Dahaad Review: A Socially Relevant & Poignant Tale Wrapped in the Covering of a Crime Thriller

When I heard of the web-series Dahaad, I expected a gritty crime-thriller, something on the lines of a whodunit with several twists and turns. Well, anyone in my place would as the title itself means roar in Hindi. Though Dahaad was contrary to my expectations, I wasn’t disappointed. It still has all the ingredients of a solid police procedural – a serial killer on the loose, an investigation, a woman police officer as the protagonist and a cat-and-mouse chase. You might wonder what’s so great about the plot as it is something that has been over-explored on OTT platforms? Well, what really differentiates Dahaad is that it manages to shed light on patriarchy, politics and casteism without relying on the usual formula of violence and abuse. The three leading ladies (Ruchika Oberoi, Reema Kagti & Zoya Akhtar) behind the web series have resorted to subtle yet impactful storytelling. Though the identity of the culprit is no secret yet each episode is an addictive watch which roughly spans around 55 minutes.

The Plot

<spoilers ahead>

The first episode of Dahaad on Amazon Prime Video starts with the mysterious disappearance of a young woman in Mandawa, a small town in Rajasthan. Here we are also introduced to sub-inspector, Anjali Bhaati. The web-series marks Sonakshi Sinha’s digital debut. On the face of it, she seems to be the “lady Singham” of the locality but her status of ‘neechi jaat’ haunts her throughout the show. Her character is young, bold and fierce.

In the first scene, we’re also introduced to the chief of the police station, Devi Lal Singh (Gulshan Devaiah) and his subordinate, Kailash Parghi played by Sohum Shah.

Though Dahaad starts with the case of a missing woman owing to an inter-caste marriage, eventually the three police officers discover a series of unsolved cases related to the disappearance of women. The pattern of them missing, committing suicide by consuming cyanide and being found dead in public toilets escalates the case and the investigation begins.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/dahaad-review-sonakshi-sinhas-engaging-police-procedural-undone-by-an-undercooked-finale-101683835139306.html 

Soon, the focus of the show shifts from the police station to a girl’s college where Vijay Varma (Anand Swarnakar) is a Hindi literature professor. He comes across as a soft-spoken man, a doting father and a caring husband. As they say sometimes “things are too good to be true”. Since he spends most of his time out of the house, his relationship with his father and his wife are hanging on a loose thread as she’s having an extra-marital affair with her colleague. Though Anand is aware of this, he continues his farce as a perfect husband. Despite his dysfunctional family story, he paints the picture of an ideal man to society. One wouldn’t even think in their wildest dreams that he could be the prime suspect?

https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-creators/dahaads-nuanced-portrayal-of-casteism-and-patriarchy-goes-where-few-web-series-dare 

Bhaati doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned as she sets out to find this serial killer. She’s so feisty and confident that she’s even ready to go against the law to find him. She even puts together all her college learnings to solve the case. There are a few scenes where she even goes to meet her professor, and he tells her that usually in such cases the culprit is a family man with a normal life. That’s when her suspicion goes towards Anand.

https://www.latestly.com/agency-news/entertainment-news-sonakshi-sinhas-ott-series-dahaad-to-debut-on-prime-video-in-may-5070733.html 

Character Sketch

What follows after is a typical cat-and-mouse chase. More evidence comes to light with everything pointing towards just one person. To ensure the show doesn’t get monotonous, the makers even shift the focus to other aspects. For example, in a few scenes Gulshan Devaiah is seen giving his take on parenthood. His character is an empowering father who wants his teenage daughter to shine wherever she goes. That’s one major reason why he and his wife don’t get along. She also suspects her husband’s affair with Bhaati (which to an extent is true). While Devi wants to maintain a balance at home, Parghi on the other hand is nervous about impending fatherhood. To me, both these cops were the backbone of the show with Sonakshi Sinha steering the wheel. Honestly, can we see more of Gulshan Devaiah and Sohum Shah? Their casting is just so perfect.

Coming to Sonakshi Sinha, she honestly was a surprise package. She played her role with such nuance. In my opinion, the finest performance of her career so far. Despite being called out a lower caste woman multiple times, she still manages her character with much grace. There is even an instance when an upper-caste cop purifies the space with an incense stick after she leaves.

Though several remarks are made on sexism and casteism throughout the show, in no way does it promote in-the-face feminism. Without screaming out loud, the show tackles important subjects.

The Verdict

Like any other show, Dahaad too has its flaws. However, after the second episode, the show gets engaging. Though we know who the culprit is, how he is going to be caught is what keeps the audience glued throughout. Just when I thought the makers would push the climax to another season, they pull the plug. The ending in my opinion was perfect, giving the audience some food for thought with Sonakshi Sinha deciding to go back to her roots.

If you still haven't watched Dahaad, you should. It's gripping and highly binge-worthy. I will give it three and a half stars. 

If you've watched the show, I’d love to know your views on it. Leave them in the comments section below.