Fog lifts, story stays

Sheetal

The creator of ‘NH10’ and ‘Paatal Lok’, Sudip Sharma delivers another gem of a series, ‘Kohrra’ (fog) — incidentally the first Punjabi language original series on a mainstream OTT platform. From the very first scene that leads to a murder, the makers have kept it raw and authentic, be it the language or the backdrop of the plot. The series drops truth bombs to a level that it couldn’t have been set anywhere but in Punjab.

‘Kohrra’ dwells on the investigation into the murder of an NRI, Paul (Vishal Handa), who has returned from London only to get married but gets killed a day before his wedding. There are enough suspects, from the cousin and an uncle eyeing the property to an ex-fiancee. In addition, Paul’s best friend Liam is missing. The probe brings together an array of characters from different walks of life and a concoction of intertwined relationships, trauma and past grudges, making it a series worth watching.

In terms of performance, not the smallest of side characters is weak in this pitch-black crime thriller. By the end, it delivers a message of hope and understanding. It seems the dense fog surrounding the murder case had to be infused to turn it into a perfectly cooked suspense thriller. One longs to see more of the two cops: Balbir Singh and Garundi, played by Suvinder Vicky and Barun Sobti, respectively.

Rachel Shelley gives a powerful performance in the small screen space that she gets. ‘Kohrra’ also highlights gay relationship and the acceptance that comes rare in Indian households, even from an educated NRI family. The fog is everywhere, from the father refusing to see that his son is gay, Balbir not accepting his daughter Nimrat’s (Harleen Sethi) happiness in getting a divorce, to a dejected lover who is unable to accept rejection from his girlfriend willing to marry an NRI.

Balbir holds his ground as a good cop and a mentor to Garundi, but fails as a father and at other relationships in life. Suvinder as Balbir has portrayed a layered character capable of doing the unthinkable for what he feels is right for the family. As for Barun, as a young cop, he exudes the energy and cunningness that a cop needs to survive in this mean world. He delivers a split personality where he is a brutal force as a cop but naive when around women. Also, his dark humour grows on you with each episode.

The cop world created by director Randeep Jha and Sudip is flawed as it is in reality. A woman constable shown as merciless and mean is yet another facet that tugs at the harsh reality of circumstances associated with the world of crime. It’s real, gruesome and unforgettable. ‘Kohrra’ is all that and the makers took care of it.