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Although the plot is predictable, the portrayal of Kolkata in "Khakee" is far from typical
Published : 28 Mar 2025, 06:37 PM
Ever since the meteoric rise of “Sacred Games” and “Mirzapur”, Indian OTT platforms have been churning out crime thrillers in the hopes of replicating their runaway success. “Khakee: The Bengal Chapter” is the latest in this lineup, following the widespread acclaim of its predecessor, “Khakee: The Bihar Chapter”.
The plot is as predictable as can be. The story revolves around an illegal organ harvesting business in 2002 Kolkata, run by high-ranking politician Barun Roy and his lackeys. An internal power struggle starts within Barun's pet criminal gang, as gang leader Bagha gets framed by his own thugs, Sagor and Ranjit.
What follows is a classic tale of betrayal and aspirations, and staple crime thriller tropes: scheming politicians, honest cops, bromance between low-level crooks, secret informants, and a divide-and-conquer approach to tear down a seemingly unbreakable cycle of corruption and crime.
Despite the lackluster plot, what keeps the show going is the stellar star cast. The Kolkata-based show stays true to its roots, bringing together veteran actors of the Bengali film industry, like Prosenjit Chatterjee, Jeet, Parambrata Chatterjee, Saswata Chatterjee, and Subhasish Mukherjee.
Prosenjit commands an air of respect throughout the show as politician Barun Roy. His all-white outfits and salt-and-pepper beard manifest his evolution into an older, grittier character -- a stark difference from his ever-popular roles in romantic and art films. The seamless transitions in his personality as a devoted family man and a ruthless politician are a testament to the years he has dedicated to perfecting his craft.
Subhasish Mukherjee brings a similar duality to his role as the puppet chief minister, effortlessly shifting between the authoritative and spineless, depending on who's in the room.
Saswata Chatterjee is in his element as gang leader Bagha, a character he has perfected over the year – from the cold-blooded Bob Biswas of “Kahaani” to the eccentric Kartik of “Bhooter Bhabishyat's”.
Jeet and Parambrata play two shades of the same role - honest police officers navigating a corrupt system. Parambrata has a more sensitive, emotional presence whereas Jeet brings his years of commercial experience in playing a headstrong, energetic officer, similar to the “massy” roles of South Indian flicks.
Chitrangada Singh as the opposition leader Nibedita sticks out like a sore thumb. Her role is reduced to appearing in rallies and speeches for most of the show, and her modern features and stiff body language feel out of place in 2002 Kolkata.
Off the top of my head, Rituparna Sengupta's larger screen presence would do wonders for the character. Casting her would have also strengthened the Bengali star cast, and revived the iconic Prosenjit-Rituparna pairing.
Newcomers Ritwik Bhowmik and Aadil Zafer Khan hold their ground strongly, especially Ritwik in his role as gangster Sagor, who is worlds apart from his portrayal of the soft-spoken classical musician Radhe in “Bandish Bandits”.
Apart from the strong acting, the show finds its strength in its language. “Khakee” embraces Kolkata's natural bilingualism, seamlessly blending Bengali and Hindi without feeling forced.
The cast's attention to diction is commendable, as Bengali actors shed their stereotypical Bengali-accented Hindi, while non-Bengali actors like Aadil Zafer Khan deliver flawless Bengali dialogue. Sagor even calls Ranjit "bhai-ti", a colloquial Bengali term for "little brother", which has long faded from common usage.
Chitrangada, however, misses the mark once again, with her mispronunciation of everyday Bengali words. One can't help but recall Prosenjit's monologue about symphonies in the show, as if it was directed at her. She is, quite simply, the one musician throwing off the orchestra's harmony.
Kolkata, often romanticised as the city of poets, revolutionaries, and intellectuals, takes on a darker shade in “Khakee”. The setting is different from the usual OTT crime show locations, either set in bustling, urban Mumbai, or uncouth, poverty-stricken areas like Bihar and Haryana. The soft surroundings of Kolkata’s flowing rivers and polished architecture provide a much-needed distraction from the gory violence carried out by Bagha and his henchmen.
"Khakee: The Bengal Chapter" is evidence that a strong cast can carry a show, no matter how worn out the plot is. More than that, it offers a fresh perspective on Kolkata, moving beyond its clichéd image as a city of art and culture, and occasional petty crime.
The trailer song had it right, as this show truly invites viewers to witness “ek aur rang bhi dekhiye Bengal ka” – a different shade of Bengal.
