that he wilfully vacated?

Watch to know for yourself, as rivalry splits the underworld and the politics for power in the series that, though, is fast paced but strangely lacks the vigour somehow! But Kay Kay Menon compensates for all the shortcomings as his mere presence is enough to steal the limelight that steers the show with a performance that greatly and critically matters!

Those About To Die..... And Breath

Treachery and tragedy go hand-in-hand as the Roman empire witnesses yet another struggle for power. The dynasty of the Flavians reigns but the lust for supremacy drives the nobility in the race for the curule chair of apparently unlimited power. While the ambitious hatches a coup, the cunning waits for the opportunity, and the apparent plebian gambles for a subtly ambitious strategy of ascendancy! But as the fight for power continues, the ordinary suffers the most! But these puppets of the empire are kept at bay by the games of death and bets.

The amphitheatre hosts the gladiators and the charioteers who battle for their lives and for the stakes of pleasure. The arena soakes in blood while the audience lauds the carnage! Cruelty reigns supreme while sentiments run raw! Many a hearts are killed while new hopes rise afresh. The lives of the gladiators hang precariously on the cold whims that the head of the nobility commands. The commoners bet on the lives and horses as the sports of blood appeal to the baser instincts.

But the smell of blood reeks the royalty too as the apparently noble and those who rule play deadlier games, in the arena of politics. As the race for supremacy infests the factions, conspiracies are set afoot and human lives matter little to the firmly ambitious.

As both the games spill blood, the only class that flourishes is the underworld. Gambling dens greatly prosper and the profits fuel the conspiracies. A particularly scheming owner tries his fortune to rise across the peers while a mother desperately tries protecting her wards. As they both unite in a silent pact, the collapse of many a formidable starts! Curiously enough, in the filths of the corrupts, the purest of amours also finds a place.

With a compact theme spiced with thrilling pace, the guilty pleasure of the blood sports will fade against the tragedies that matters. Created by Robert Rodat, the drama will be remembered for the twists that terrifies, the violence that chills and the tragedies that inherently disturbs! As to the acting, Sara Martins is magnificently perfect with Iwan Rheon closely following while Anthony Hopkins provides the refined touch of sickly classic aristocracy. But the series falters under less thoughtful direction (Marco Kreuzpaintner, Roland Emmerich) that could be planned way better for a subtler touch to emphasize reality.

Mercilessly Mirzapur

After going through the initial few episodes of Season 3 that forced me to assume that the season is only slightly better placed than the Season 2, suddenly episode 7 happened that changed everything. Beginning with a gripping yet not so dramatic start, the plot seemed not so thrilling. We seemed to know what could happen! We knew that Kaleen Bhaiya had survived. We knew Guddu would be ascending the throne tainted with blood. We knew that Madhuri would seek vengeance. We knew the Tyagis will thirst for the blood of Golu. We knew that there will be a power tussle between Sharad and Guddu. And we knew that the life of Ramakant Pandit will be leading haywire!

But what we didn't know was how, if at all, Guddu retains his prized possession of the throne! We didn't know if Beena is satisfied in her cleverly camouflaged nest for her son! We were having no idea of how, if at all, Guddu and Golu plan to survive the onslaught of the opposing parties, a professional hazard that often entails terrifying domino effects! We had no inkling of what fate had in store for Kaleen Bhaiya! We didn't have known what destined role does Robin play in the Pandit family. And we surely didn't know if Maqbool plans to enter the foray to quench his thirst to avenge against the family that betrayed his heart!

Strictly speaking, these form the motive force behind the season and keeps the grip on but falls short of the suspense. But I must, however, admit that the series of climactic twists leading to the startling showdown catapults the rendition way ahead of the Season 2, though not reaching the frightening benchmark that Season 1 had set. Revealing evil in the rawest, the season provides ample opportunities to bask in guilty pleasure but the frequent collaterals may keep the primitive attitude somewhat at check!

As Guddu Pandit stoops to a new low, Ali Fazal attains newer heights of superbly natural acting, precisely presenting the character through all the required shades. Ranging from the utter cruelty to inescapable despair, every emotion is effortlessly portrayed as the actor blends all too well with the character he plays. But slight disappointingly, Shweta Tripathi Sharma, my favourite, overdoes the Golu effect, very much spoiling her singularly terse appeal. Isha Talwar, on the contrary, shines in her cool charisma as she completes the transformation of the aspiring diplomat from the preceding season to the suavely strategist Madhuri. But beside these, two actors deserve special mention due to their individual skills that are greatly distinct yet equally brilliant. One of them, as most might already have guessed, is no other than Pankaj Tripathi, who wins the admiration while playing one of the vilest crime lords of all times. With a short screen presence and even shorter amount of dialogues, his mere presence heightens the sequences featuring him, augmented by his signature crisp comments and subtle yet piercing gestures. The other is Vijay Varma, who played the dual role of the Tyagi siblings in the previous season and reprises his role of the surviving brother in the latest one. He portrays one of the most complicated characters that the drama demands with perfect poise and enhances the chilling suspense of several situations with the least predictable demeanour!

Thus, Mirzapur continues to entertain, starting as early as the haunting notes of the opening score (John Stewart Eduri) appeal to the senses, but will require improvement in the narrative for retaining the madness!