Web series : Khakee The Bengal Chapter
Streaming Date : March 20, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Jeet, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Ritwik Bhowmik, Aadil Zafar Khan, Parambrata Chatterjee, Chitrangda Singh and others
Directors : Debatma Mandal and Tushar Kanti Ray
Producer : Shital Bhatia
Music Directors : Jeet Gannguli and Sanjoy Chowdhury
Cinematographers : Tushar Kanti Ray, Arvind Singh, Tarashree Sahoo, Souvik Basu
Editor : Praveen Kathikuloth
Related Links : Trailer
Khakee: The Bengal Chapter, created by Neeraj Pandey, is the latest political crime series streaming on Netflix. The Hindi series is also available in Telugu. Read on to find out how it fares.
Story:
Sagor Talukdar (Ritwik Bhowmik) and Ranjit Thakur (Aadil Zafar) are close allies working under Kolkata’s feared don, Shankar Baruah, aka Bagha (Saswata Chatterjee). However, their ambition takes a dark turn when they betray and kill Bagha, taking over his empire. With the support of powerful leader Barun Roy (Prosenjit Chatterjee), Sagor is set to rule. But cracks soon appear in his friendship with Ranjit, leading to conflict. Meanwhile, Arjun Maitra (Jeet), the head of SIT, is assigned to investigate the murder of IPS officer Saptarshi Sinha (Parambrata Chatterjee). As he digs deeper, he discovers links between the officer’s death and Bagha’s murder. Who is behind these killings? How is Barun Roy involved, and what is his real agenda? As power struggles unfold, hidden truths come to light, setting the stage for an intense political crime drama.
Plus Points:
Khakee: The Bengal Chapter presents a nice take on the deep-rooted nexus between crime and politics, mirroring real-life power struggles. The portrayal feels authentic, making the narrative compelling.
Jeet, in the role of SIT officer Arjun Maitra, delivers a strong and convincing performance. His character is well-defined, and he brings the required intensity to his role.
The real show-stealers are Ritwik Bhowmik and Aadil Zafar Khan, who play Sagor and Ranjit, respectively. Their on-screen presence adds weight to the series, with Aadil Zafar standing out with his commanding performance.
Akanksha Singh plays a police officer whose perspective drives the story forward. While her character has limited depth, she does a decent job. A small twist in her role adds some intrigue.
Supporting actors like Saswata Chatterjee, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Shruti Das deliver credible performances, effectively complementing the lead cast.
Minus Points:
Despite an interesting premise, the biggest drawback of the series is its sluggish pacing. The narrative unfolds at a slow pace, making it hard for viewers to stay invested.
The lengthy runtime adds to the problem. With four episodes running around 53 minutes each, the story drags unnecessarily. A more engaging, fast-paced execution would have significantly improved the experience.
Having seven episodes with such a slow build-up affects the momentum. The last two episodes, in particular, are highly predictable and could have been merged to streamline the narrative.
The series is overloaded with characters, many of whom serve little purpose. A more refined approach with fewer but well-developed character arcs would have enhanced the storytelling.
Another major drawback is the use of cuss words, making it unsuitable for family audiences. A more balanced approach to the dialogues could have widened the series’ appeal.
Technical Aspects:
Creator Neeraj Pandey lays a solid foundation but misses the opportunity to elevate the series with a more gripping screenplay. Both directors could have tried to make the show more fast-paced. While the political and crime elements are well depicted, a tighter narrative would have made a significant impact.
The cinematography is decent, capturing the mood of the series well. The background score is passable, but the editing by Praveen Kathikuloth could have been sharper to eliminate unnecessary drag. Production values are fair, but the execution needed more finesse.
Verdict:
On the whole, Khakee: The Bengal Chapter struggles to deliver an engaging crime drama due to its sluggish pacing and extended runtime. While the performances of Ritwik Bhowmik, Aadil Zafar, Jeet, and Prosenjit Chatterjee stand out, the predictable screenplay and excessive length hinder the experience. Additionally, the frequent use of cuss words makes it unsuitable for family audiences. If you don’t mind the slow pace and have ample time, you may give it a try – but with tempered expectations.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team