- By Sukanya Saha
- Fri, 12 May 2023 12:15 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Dahaad delves into the hunt for a mysterious serial killer who is on the loose in a distant Rajasthan town. The authorities are actively searching for the culprit to apprehend them in the act. Despite scaling the entire state, it becomes apparent that the killer's victims are scattered across different areas. The series explores the killer's capture and motives.
Plot
Dahaad recounts the tale of Anjali Bhaati, a high-ranking police officer hailing from a socially disadvantaged caste. In the Mandawa Police Station, situated in a small Rajasthan town, she is assigned a case involving a missing girl who is rumoured to have absconded with a Muslim man, taking along cash, valuables, and other important items. Anjali takes charge of the investigation and collaborates with her superiors Devilal Singh and Kailash Parghi to pursue the case.
As they delve deeper into the investigation, the officers discover that numerous girls from various parts of Rajasthan have eloped with their anonymous partners. They also notice that each missing girl's story bears a striking similarity to the others.
After a thorough investigation, Anjali discovers that the missing girls have committed suicide by consuming cyanide. The police suspect that Anand Swarnakar, a Hindi professor, is the prime suspect, but they lack substantial evidence to apprehend him. Meanwhile, Anand devises plans to trick the police and present himself as innocent. Dahaad portrays whether Anjali and her team will be able to catch Anand Swarnakar in the act.
Cast
Dahaad’s casting is outstanding. The filmmakers selected an actor who had not played such a nuanced role in a long time, but they helped her realise that she had the ability to excel in it. Sonakshi Sinha, who plays the lead character Anjali, demonstrates her acting mettle convincingly and naturally. Despite the complex layers to Anjali's character, Sonakshi manages to portray her with ease and finesse. Through her performance, Sonakshi embodies a woman who is at the forefront of many issues, solely because of her social status.
Vijay Varma slipped into his character like second skin. In Dahaad, he portrays a serial killer. Despite playing a villainous character, his portrayal is a complete 180-degree turn from his previous role as Hamza in Darlings. The writing effectively shapes his role, making the audience fearful of him even when he's not shown killing anyone on screen. The mere idea of him using his intelligence to kill people is both alluring and terrifying. A lot of the tension in the film builds up slowly thanks to Vijay Varma's captivating performance.
Sohum Shah's character in Dahaad is torn between two choices, and his struggles are relatable to many. Despite having the talent to shine, he does not try to overshadow others and instead chooses to take a more subdued role. However, his performance is still notable and catches the attention of the audience. Meanwhile, Gulshan Devaiah's portrayal of the chief officer is also impressive. The actor seems to enjoy his character's moments of solace away from the chaos of the police station, especially when he's in his own house.
What works for the series?
This eight-episode murder mystery series created by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, takes a unique approach by not relying on excessive plot twists to keep the audience engaged. Instead, the story unfolds at a deliberate pace, allowing for a deeper exploration of the situation and serving as a commentary on the society it is set in. Despite being a departure from their usual style, the series showcases the trademark characteristics of Akhtar and Kagti's work.
Dahaad delves into sensitive topics such as politics based on hatred, class discrimination, economic disparity between the privileged and the underprivileged, and politicians manipulating stories to create hostility towards a particular religion. The show creates a complex world, which requires the viewer's undivided attention, as it is not easy to multitask while watching it. The cinematography by Yogi Sankotra, Tanay Satam, and Vanshikha Singh is captivating and immerses the audience into the world of the story, which is set in the desert.
The absence of a backstory for a villain can make for a compelling narrative, and Anand's character in Dahaad is a prime example of that. It is crucial to understand what drives a person to become a serial killer for years while maintaining a happy family life. Vijay Varma's performance as Anand is chilling and unnerving, as he takes sadistic pleasure in portraying the unspeakable atrocities committed by his character. It's no wonder that once again, he has succeeded in making audiences love to hate him, just like he did with his character Hamza in Darlings.
The directing style used in Dahaad is noteworthy as it presents Rajasthan as a character and showcases social issues prevalent in the state. Sumit Arora's dialogue writing is impactful, and one scene between Gulshan Devaiah and his son discussing consensual sex' is particularly well-written.
What doesn't work for the series?
Dahaad hints at several themes and subplots but does not delve deep into them. For instance, Sonakshi's reluctance to love, her complicated relationship with her father, and the eve teasing she experiences as a police officer are all touched upon but not explored in detail. As a result, the show often feels like something is missing from the larger narrative. It would have been better if the show had devoted more attention to these aspects.
Final verdict:
Dahaad is a web series is thought-provoking that has the ability to make viewers contemplate social stigmas in the country. Furthermore, it's likely to keep you engrossed, with its dark and eerie nature, and you won't feel bad about despising Vijay Varma's character once again.
Dahaad is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.