Review of Aranyak

Binged-watched this crime thriller on Netflix, in one go.

A small, peaceful hilly town in Himachal is rocked by a murder, bearing resemblance to similar serial killing committed several years ago. Most of the action takes place at the police station where Kasturi, the police station in charge is going on a sabbatical (it’s her last day) and her replacement Angad has just taken charge.

The secrets of the key characters tumble out slowly – mainly those of the victim’s family, local politicians and their families, police folks and their families and the young lads of the town.

The screenplay kept me hooked. Though there are too many characters and continuous twists, the focus stays around Kasturi and Angad. The legend of the nar-tendua lurks in the background and adds suspense.

Raveena as Kasturi puts up a sincere performance, though she looks too glam for her role. Patambrata very naturally gets into Angad’s character. Ashutosh as Kasturi’s FIL lends adds mystery. The support cast is decent. The visuals of the snow-clad mountains and top views of the roads remind of the Iceland-based crime series that Netflix has abundance of.

Though a few sub-plots look out of place, the overall experience is worth it. A recommended watch.