Netflix crime thriller Aranyak is a Raveena Tandon - Parambrata Chatterjee show all the way

Produced by Roy Kapur Films and Ramesh Sippy Entertainment, the series is directed by Vinay Vyakul from a script by Charudutt Acharya. The show's primary cast includes Raveena Tandon, Parambrata Chatterjee and Ashutosh Rana.

The upcoming crime thriller show narrates a dark and gritty tale after a foreign teenage tourist disappears in a misty town, a harried, local cop (Tandon) must join hands with her city-bred replacement (Parambrata), on a big-ticket case that digs up skeletons and revives a forgotten myth of a bloodthirsty, serial killing entity in the forest, the official synopsis read.

Performances

Raveena as the feisty local cop is definitely a treat to watch and manages to win us over. She is constantly juggling between her responsibilities at home and her job as a cop, and those emotions have been beautifully portrayed. Tandon's acting prowess is visible on-screen and you enjoy watching her for the whole series. 

Parambrata as Angad is a great great addition to the cast and is yet another treat to watch. He slides into his role much like the handover from Kasturi Dogra, it just settles in with the episodes passing by. Both Raveena and Parambrata's on-scree chemistry is also interesting and that sort of gives the show and the story an edge.

Ashutosh as the 'hawaldar' is yet another mysterious character but one of the mightiest. He is responsible for helping the duo unfold the crime that they are trying to unleash, and his character rightly proves what an experienced profession sees that the rest don't. 

Meghna Malik, Zakir Hussain, Mahesh Shetty, and others do a decent job as supporting cast members. Each of them do add a sense of wholeness to the show and the story.

The Good

The character arcs have been written well, be it the estranged relationship that Kasturi shares with her husband, or how Angad's past is rather traumatizing for him. A well-written story with a new cliffhanger in almost every episode, you want to watch it out and see how do things end for everyone involved. Though some bits may seem amateur, they are balanced with strong character marks.

The Not So Good

In trying to create a vibe, the cinematography seems like a little too much in the face with your screens a little too dark for almost the entire show. The ending, may not be the best of climaxes that we've gotten for a show, and that kind of seems to be a little put off there. However, that's something always subject to one's own discretion.

Verdict

Watch Aranyak on Netflix for the performances and the finely written characters. Through its short span of 6 episodes with not more than 50 minutes each, you are hooked onto the crime thriller for a major part. This weekend would be well spent if you spend it watching the show.

Ratings: 3.5/5