Khakee: The Bengal Chapter...A Tangy Jhalmuri!

Web series Khakee: The Bihar Chapter (2022) was inspired by a non-fiction book that police officer Amit Lodha wrote in 2018. It received mostly positive responses. Its makers have added another chapter to it that began streaming on Netflix last week. Khakee: The Bengal Chapter is a fictional story in the same genre. 

It is a tangy jhalmuri served to discerning viewers who already know what to expect from a Neeraj Pandey offering. Along with the bevy of talented actors, Kolkata plays a major role in the series in the form of its stunning visuals and characteristic ambience. Competent actors, fast-paced narration and technologically excellent production kept me hooked on to the story, even though I did not relate much to the characters in the first two episodes. Later, I got a better hold on the story.

The series focuses on the nexus between politicians, police, business persons and underworld. The plot is full of twists and turns building up to the climax in the seventh episode. Fickle relationships, shifting loyalties, greed and betrayal play havoc in the lives of characters that form the main framework of this tale. Every time there was gore and graphic violence on the screen, I turned my face away. And I had to do this many times! I wish they had gone easy on this. 

The performances by all the actors are top class. Parambrata Chatterjee, the lovable cop from "Kahaani" is adorable again in a special appearance. The other two Chatterjees--Saswata (Bob Biswas from Kahaani), and Prosenjit (leading actor of Bengali cinema and son of actor Biswajit) are terrific as gangster Bagha and politician Barun Roy respectively. The surprise package here is Jeet (Jeetendra Madnani, a prominent actor, producer, writer and television presenter in Bengali film industry) in his debut role in a Hindi production. He looms large as SIT Chief Arjun Maitra in every frame that he is a part of. More fireworks are unleashed by the duo Ritwik Bhowmik and Aadil Zafar Khan as Bagha's ferocious henchmen who carry out his orders unflinchingly. Ritwik Bhowmik's transition from a mild-mannered, soft-spoken classical singer in "Bandish Bandits" to a ruthless gangster is remarkable. Women have comparatively less prominent roles. But the characters have been written very well. All are believable. Chitrangada Singh as the leader of opposition Nibedita Basak and Aakanksha Singh as SIT officer Aratrika Bhowmik are noteworthy. All other women in smaller roles are adequate.

These days web series are shot on a grand scale and this series is no exception. The elaborate indoor shots and extensive outdoor scenes are impressive. Hope the Khakee team comes up with another chapter from a different state incorporating local talents and flavours as they have done here. Asha kori amra seta dekhte pabo!