Exam Review: New Exam, Old Syllabus

BOTTOM LINE
New Exam, Old Syllabus

PLATFORM
Amazon Prime Video

RUNTIME
231 Minutes (7 episodes)

What Is the Show About?

Jhansi, a bitter young woman, poses as a high-ranking police officer to expose a massive government exam scam. While Jhansi hides the real officer she replaced, she uncovers deep-seated corruption that ruins the lives of poor students. As the web of lies tightens, she must team up with her rival to take down the masterminds. It is a high-stakes race to reveal the truth.

Performances

It is pitiable that the mettle of its key actors is hardly tested. Dushara Vijayan has consistently remained a victim figure across her films, such as Vettaiyan, Raayan, and to an extent Veera Dheera Sooran too. She may enjoy more prominence in Exam and is even earnest in her portrayal, but it lacks freshness. Aditi Balan’s Maramalli is another major disappointment; the character is not fleshed out well at all.

The much-hyped comeback of Abbas falls flat, especially the way it ends mechanically. Sooriya Jeya is the pick of the lot in terms of performances as the young Kumaresan who sets afoot in a world of crime. Naren Mani, as the elder Kumaresan, is strictly okay. Other supporting characters do their bit in driving the narrative forward.

Analysis

It’s a case of eerie coincidence that Exam debuts on Amazon Prime in the same week the news of a medical exam paper leak has sent shockwaves across the country. Kalavani filmmaker A. Sarkunam makes his OTT debut with this seven-episode series, backed by Pushkar and Gayathri, which serves as an exposé of the systemic corruption plaguing a government exam.

The show sheds light on the various characters involved with and affected by the scam: the mastermind, the victim, and the beneficiary. The narrative is a long-form upgrade to Shankar-style vigilante sagas, minus the commercial cushioning and the usual song-and-dance routines. Through the series, the protagonist painstakingly bares the nexus between a coaching institute owner and the police.

Sarkunam opts for a non-linear narrative while gradually introducing the viewer to the motives of his key characters. Alternating between the dysfunctional upbringing of a hapless young man and the present-day scenario of an ‘angry’ woman impersonating a police officer, the show swiftly zips past its sequences, creating necessary suspense with a liberal dose of drama.

Exam is racy as Jhansi takes the place of DSP Maramalli, living life on a knife-edge at her workplace while guarding her true identity and taking baby steps toward her mission. The show’s charm stays intact until the cat is out of the bag. Much like Pushkar and Gayathri’s Suzhal for the same platform, you anticipate a sophisticatedly shot, complex, and layered hill-station mystery, but it only flatters to deceive.

One of the few takeaways from the narrative style is how it allows everyone to tell their side of the story. Ultimately, both the mastermind and the victim (Jhansi) fall prey to the same broken system. A personal tragedy and class barriers derail the former’s academic dreams, pushing him into a world of crime and easy money. The latter, meanwhile, is imprisoned for calling out the rot, denied a chance to succeed.

Another worthy aspect to note is its portrayal of the police force, where a good mix of black, white and grey characters are part of the system. Additionally, the technical detailing around the scam and the efforts Jhansi, Jayachandran and co undertake to fulfil their quest leaves you intrigued in bits and stretches. Yet, the much-needed emotional push to bind these elements together is largely absent.

Except for Jhansi, Maramalli, and Kumaresan, few characters leave a lasting impact. The ultimate ‘reward’ for Jhansi, Maramalli’s sudden transformation toward the end (as if to absolve her of her crimes), and an aged officer justifying vigilante justice as a necessity (a tired trope in recent Tamil and Telugu crime dramas) feel like the director overestimated his own plot.

While Exam rehashes an old-fashioned script and undermines the potential of its capable cast, it scores slightly better on the technical front, particularly with its cinematography and slick edits. However, these technical flourishes are not enough to redeem the aftertaste. The show’s timing could work to its advantage, but in a crowded OTT market where supply outscores demand, it remains to be seen if it can keep viewers invested until the end.

Music and Other Departments?

True to his repertoire, Sam C.S. creates an unconventional soundscape for the show, especially to build the mystery, but the overkill of the theme track dampens the impact at times. Arun Amarenthiran’s cinematography lends a classy, sophisticated finish to the show. Few smart editing choices by Richard Kevin help the team’s cause at times. The writing generally lacks freshness while the technical contributions give it some respectability.

Highlights?

Impressive casting

Technical finesse

Engaging in parts

Drawbacks?

Dull, old fashioned writing

Poor performances/characterisation

Lacks emotional pull

Did I Enjoy It?

Only In Parts

Will You Recommend It?

If you like Shankar-style vigilante sagas with a few technical upgrades

Exam Web Series Reviewed by M9 News

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