BOTTOM LINE
Known No-Nonsense Cop Drama
PLATFORM
JIO HOTSTAR
RUNTIME
3 Hrs 37 mins, Episodes
What Is the Show About?
A middle-aged cop, Sankyukta Das, plans to take a sabbatical from work to revive her equation with her husband, Bheesham and teenage daughter Mahi. A hot-blooded young recruit, Jai Kanwal, is named as her replacement. Before Sanyukta signs off, she is asked to take over a new case – the suspicious death of a college-going girl, Naina. How does politician Tushar Surve enter the fray?
Performances
A brooding cop thorough with work, a loner at heart handling moral dilemmas and a family woman always guilty of not caring for her loved ones enough – Konkana Sen captures all three dimensions of the pivotal character Sanyukta with flair. The performance, within the limitations of the role, is precise, further helped by the situational writing.
Surya Sharma, with a neat portrayal, doesn’t go overboard to portray Jai’s youthful arrogance. The ‘tu tu main main’ episodes between Jai and Sanyukta add spice to the proceedings. Shiv Panditt is decent as a politician who has a mysterious air around him, though the role is slightly underdeveloped. Shraddha Das’s spunky presence is a surprise, while Dhruv Segal’s unconventional casting is a win.
Analysis
OTT platforms inevitably need to rely on international adaptations to churn enough content to convince a viewer to renew their subscriptions. The blueprint of a credible show is already on the table – all it needs is good localising and a filmmaker who goes the extra mile to make it relevant for a new audience. Search – The Naina Murder Case, helmed by Rohan Sippy, gets its basics right.
Search, for those unaware, is the adaptation of the popular Danish series The Killing, which has a female cop at the forefront trying to find a balance between her family and a high-profile investigation. After giving a thought about a sabbatical for many years, Sankyukta is convinced about leaving for Ahmedabad with her husband and daughter, until a murder case halts her plans, all over again.
Adhering to the classic tropes of an investigation drama, two officers – one experienced and another rookie – are forced to navigate the crests and troughs of a complex case. Search has a man and a woman at the helm; the former being the newcomer at the receiving end, with the tale addressing male entitlement, the duo’s ego clashes and other systemic issues apart from the case.
Sanyukta, a loner at heart, is used to tackling challenges alone, while her younger male colleague Jai tries a little too hard to punch above his weight and behaves like a know-it-all from day one. The case has many dimensions and suspects – a deepfake video of the victim, a toxic ex, online incels, a ‘friendly’ teacher and a politician in the middle of an electoral campaign.
While the core idea of the show lacks much novelty, the familiar setup helps draw the viewer into the story quickly. Additionally, the intriguing interplay of messy characters and their relationship dynamics infuses a new lease of life into the storytelling. The creators use the runtime to their advantage to flesh out its many layers – blending the personal, professional and the political.
Given that the plot revolves around a college-going girl, it’s interesting how the case has a ripple effect on Sanyukta’s parenting at home while dealing with a feisty 16-year-old daughter who refuses to be treated like a child. There’s another generation that the cop has to deal with – an ageing mother, who has already witnessed Sanyukta’s father’s life slip into disarray because of his profession.
If one considers well-made procedural dramas, it’s obvious that the case in focus is largely a hook to address the rot within, offering an insight into the social fabric through a compelling mix of characters and situations. Search starts like any simple story, but builds on the little details efficiently with a no-nonsense screenplay. The climax, in an attempt to lead to a new season, feels compromised.
Search, on the whole, makes for a good viewing – neither oversimplifying nor complicating matters. It takes up a mainstream genre and plays with a viewer’s expectations smartly, without trying to oversell/sensationalise its theme.
Music and Other Departments?
Pranaay, the composer, is handed adequate, dense material to play with. The background score does not deter the flow of the proceedings, building the right ambience for the drama to unfold. Murzy Pagdiwala’s cinematography, Abhishek Seth’s innovative editing transitions and Amarbir Singh Bajwa’s unique casting choices merit praise. The scope for action is generally minimal.
Highlights?
Familiar story, slick screenplay
Well-crafted characters, performances
Good interpersonal conflicts, detailing
Drawbacks?
A fairly straightforward premise
The okayish beginnings
A vague climax to lead to a new season
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
If you enjoy cop crime dramas, go for it.
Search: The Naina Murder Case OTT Series Review by M9
