Neeraj Pandey is back with another gripping cop thriller, Khakee: The Bengal Chapter, after the success of Khakee: The Bihar Chapter. This Netflix series features top Bengali actors like Jeet, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Saswata Chatterjee, and Ritwik Bhowmik in key roles. While the series follows a familiar crime and politics storyline, it still manages to keep the audience engaged.
The Story
The series begins with Bagha Da (Saswata Chatterjee) and his thirst for power. Soon, we meet IPS officer Saptarshi (Parambrata Chattopadhyay), a dedicated cop aiming to bring change to Bengal. His sudden death sends shockwaves through the city, revealing the deep connections between crime and politics.
As the investigation progresses, a new officer, Arjun Maitra (Jeet), takes charge. His fearless approach puts him at odds with the powerful and corrupt leader Barun Das (Prosenjit Chatterjee). Alongside him, we see Sagor Talukdar (Ritwik Bhowmik), a calculating mastermind, and Ranjit Thakur (Aadil Khan), a hot-headed criminal. As Arjun fights for justice, the story unfolds with intense action and political intrigue.
Direction and Writing
Directed by Debatma Mandal and Tushar Kanti Ray, and written by Neeraj Pandey, Debatma, and Samrat Chakraborty, the series has a strong foundation but lacks freshness. The plot is predictable, and the screenplay follows a familiar path. However, the direction, cinematography, and outstanding performances make up for it.
The series does have some rough edges and unanswered questions, but the engaging characters keep viewers hooked. The climax, where Arjun Maitra easily catches the final criminal, feels a little underwhelming. The background music is dramatic, and while the title track Ek Aur Rang Bhi Dekhiye Bengal Ka is catchy, it doesn’t match the popularity of Aayiyena Humra Bihar Mein from the previous series.
Performances That Shine
The biggest strength of Khakee: The Bengal Chapter is its powerful performances.
- Jeet, making his Hindi debut, impresses with his strong presence. While his performance is slightly over-the-top in some scenes, his heroic portrayal is entertaining. He brings maturity to his character, similar to Ajay Devgn’s role in Gangajal.
- Prosenjit Chatterjee shines as the corrupt politician Barun Das. His calm yet menacing demeanor is captivating.
- Ritwik Bhowmik delivers an intense performance as Sagor Talukdar. Fans of Bandish Bandits may be surprised to see him in this dark role, but he proves his versatility.
- Aadil Zafar Khan also makes a mark with his strong performance, despite sharing the screen with big names.
- Saswata Chatterjee does justice to his role, while Chitrangada Singh’s performance is just average.
- Parambrata Chattopadhyay, despite his short screen time, leaves an impact.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
If you enjoy crime thrillers with political drama, this one is worth adding to your Netflix watchlist!
