BOTTOM LINE
Light-Hearted, Time-Pass Investigation Comedy
PLATFORM
ZEE5
RUNTIME
3Hours (7 episodes)
What Is the Show About?
After a security breach in a small jail, a thief sneaks inside to steal a locked donation box. Two very different police officers, Anbuchelvan and Arjun, try to solve the crime, but things get messy when local YouTubers start filming everything for views. Between the weird prisoners and the media circus, the officers struggle to catch the clever thief who is using all the noise and confusion to stay hidden.
Performances
Munishkanth appears at home as a laidback officer on the verge of retirement; it’s a role tailor-made for him. He’s alright, but it honestly doesn’t feel like a surprise. Subash Selvam, playing an ambitious constable, is more agile and enjoys stepping into the shoes of his role, hardly going overboard.
Rajesh Madhavan, cast as Manoj, makes a mark with his unusual screen presence in a negative role. Savithri and Amrudha have a blast as the small-town YouTuber duo. Others like Gauthami Nair, Abdool Lee are alright, though the characters feel underwritten.
Analysis
Kaakee Circus is a cat-and-mouse investigation story set in a small town based on a brilliant premise. The money within a hundi of a local deity at a jail gets stolen and turns into a prestige issue for the cops in charge of the station – Anbuchelvan and Arjun. While the thief commits the crime chasing fame and identity, the officers adopt contrasting approaches to trace the culprit’s whereabouts.
The show creators display quite a knack for etching an ensemble of colourful characters in this low-stakes setting. Anbuchelvan is a cop on the cusp of retirement, obsessed with books and believes they can change the worldview of a criminal. Arjun, a constable, is a Vijayakanth fan who can’t wait for an opportunity to showcase his heroics. Two female YouTubers are cashing in on a case for popularity.
And the mastermind behind the theft isn’t exactly after the money – he’s doing it for the adrenaline rush; the thrill of committing a wrong and getting away with it. Before the mess reaches afar, Anbuchelvan and Arjun conduct a hush-hush investigation and try to salvage the hundi mess (and even end up taking a loan for it in a bank, where an officer finds love).
That’s not all, both Arjun and the culprit’s pursuits are similar, albeit at different ends of the law. They are restless spirits wanting to prove themselves to the world and have just found partners who are ready to support them through thick and thin. There’s a certain innocence among all the oddball characters with unique quirks, and the show’s self-aware tone is an advantage, not taking itself too seriously.
The director Ameen Barif creates an ambience that feels rooted and engaging, staying true to its pulp fiction-like world. While the basis for the characters and their actions is laid out neatly in the early episodes, the show stops having fun with it in the middle portions, gets too quirky for its own good, and you sense it’s undercooked. It’s akin to a firecracker that is waiting to explode, but stops short.
Towards the later episodes, the mind games between the cop and the criminal get a tad too stereotypical, and the show keeps delaying the inevitable, testing a viewer’s patience. The confrontation between Anbuchelvan and Arjun in the end feels necessary, but should’ve come in much earlier, ideally using the investigation process to cool off the tension.
The subplot on the petty prisoners – one of them being a coffin maker – who’re set free in the beginning, starts well, though the makers don’t flesh it out as well as you expect it. However, bringing in the YouTuber duo to the final sequence between the cop and the criminal is a perfect chef’s kiss and aptly represents the goofy world in which it’s set.
Though Kaakee Circus’s execution is messy and far from perfect, a part of its charm lies in the imperfections. It’s a refreshingly light take on the genre, making for a time-pass viewing.
Music and Other Departments?
It’s quite obvious that the show has been made under a shoestring budget, but the scale is right for the story and its setting. Composer Vibin Baskar’s score works better when the lighter portions unfold. The cinematography, by Neeraj Revi, is sharp and vibrant, with the right choice of locations and constantly on the move.
In terms of the editing, the series loses its momentum mid-way, while ending it with a decent aftertaste. The action-choreography, within the limitations of the story, is neat, ensuring enough vulnerability across both parties in the conflicts.
Highlights?
Well-etched, colourful characters
Quirky premise, backdrop
Interesting take on a done-to-death genre
Drawbacks?
Gets repetitive midway
Few convenient cinematic liberties
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, though far from perfect, it’s an easy one-time watch.
Will You Recommend It?
In case you want a lighthearted take on a typical cop investigation drama
Kaakee Circus Web Series Reviewed by M9 News
