It is noteworthy that the two actors whose performances stay with you after watching Hunkkaar are at opposite ends of the stardom and experience spectrum. At one end is Aneet Padda , the heartthrob of the nation since Saiyaara. Just two films and one series old, she is raw. With the hype around her, it is easy to forget what a compelling actor she is. Then, there is Raghubir Yadav , the veteran with five decades of experience on stage and screen. The man has played every conceivable role and yet has stayed away from stardom and glitz. These two carry this show, ably supported by a cast that gets the assignment. Karan D Kapadia and Nitya Mehra’s Hunkkaar is as much a legal drama as it is a treatise on human behaviour, and an indictment of India’s ‘injustice’ system.
A well-crafted, well-told series that somehow slips through the cracks of this formula-led industry.
All of 21 when the series was shot, the young actor uses her eyes to convey pain as easily as she shows defiance. anticipation surrounding the upcoming project is already high, largely due to the immense buzz around Aneet following the success of the film While the actress has confirmed that she filmed the crime-thriller series before her breakthrough film Saiyaara. Hunkkaar’s biggest strength is its subtlety and finesse, most evident in its performances. Raghubir Yadav is the beating heart of this show. The veteran actor brings his decades of experience to this role, breathing life into a devious, sinister yet calm man who coerces through emotional manipulation and brainwashing rather than by force. The actor creates a villain who is always soft, using subtle changes in expressions to convey the most complex emotions beautifully. He has a worthy foil in Aneet Padda. This bubbling rage inside of her character erupts in that one monologue in the final episode, which might just be the scene of the year. With subtle voice modulation and pitch-perfect delivery, the actor showcases depth and maturity far beyond her years in Hunkkaar. Fatima Sana Shaikh has a tough task, as she has to steer through these powerhouse performances without any great moments or monologues of her own, something most other characters get. But she is still up to the task, bringing to the fore her character’s zeal, frustration, and defiance deftly. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, as always, is impeccable. He channels the viewer’s rage while staying within the frustrating confines of a lawyer’s boundaries. Ram Kapoor, as his adversary, is a delightful addition to the stacked cast. Arjun Mathur plays an idealistic journalist, and the actor does get a raw deal with a character that is probably not as well-defined as many others, but he still stays afloat. Streaming was meant to liberate Indian storytelling. At least, that was the Utopian idea a decade ago when it all began. But over the years, this ‘new’ medium has also fallen prey to tropes, formulas, and algorithms. Of late, it has also fallen prey to self-censorship, with makers and platforms not daring to attempt subjects that can cause ‘trouble’. All that taken into account, it’s a miracle Hunkkaar even got made, and no suit in a cabin vetoed it during its journey. That it got made so well after all that makes it a gift for the viewers. Hunkkaar is streaming on JioHotstar. Her next release, it turns out, is Hunkkaar: The Roar. Without believable dialogue to anchor the narrative, the characters’ struggles feel distant, causing the story’s emotional weight to miss the mark almost entirely. Every supporting actor brings genuine effort and skill to their roles, leaving practically no room to criticise their craft despite the clunky dialogue they are handed.
Earlier reporting noted: Hunkkaar: The Roar review: After Aneet Padda’s breakthrough in Saiyaara, audiences have been eagerly awaiting her upcoming projects. Earlier reporting noted: This results in the show failing to build any real emotional connection between the audience and its characters. Earlier reporting noted: On the performance front, the cast delivers amazing work across the board.
