BOTTOM LINE
Generic Cop Tale, but a Quirky, Easy Watch
PLATFORM
JioHotstar
RUNTIME
1Hr 40 Mins (4 episodes)
What Is the Show About?
A young woman, Sirisha, is attacked at a bus stand, but the police have no leads. Vikram, a suspended officer, is brought back to help. He starts his own investigation to find the first suspect, but the man is soon found dead. Vikram sets a trap for the killer, which catches the wrong person. Finally, an attack at the hospital reveals the real killer and their motive.
Performances
Nikhil Maliyakkal, the former Bigg Boss Telugu winner who takes up a major chunk of the screen-space, looks comfortable in front of the camera but could make more effort to loosen up and feel easy with his body language. Gayatri Chaganti, as the victim Sirisha, has very little to offer in the initial episodes. Sameer is alright in the shoes of Vikram’s superior. The supporting cast does its job reasonably well.
Analysis
One of the most worrying aspects of storytelling, across both cinema and OTT these days, is the inability of its protagonists and stories to take themselves lightly. The colourful visual palettes have disappeared, the settings have turned grimmer, and binge-watching has ceased being a fun experience. All that we get to see are carefully orchestrated products which appear slick, though robotic and soulless in their appeal.
In such a context, Vikram On Duty, JioHotstar’s latest Telugu web series, comes across as a mild relief, even if it does nothing pathbreaking or out of the box. While only four episodes of the show are out now, it is set up as a tale with a cheeky cop who is good at his work, but is also someone who is miserly, watches TV serials with his mother and asks her for money as he returns to duty after a sabbatical.
When asked to return to work, Vikram repeatedly avoids calls from superiors to carry on with his domestic chores, goofing around with his parents amidst their pressure to get him married. The case he is entrusted with, ultimately, is a serious one. A young girl is brutally raped and escapes from the jaws of death while being assaulted by a man in a bus that would take her to Hyderabad.
The four episodes offer a flavour of what to expect from the series in a nutshell, introducing the pivotal characters, the victim and the potential antagonist without diving deep into the conflict. Another detail you get to know is that Vikram is yet to come to terms with a past case that prompted him to take a break from work. Though the specifics are not known yet, the case still haunts him.
Except for brief portions of the third and fourth episodes, not much progress is made with the case. Vikram, at times, tries too hard to sound intelligent and self-important, appearing overconfident and behaving as if the case were a piece of cake. Given the low-key approach the show maintains, you tend to ignore some of these problems.
Some of his team members’ antics are partly entertaining and maintain the show’s light-hearted vibe. In the 2-hour-long series, what strikes a chord is its portrayal of a cop as a relatable figure who is accessible and occupied with domestic affairs. Work is not his only identity; it is just a part of his life. The episodes, at around 20 to 25 minutes, are easy to consume without beating around the bush.
Vikram On Duty does not try to do anything new. It is just an underdog, small-scale version of a standard cop saga. Its simplicity and relatability make it watchable.
Music and Other Departments?
If there is truly a standout element on the technical front, it is the cinematography. Narasimha Katta’s frames are well-lit, set up the mood for a scene neatly, and the lively colours enhance the impact. S Suhas’ music maintains a minimalist approach for the background score without going overboard to amp up the drama. The unhurried, smooth editing does its part in sustaining the narrative flow.
Highlights?
Simple, relatable and partly engaging
Light-hearted take on a regular genre
Drawbacks?
Hardly offers anything new
Comedy only works in parts
Weak investigation scenes
Did I Enjoy It?
In parts
Will You Recommend It?
If you don’t mind watching a light cop-drama with new faces
Vikram on Duty Web Series Review by M9 News
