New Delhi: Jio Cinema’s latest crime drama, “Kaalkoot,” released on 27th July has a talented cast that includes Vijay Varma, Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Seema Biswas, Yashpal Sharma, Gopal Datt, and Suzanna Mukherjee. Directed by Sumit Saxena and co-written by Arunabh Kumar, the series consists of 8 episodes with a runtime of 35-40 minutes each.
Review
“Kaalkoot” follows the story of Sub Inspector Ravi Shankar Tripathi, who becomes disillusioned with the functioning of the police station and writes a resignation letter. However, his resignation is rejected, and he is assigned a new case involving an acid attack. As the investigation progresses, the focus shifts towards understanding the character of the victim rather than solely finding the culprit.
One of the notable aspects of “Kaalkoot” is the departure it offers Vijay Varma from his usual villainous roles. In this series, his character Ravi is depicted as soft-spoken and polite, often facing insults from his superior, Jagdish, who belittles him for not conforming to aggressive behavior. This highlights the tendency of society to mock those who don’t fit traditional expectations of masculinity.
The series revolves around the investigation of an acid attack on a girl named Parul. The police face challenges due to Parul’s speech impairment, leaving them with few substantial leads. However, the storyline takes an unexpected twist as the officers start to focus on Parul’s character, assuming she is a prostitute based solely on finding alcohol in her bag. This portrayal effectively exposes the biased mindset and victim-blaming prevalent in the investigation.
In addition to the case, “Kaalkoot” delves into the personal life of Ravi, who faces societal pressure from his widowed mother to get married. Influenced by the prejudiced opinions around him, Ravi begins to doubt his own worth as a “simple and boring” man.
The series concludes with Ravi displaying courage and emerging as a hero cop, but it maintains a realistic approach by not glorifying his actions. Instead, the final episode highlights Ravi’s imperfections and his self-awareness, particularly in his impactful interaction with Shivani.
“Kaalkoot” skillfully captures complex themes such as bias, victim-blaming, and flawed perceptions, making it a captivating watch. Through the character of Ravi Shankar Tripathi, Sumit Saxena breaks the mold by portraying a character who defies stereotypes. Ravi stands out for his consideration and respect towards women and their emotions, despite his flaws. In a patriarchal society, Ravi’s struggle to navigate societal expectations adds depth to his character.
