Aranyak, a Hindi crime thriller series, is now out on Netflix. Directed by Vinay Waikul and written by Charudutt Acharya, the series stars Raveena Tandon, Parambrata Chatterjee, Ashutosh Rana, Zakir Hussain, Meghna Malik and Indraneil Sengupta. Produced by Roy Kapur Films, there are 8 episodes in the series. The review is based on the 6 episodes that were provided for me to watch.
The synopsis reads, “If the hills could speak, what would they say? What secret are they hiding? Or, is the truth worse than what it seems?”
Netflix’s Aranyak Review Contains No Spoilers
The story of Netflix’s Aranyak is set in a small town amid the forest and hills called ‘Sirona’. It’s a small town but not as peaceful as one might expect. A teenage girl gets raped and murdered in Sirona with her body hung up on a tree. The incident instils fears in the minds of people. The fear is not only because of the crime but also due to their supernatural beliefs. Many say that a crime like this can be done by a beastly creature called ‘Leopard Man’.
Two brilliant cops are assigned to investigate the case – A local cop Kasturi (Raveena Tandon), and newly transferred Angad (Parambrata Chatterjee). Dirty truths and hidden pasts of those connected to the case emerge as they try to solve the murder. Every episode has a twist as Kasturi and Angad try to figure out who committed the crime.
The Netflix series Aranyak has a slow first episode, but I was hooked on the screen from the second one. The story is more than just a murder mystery as we come across political and personal agendas, real leopards lurking in the jungle and threats to life all around. Usually, hilly areas with greenery are associated with positivity and serenity. But Sirona is completely the opposite; it’s a nightmare for wanderlusts.
In the Aranyak series, there are too many characters, especially the bad ones. Kasturi and Angad, the cops, are also dealing with personal issues. I’m curious about how it will all be wrapped up because I only had 6 episodes. It’s difficult to determine whether things will turn out smoothly or if they will collapse into a confusing mess.
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As officer Kasturi, Raveena Tandon is has done a phenomenal job. She’s fierce, confident and holds power on screen. I adored her in the police uniform She is sometimes arrogant, which is a good fit for her personality. A real lady cop inspired Charudutt to write Kasturi. About the same, Rohan Sippy said, “I remember when Charu told me about his experience while on holiday up in Himachal, where he encountered this intriguing, fascinating lady cop and that sparked the idea for Kasturi’s character. The story from there has just been fascinating to build.”
Parambrata Chatterjee as Angad is the opposite of Kasturi. He’s calm, and that makes him a perfect crime-solving partner alongside Tandon’s character. This isn’t the first time Chatterjee played a cop, yet he’s so different because of how dark and raw the setting of Aranyak is. No matter what role it is, one expects Ashutosh Rana to impress us, doing the same this time. The rest of the cast plays their part well.
Aranyak Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, the grim and intriguing plot of the whodunnit series keeps you engaged. Kasturi and Angad are both courageous cops in the face of equally powerful criminals. The leopard CGI could have been better. The show follows the perfect and known recipe of a thriller. I hope the conclusion is good too.
The series is now streaming on Netflix.
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