BOTTOM LINE
Regular Story, Neat Execution
PLATFORM
JioHotstar
RUNTIME
5 Hours (6 Episodes)
What Is the Show About?
A 17-year-old girl, Meenu, accuses a famous spiritual leader, Baapji, of sexual assault. Her complaint causes a public uproar and triggers a tough police investigation. As an honest police officer, Jasleen, and a dedicated lawyer, Bhalerao, help her seek justice, how will Meenu tackle the fight against faith, media pressure and the brute force of the powerful?
Performances
Every good show has a performance that elevates its stature beyond the subject and leaves an imprint on a viewer’s mind. Raghubir Yadav is that crucial differentiator for Hunkkaar. His deceptively assured screen presence as a creepy, tainted godman, gradually laying bare the character’s true persona, is its major highlight.
Aneet Padda, who shot for the show before Saiyyaara’s release, shows enough proof of her acting chops again, playing a girl who does not let a crime dictate the way she approaches life. Equally arresting performances come from Fatima Sana Sheikh as a new officer entrusted with a big case, and Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub as a sincere lawyer. Abhinav Mathur is underused in a one-note role.
Analysis
It is a story we already know. It is a story of a side of India often reported across newspapers, made into a film (Sirf Ek Bandaa) and adapted for an OTT platform (as Aashram), and yet Jio Hotstar’s new show Hunkkaar hits you differently.
A tale of a girl raped at the hands of a trusted godman and not budging while taking him on is not something you would want to revisit as a viewer. Several stories dealing with rape and abuse have gone on to exploit the crime for the wrong reasons over the years, and it is honestly tiring to see what different this could do.
Hunkkaar works because it explores the case from every tangent with similar honesty and is backed by terrific casting choices. As much as the girl, Meenu Rawat, sees herself as a victim, she does not want to be shamed for lodging a complaint and seeks to lead a normal, simple life with her family and loved ones.
The show is quite watchful of the way it portrays and deals with the crime, and does not chase recreation. What we get are simple, effective close-ups that explain what the girl goes through: a sense of helplessness, betrayal and a breach of trust, which she is asked to narrate time and again.
For the most part, though, Hunkkaar is clear about the stance of its characters. Jasleen, as a cop who has lost a lot in life due to the aftermath of a crime, is a firm believer in the legal process. Bhalerao, the no-nonsense lawyer representing Meenu, is an ally dealing with an ailing father and a divorce.
The power politics within the perpetrator Baapji’s aashram are very much on the face, where the spoilt son is eager to take on the mantle from a powerful father. Baapji never gets rattled in dire situations and responds in sermons, in a deceptively calm demeanour, to piercing questions.
The journalist Amitabh Sinha sees himself as a torchbearer of truth, often indulging in verbal duels with his superior at work and never budging in the face of power. He takes his job a little too seriously, which constantly puts him in a spot of bother. Sinha is a man with a clean conscience, but diplomacy clearly is not his strength.
The plot points are nothing out of the blue. Meenu’s house is burned to ashes. The father, who initially is supportive of Meenu’s decision to report the crime, chickens out due to societal pressure and, in turn, tries to guard his daughter fiercely. There is immense resistance to Baapji’s arrest within the system.
Baapji’s former victims empathise with Meenu but lack the courage to come forward, too trapped by his hold. The journalist is constantly threatened with not airing the truth. The see-saw among the characters, the power games, the portrayal of a corrupt system, are honestly something that tire you quickly.
Yet, within the premise’s obvious boundaries, the human drama is its forte, tapping into the vulnerable areas of its characters and their fickleness. Meenu’s father is probably the best example of it, grappling with guilt, having to fend for his family, standing by his daughter, while also wanting to protect her.
There is adequate scope to discuss the specificity of rape as an act of crime in the courtroom, while debating if the absence of consent is not alone enough, more so with a minor. The legal drama is engaging, but could have done with a little more spunk and gets a tad bland at times.
Despite some functional writing on a plot level, the show is salvaged by its sharp, humane storytelling. There is enough truth in the depiction of interpersonal relationships, with fine performances anchoring the narrative without turning preachy. A superb climax with a standout Aneet Padda does some of the heavy lifting.
Hunkkaar treads a familiar tale of a rape victim versus a godman, but makes it work through sensitive handling and strong casting.
Music and Other Departments?
The score stays true to the sensitive theme, without letting music take over any scene for emotional heft or dramatic impact. The cinematography is decent and responsible, if not anything special. The one-hour length per episode tests your patience, more so in the initial episodes. The casting decisions, in particular, deserve praise.
Highlights?
Good casting, performances
Sensitive treatment
Engaging drama
Drawbacks?
Done-and-dusted theme
Predictable plot points
Quite lengthy
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, less for the story, more for the treatment
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but have some patience initially and the payoff is worth it
Hunkkaar: The Roar Web Series Reviewed by M9 News
