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“It’s not justice they worry. It’s a person in uniform who doesn’t play by the foundations.”
Neeraj Pandey returns with one other gritty installment within the Khakee universe, this time plunging viewers into Bengal’s murky political-prison nexus — with sharp performances, layered characters, and unrelenting pressure.
With Khakee: The Bengal Chapter, Neeraj Pandey as soon as once more proves that in relation to crime thrillers, few can craft sluggish-burn depth the way in which he does. Whereas Pandey takes a step again as creator and author, and never director, the present nonetheless bears his unmistakable inventive stamp—edge-of-the-seat chase sequences, morally conflicted characters, and a sprawling narrative laced with political intrigue.
Set within the early 2000s, this fictional story dives deep into Bengal’s darkish corridors of energy, the place crime and politics are tangled in a poisonous embrace. On the coronary heart of it lies Barun Roy (Prosenjit Chatterjee), a easy-speaking “philanthropist” who’s extra kingmaker than public servant. Pulling the strings behind the ruling celebration, he controls each the Chief Minister and Bengal’s most feared gangster, Bagha (Saswata Chatterjee).
Opposing this equipment is a fictional girls-led celebration fronted by Nibedita Basak (Chitrangada Singh), although her motivations are removed from saintly.
Issues spiral when Bagha’s trusted aides—Sagor Talukdar (Ritwik Bhowmik) and Ranjit Thakur (Aadil Zafar Khan)—go rogue, setting into movement an influence shift that attracts the eye of IPS officer Arjun Moitra (Jeet). With a ‘shoot-first, discuss-later’ method, Moitra turns into the system’s solely hope—or its most harmful wildcard.
Directed by first-time duo Debatma Mandal and Tushar Kanti Ray, the collection has all the trimmings of a traditional Pandey manufacturing—grainy tones, quick-paced cuts, a taut script, and a sinister rating. Whereas the primary episode is exposition-heavy, it builds a robust basis for what turns into a tightly woven political-crime thriller.
However the true star right here is the forged.
Prosenjit Chatterjee, ever the display charmer, brings calculated menace to Barun Roy however is used sparingly, making his appearances all of the extra impactful. His cat-and-mouse rivalry with Jeet’s Arjun Moitra turns into the present’s driving pressure. Jeet, in arguably his most intense efficiency but, instructions the display with sheer presence. His portrayal of a righteous but unorthodox cop elevates the collection and makes a robust case for his inclusion in greater pan-India initiatives.
Nevertheless, the most important shock lies in Ritwik Bhowmik and Aadil Zafar Khan. Ritwik sheds his boy-subsequent-door persona with chilling effectivity, turning right into a layered, unpredictable gangster. Aadil nails the native Khidirpore dialect and delivers a risky, emotionally charged efficiency that anchors a number of excessive-stakes moments.
Saswata Chatterjee and Parambrata Chattopadhyay add star weight, although their display time is proscribed. Mimoh Chakraborty and Aakanksha Singh carry out earnestly, whereas Chitrangada Singh feels barely underwhelming in components, a uncommon blip in an in any other case stellar ensemble.
The present’s largest letdown? An often jarring background rating that feels overbearing, significantly throughout Ranjit’s scenes. However these are minor distractions in a collection that largely will get its beats proper.
Khakee: The Bengal Chapter is a gritty, gripping watch that blends politics, crime, and private ambition into an explosive cocktail. It doesn’t simply entertain—it immerses. And when you’re in, there’s no trying away.
Streaming now on Netflix, this one’s a should-look ahead to followers of the style and of Bengal’s cinematic powerhouses.
Final Up to date on March 21, 2025 by Sandeep
