Jaatishawr Review: Jaatishawr (জাতিস্মর) is mystery-drama TV series directed by Sani Ghose Ray and stars Madhumita Sarcar, Rohaan Bhattacharjee, Kaushik Chakraborty, Bidipta Chakraborty, Ananya Sengupta, Manoj Ojha and Krishnendu Dewanji, alongside other cast members. The series has 7 episodes, each with a runtime of around 25 minutes.
The series follows Roopkatha, a seemingly normal woman who turns out to be able to remember her past life – a small child who unexpectedly disappeared one day from a picnic in a zamindar’s home. Now owned by her own boyfriend, the family is thrown into chaos as they realise that Roopkatha’s past life isn’t a hoax and might just bring out some uncomfortable skeletons from the closet.
– Jaatishawr Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Jaatishawr is that TV series that doesn’t make any sense. From the rather horrible acting of all of its cast members to a simplistic plotline that is the most basic and cliched thing you will ever see, the mystery thriller is a menace.
But, let’s take it from the top – Roopkotha, on an assignment to a remote village, ends up at her boyfriend’s place, passed out at the gate. From then on, the viewer is pretty much made aware of where the story is going. The creators have it pretty clear what to expect from the show since they give us major hints that could’ve just been the entire answer to a mysterious problem.
Either way, Roopkotha’s memories from a past life haunt her the moment she steps foot (or, well, wheels) in Bhangagar and more so when she makes her way to her partner’s house. It’s one old memory after another, from creepy house helps to a disapproving future mother-in-law, Jaatishawr has all the tropes of a mystery series. There’s also a very annoying vlogger in the family who will simply make you want to slap someone.
There are not merely enough things to keep you invested in this simplistic tale of murder and revenge. I also wonder whether people who remember their past lives get possessed by those memories and start acting like 5-year-old girls. It’s just so silly that the creepiness becomes hilarious after a while. I think the twist towards the end is quite fun, although the inclusion of the sadhvis is unnecessary and hilarious all at once.
It’s also an expected outcome, one that you will be able to guess from a mile away. We have seen several such twists in the past, and a better story would’ve made a stale twist better in some ways, but the storyline and the execution are just subpar at best, and the horrendous acting is just the icing on an already crappy cake.
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The series goes from hilarious to flat-out insane in the last few episodes. I blame the sadhvi, but it really isn’t just her fault, is it? The emotional undertones feel surface level as well, and you never really connect with anyone in the show regardless of the emotional background score that tries to make you sympathetic to everyone.
Madhumita Sarcar constantly looks like she has a ghost sitting on her shoulder whom she can see in mirrors. You know, I get that she can remember a past life that she doesn’t know existed, and that can make anyone a little loopy. But, my god. The way she expresses those fears, concerns and shocking revelations is hilarious at best. The same can be said for literally anyone on the show – everyone seems to be only reading their scripts instead of emoting.
Jaatishawr Review: Final Thoughts
In the end, Jaatishawr is a half-baked thriller at best that is a cliched mess that neither thrills nor chills and occasionally makes you laugh unexpectedly at the worst moments. Just disappointing all around.
Jaatishawr is streaming on Hoichoi.
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