On the surface, Dahaad (which means “roar”) appears to be a good police procedural. There is a serial killer, an investigation, and a cat-and-mouse game going on. For only the design of the watch, it is addictive. This is not a mystery. Not much of a twist. The perpetrator’s identify is well known. He is a creature that is not easily seen. Anand Swarnakar (Vijay Varma), a married professor of Hindi literature, instructs at a ladies’ school. Anjali Bhaati (Sonakshi Sinha), the officer in charge of the investigation, inspires action in her male superiors with her enthusiasm and instincts. Over the course of eight technically flawless programmes, Anand fights to maintain his “spree.” His meticulously crafted double existence was in risk of crumbling after a few mistakes.
Dahaad is merely a cunning cover for its roaring social roar. Detail is where the devil is at. The location is the Rajasthani village of Mandawa. A more modern India’s instability is depicted in the first episode. The ruling party exploits the elopement of a Thakur girl and her Muslim lover as a political show. Devi Singh receives calls from above telling him to find the couple, accuse the boy of being kidnapped, and assure quick “justice.” Anjali manages to avoid catcalls on the sidewalk, the superintendent of police’s lewd gaze in his office, and proposals for marriage brought to her mother’s house in the meantime. She decided to change her last name from her father’s, Meghwal, one of the prominent backward castes in Rajasthan.
Dahaad begins with a lot of potential (the initial two parts are zingers), luring us in with its breathtaking settings, but ultimately, it only manages to be sporadiclly interesting. You wish the story was more tightly wound. The other issue is the burden of maintaining your greatest star in the spotlight, despite how hardworking she may be. Maintaining your feminist credentials while Sinha’s character prioritises her career while maintaining a relationship wherein she is an equal but not dominant partner is a good thing, however not if a forced climax leaves you scratching your head in disbelief. I’m not sure if I bought it, despite the leading lady marching with her head held high and owning who she truly is.
Rating: 3/5.
