Starring: Karisma Kapur, Jishuu Sengupta, Surya Sharma, Soni Razdan, Helen, KK Raina, Shaan and Ajinkya Deo Story based on Abheek Barua’s Ci...
Starring: Karisma Kapur, Jishuu Sengupta, Surya Sharma, Soni Razdan, Helen, KK Raina, Shaan and Ajinkya Deo
Story based on Abheek Barua’s City of Death
Directed by: Abhinay Deo
Streaming on ZEE5, Brown, based on Abheek Barua’s
2016 novel City of Death, attempts to position itself as a slow-burning
neo-noir thriller but ends up collapsing under the weight of its own clichés
and predictability.
The series follows Rita Brown, played by Karisma
Kapur, an alcoholic cop haunted by her past—a trope so overused that it feels
instantly tiresome rather than intriguing. Alongside her is Detective Arjun
Sinha (Surya Sharma, in an impressive turn), as they investigate the brutal
decapitation of a powerful industrialist’s daughter. The case, layered with
political pressure and buried family secrets, promises complexity but rarely
delivers on it.
Despite being set in Kolkata, the city itself
barely breathes within the narrative. Apart from obligatory visuals of the
Howrah Bridge and Chinatown, the setting feels underutilised, missing an
opportunity to become an atmospheric character—something noir storytelling
thrives on.
Directed by Abhinay Deo, known for Delhi Belly, the
series struggles to maintain narrative tension. The screenplay frequently loses
grip, allowing the pacing to sag. Suspense—arguably the backbone of such a
thriller—is disappointingly weak, with major reveals telegraphed far too early.
The motive behind the crime is even more underwhelming, bordering on juvenile,
and the climax arrives devoid of impact—like a soda gone flat long before it’s
opened.
Performance-wise, there are brief sparks in an
otherwise dull landscape. Karisma Kapur has a substantial role but is let down
by a one-dimensional character that she struggles to elevate. Soni Razdan and
Helen bring moments of grace and humour along with emotion, while K. K. Raina
shines in a small yet memorable role.
Ultimately, Brown is a series that promises grit
and intrigue but delivers familiarity and fatigue. Its writing leans heavily on
formula, and when the predictable climax finally unfolds, it leaves behind a
lingering sense of déjà vu—been there, seen that, known that. What could have
been a gripping noir instead turns into a missed opportunity that flatters to
deceive.
By Pratik Majumdar (author: Love Coffee Murder and
1975 The Year That Transformed Bollywood)
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