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Mrigaya: The Hunt - A Wild Ride Through Kolkata’s Underbelly

  Starcast :- Ritwick Chakraborty, Vikram Chatterjee, Anirban Chakrabarti ,Ananya, Rizwan Rabbani Shaikh, Atish Chakraborty, Trishanjit ...


 

Starcast :- Ritwick Chakraborty, Vikram Chatterjee, Anirban Chakrabarti ,Ananya, Rizwan Rabbani Shaikh, Atish Chakraborty, Trishanjit and Sourav Das. Special Appearance :- Priyanka Sarkar and Sushmita


Direction :- Abhirup Ghosh


Music :- Nirupam Dutta and Rana Mazumder


Mrigaya: The Hunt is the latest Bengali thriller from director Abhirup Ghosh that hit theaters on June 27, 2025. I caught it over the weekend, and let me tell you, this one’s a pulse-pounding, gritty cop drama that doesn’t pull its punches. It’s got everything you’d want in a thriller—tense chases, morally gray characters, and a story based on a true incident that keeps you guessing. But it’s not perfect, let’s dive into what makes this film tick, what works, and where it stumbles.


Mrigaya (meaning "the hunt" in Sanskrit and Bengali) is inspired by a real-life case from 2022, which gives it a raw, grounded vibe. The story kicks off with a brutal murder in Kolkata’s Sonagachi red-light district—a sex worker found with her throat slit. Four cops, led by the intense duo of Animesh (Vikram Chatterjee) and OC Debanjan Datta (Ritwick Chakraborty), team up to track down the mastermind behind this crime. What starts as a straightforward cop-versus-criminal chase spirals into something way messier. The script, penned by actual police officers Debasis Datta and Pallab Malakar, alongwith Aritra Banerjee a popular film reviewer and Sourit Deb throws in twists that blur the lines between hunter and hunted. It’s less about good guys versus bad guys and more about survival, justice, and some serious psychological mind-games. The “hunt” theme runs deep, both literally and figuratively, and the film leans into it hard, which I loved.

 

The cast is a big reason this movie pops off. Vikram Chatterjee as Animesh is a revelation—his performance is all fire and grit, with these tiny expressions that scream determination and inner conflict. Ritwick Chakraborty, playing the seasoned Debanjan, is like the calm before the storm, grounding the chaos with his quiet intensity. His witty and often sarcastic nature elevated the characterization. The chemistry between these two are electric, making their buddy-cop dynamic feel real and lived-in. Then you’ve got Saurav Das as a shady criminal— leader of a de-notified, violent tribe, this man steals scenes with his unhinged energy and menacing act. Priyanka Sarkar’s Chaya, a bold sex worker who becomes a key player, along with newcomer Ananya add heart and hustle to the mix. Anirban Chakrabarti, Atish Chakraborty and Rezwan Rabbani Sheikh round out the ensemble, and honestly, there’s not a weak link here. Everyone’s bringing their A-game, and it makes the film feel alive.

 

Visually, Mrigaya is a stunner. The cinematography uses Kolkata’s gritty streets and shadowy alleys to build this claustrophobic, tense atmosphere. There’s this one slow-motion chase scene through a narrow alley that had me holding my breath—gorgeous and nerve-wracking at the same time. The background score is another winner, ramping up the suspense without overpowering the story. Action scenes, choreographed by Somnath Biswas, are brutal and raw. It’s not just flashy punches; you feel the weight of every hit. That said, some of the editing felt a bit too slick in places, like they were trying to make it too polished. A little more roughness could’ve matched the story’s grittiness better.

 

Where Mrigaya shines is its ambition to be a “mass entertainer” without losing its brain. Abhirup Ghosh, known for pulpy thrillers like Zombiesthaan, and the iconic web series Byadh clearly loves caper films and covert ops stories,( there is a lovely hat tip to Khakee) and you can feel that passion here. The film doesn’t shy away from being big and bold, despite its limited budget. It’s refreshing to see a Bengali film go all-in on action and drama while still having something to say about social issues and morality. The fact that it’s based on a true story—reportedly one of Kolkata police’s biggest wins—adds weight, even if the film takes some creative liberties.

 

But it’s not flawless. The pacing drags a bit in the first half, with a few scenes that feel like they’re setting up the board a little too slowly. I get that they’re building the world, but I found myself checking my watch once or twice. Also, while the twists are mostly great, a couple felt too predictable. There’s a subplot involving a criminal tribe from Uttar Pradesh that’s intriguing but underexplored; I wanted more depth there. And, if I’m being picky, the dialogue can get a tad too punchy at times, like it’s trying to sound cool rather than natural. But these are minor gripes.

 

What’s cool is how Mrigaya feels like a love letter to Kolkata. From the bustling streets, to the streetside egg rolls to the seedy underbelly of Sonagachi, it captures the city’s pulse. The film also doesn’t shy away from showing the messy realities of crime and policing. It’s a thriller that knows how to entertain but also makes you think.

 

Overall, Mrigaya: The Hunt is a banger of a film that delivers on thrills, performances, and atmosphere. It’s not perfect, but it’s a damn good time-pass, especially if you love cop dramas with a bit of masala flair. I’d give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars. 


By Ayushmaan Mitra

 


 

 

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