Kankhajura assessment
Forged: Roshan Mathew, Mohit Raina, Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, Sarah Jane Dias, Ninad Kamat, Mahesh Shetty, Heeba Shah
Director: Chandan Arora
The place to observe: SonyLIV
Ranking: ★★★★
Within the Israeli collection Magpie, the title made sense because the time period is used for police informers within the West, and the protagonist was one. Within the Hindi adaptation of the acclaimed present, Kankhajura, the protagonist is curiously decreased to a millipede, albeit a harmful one. The metaphor holds right here as effectively. For Ashu is as small and insignificant as he’s harmful. This story of affection, want for approval, and violent rage is a narrative effectively advised, however significantly better carried out. If the script retains you hooked, the performances blow you away. And on the centre of all of it is a elegant Roshan Mathew, reminding viewers but once more why he is likely one of the most interesting younger actors within the nation.
The plot
Kankhajura is the story of Ashu (Roshan), a younger man in Goa, who’s launched from jail after 14 years. Within the meantime, his brother Max (Mohit Raina) has established a minor development empire, however on illegitimate foundations. Max and his companions deal with Ashu like their punching bag even because the latter continues to search for their approval. However there’s extra to Ashu. The meek, stuttering man is a grasp manipulator, and the native ACP (Heeba Shah) needs to take advantage of that. As Max and his cronies push Ashu to the brink, he breaks, after which all hell breaks free.
How Kankhajura blows you away
On the floor, Kankhajura is a narrative about acceptance and the necessity for approval. Ashu’s obsession with being adequate for his brother drives all his actions, whether or not good or unhealthy. The script brings this complicated emotion out fairly properly. All of the subtleties and intricacies are conveyed in a elegant method, with out hammering the purpose too arduous. That makes the present extra relatable and arguably extra uncomfortable, too. However that discomfort is pure, as a result of the story talks about tough feelings, ones that we at all times hold hidden away.
The present additionally handles Ashu’s intricate plans and machinations fairly superbly. As a intelligent manipulator, Ashu is at all times two steps forward of everybody. However the present doesn’t hold the viewers at the hours of darkness. In a way evocative of Breaking Unhealthy or Higher Name Saul, it permits you inside Ashu’s thoughts as he orchestrates folks round him, generally aided by dumb luck and different instances guided by his personal bravado. These sequences are enjoyable, largely due to the thrilling manner they’ve been offered.
The Roshan Mathew present
And the sutradhar of all that is Roshan Mathew. The actor breathes new life into this thriller style, which is nearly vulnerable to oversaturation on OTT. His efficiency, already top-of-the-line this yr, makes you are feeling every thing for Ashu – from sympathy to disgust to rage. And therein lies the fantastic thing about what Roshan has achieved right here. The actor, a well-known babyface, has hardly dealt with one thing this darkish and devious. However he coasts by not simply the position however the setup, fairly flawlessly. Kankhajura is an efficient present based mostly on the story and the technical features alone. Roshan makes it nice.
Mohit Raina is a good foil to Roshan. Gentle years from his Mahadev section, the actor exhibits off his vary because the egocentric and darkish Max, a person who can sacrifice something to get what he needs. That single-minded focus wanted to be introduced with out making him the stereotypical villain, and Mohit Raina manages that. Among the many remainder of the solid, Mahesh Shetty (as Max’s affiliate Shardul) and Heeba Shah (because the Goa ACP) stand out.
We frequently hear viewers (and even critics) lament the absence of authentic tales. Many cringe at remakes, labelling them lazy. However Kankhajura is something however lazy. It’s authentic, too, marrying the essence of Magpie with the soul of Goa and the center of desi storytelling. This present proves that if accomplished proper, even a remake could be top-of-the-line exhibits of the yr.