Topper flunks test
Sheetal
Unlike what the title suggests, this film is nowhere near ‘Kota Factory’ and there is nothing educational about it. It is set in Noida, where, apparently, getting a pistol is a lot easier than borrowing money. And Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper is just another man struggling through life. An honest audit officer in the government sector, he finds himself in a financial fix. His responsibilities towards his family and parents back in the village lead him to take a humungous step.
Here comes the twist. Rather than resorting to corruption like fellow colleagues and seniors, he chooses to work as a freelance sex worker! But the series doesn’t stop at that, and there it loses audience attention. That’s followed by a murder, some goons and real estate mafia. The plot thickens for sure, but doesn’t stick.
Where the series does score, however, is in crafting conversations on female desire and pleasure. The scenes involving Tribhuvan’s clients have been beautifully picturised — all driven by narrative, never vulgar. You find a woman empowered in every female character: from Naani (Yamini Das), who finds a date in her late 70s, and Shobha bhabhi (Shweta Basu Prasad), who never forgets her pallu, but isn’t afraid of wielding a gun, to Ashoklata (Naina Sareen), Tribhuvan’s wife, who becomes a home baker.
Each character, however limited the role, leaves a mark. Kaul impresses with his multi-dimensional role, whereas Shubhrajyoti Barat aces his character’s Raja Bhaiya’s look.
As the Jain ‘bhujiya king’, who also has a side hustle of kidnapping and extortion, Barat is entertaining. Tillotama, as his better half Bindi, represents the many unsatisfied women in their marriages. Her role in ‘Lust Stories 2’ was on similar lines, only here she is married.
‘Panchayat’ fame Faisal Malik and Ashok Pathak are the show-stealers here too, as Inspector Haidar Ali and Dhaincha.
The background score is catchy and registers its presence every now and then. From the sixth episode, as the series turns into a crime thriller, one wonders why it’s still playing. Nine episodes are too long to commit. Start at your own risk.
