Khakee The Bengal Chapter Review: Predictable yet gripping crime thriller
Khakee The Bengal Chapter Web Series Rating: 3 Stars
Watched Khakee The Bengal Chapter Web Series on Netflix. So, let’s analyze the cast, release date, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this web series.
Cast: Prosenjit Chatterjee, Jeet, Saswata Chatterjee, Ritwik Bhowmik, Chitrangada Singh, Aadil Zafar Khan and Parambrata Chatterjee
Director: Debatma Mondal and Tushar Kanti Ray
Release Date: 20th March 2025 on Netflix
Duration: 7 Episodes/ 40 Minutes
Story: Series revolves around Arjun Maitra (Jeet) who is appointed to investigate the murder of IPS officer Saptarishi Sinha (Parambrata Chatterjee) who was investigating a case of a high-profile kidnapping. Both are honest officers, but their ways of functioning are poles apart.
While Saptarishi is played by the books, Arjun is more brazen, sometimes flouting orders just to do what he feels is right. Local mafia lord Bagha (Saswata Chatterjee) is named as the main culprit behind Saptarishi’s murder even though the Bagha is careful to never cross the force. Bagha’s aids Sagar (Ritwik Bhowmik) and Ranjit (Aadil Zafar Khan) are also suspects.
Bhagha along with his aids is known to be ruthless and has instilled fear among the people in the city. While investigating the case, Arjun realizes the situation is murkier than it appears. Barun Roy (Prosenjit Chatterjee) a conniving poltician runs the show from behind even as CM Shirshendu (Subhasish Mukherjee) is the man giving orders from the front.
While the government wants to project it is taking cognizance of the crime in the city and hence appoints an honest officer like Arjun to investigate, members of the ruling party are also involved in the nexus- pocketing good money from real estate deals, organ trading and more. There is also an opposition leader Nibedita Basak (Chitrangada Singh), a woman in a man’s world, raising important issues on the misdeeds of the government.
Things get murky and complicated when Sagar and Ranjit break away from Bagha, yearning to make a name for themselves in politics and power. Sagar, the smarter and calmer of the two even gets a ticket for the local municipal elections, which leads to an ego tussle with Ranjit, the brash and volatile of the two. How Arjun controls the situation is all about this series.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Direction
3. Cinematography
4. Story
Negatives
1. Length
2. Uneven Screenplay
3. Dialogues
4. Climax
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this web-series planned to watch on premiere day as loved the trailer and liked the 1st season of this franchise. An upright cop Arjun Maitra is on a mission to capture ruthless gangster Bagha and his deadly gang, who have terrorized Kolkata with a wave of crimes. As Arjun navigates a web of danger, deception, and violence, his relentless pursuit tests his courage, wit, and commitment to justice.
Khakee The Bengal Chapter story is on the same lines as previous season that a honest police officer is trying to clean the system despite immense challenges. The biggest win is its casting. It casts some of the most prominent faces of the Bengali film industry and almost all are in top form. There are far too many characters and sub-plots, but they put it together neatly. Like the first part, simplicity is the key, and the makers ensure that there’s no room for confusion. The other big strength is unpredictability. One never knows what twist awaits and who’ll get eliminated. Certain characters, who seem to be crucial parts of the narrative, are finished off pretty early and those who seem not-so-significant turn out to be the major drivers of the story. The series gains momentum when Bagha’s henchmen go rogue, attempting to establish their own rule over Kolkata. Sagor and Ranjit emerge as significant disruptors, adding layers of complexity to the narrative. The Kolkata setting is well-executed, lending authenticity to the backdrop. The city’s atmosphere, political turmoil, and criminal underbelly are effectively portrayed, making the world of feel organic and immersive.
Police vs the underworld is a trope that Indian cinema has adapted too many times. An honest officer trying to clean the system even as he and his force are outdone by smart crooks who are hand in glove with the powerful leaders is a story well too familiar. The biggest shortcoming is its reluctance to delve deeper into the complexities of crime and corruption, offering a surface-level narrative that lacks the depth of more nuanced investigative dramas. Despite a great cast and setting- a lot is shot in actual locations of Kolkata giving it an authentic feel- the series runs its predictable course. You know which character will go rogue at what point in the story, you know there is a mole in the force and the action sequences do not offer anything out of this world. While the show begins on a very engaging note, one seems to lose interest halfway due to the sluggish narrative. It somewhat gets back its edge towards the end of the series. The women are there but not doing much. Chitrangada Singh and Akanksha Singh only aid the story, but their characters have limited scope. The fourth episode ends on a shocking note and the last three episodes are very gripping as things go horribly wrong. The show ends on a justified note. Even the skeleton smuggling aspect comes up all of a sudden and seems forced at first. Lastly, the earlier part had set a benchmark.
Overall series is a gripping thriller that works due to the subject, ensemble cast, gritty narrative and plenty of twists and turns. It is an engrossing, binge-worthy crime thriller that you might find yourself finishing in one sitting despite flaws. Fans of crime dramas might find it entertaining in parts, but it ultimately feels like a rehashed version of better investigative thrillers. My view on this web-series is Recommended.
For more updates on Bollywood and Cricket visit my page on Facebook Durgesh Tiwary’s View and website Cricket Movie Website