The grey matter

Never argue with someone whose tv is bigger than their bookshelf. 

Emilia Clark

                     

                    Poster of Roktokorobi 

It is now years that television has lived up to its alter ego, i.e., tubelight. Specially, the serials are extremely regressive and/or illogical. It's fancy cousin, the web series, seem to be a better option. At least, they have plots which they try to hold onto with reasonable clarity and some rationality. Of course, crime seems to be a favourite haunt and shockingly, happily indulged by characters echoing friends and relatives in the serials like a pro. But, web series still fare better. And few have been exceptional. Here, I select one that is shown on Zee5. And yes, while I am talking about Bengali serials and series, it holds true for Hindi serials and series as well.

  

Remember Hostage or Aarya web series on Disney Hotstar? Specially the mind games that made the plots so engaging. If you have enjoyed those, chances are you will celebrate this one. Roktokorobi. Mature, spine-chilling, captivating, nuanced and more. 

A taut Bengali psycho thriller.  Loved the screenplay. The mind games expanding on sexual abuse and class exploitation are a class apart. A strange sway of nari shakti  ( woman power ) here despite the presence of a male protagonist. One of Raima Sen's best performances. Vikram Chatterjee, Haridas Chatterjee and Laboni Sarkar are also superlatives. So is the background score. The use of Rabindrasangeet ( Tagore songs ) are intelligent as they hold clues to the mystery. Ditto is the apt title, named after a Tagore classic. Incidentally, in a week's time, on May 9, we will be celebrating the birthday of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, whose creation of female characters in his writings is a celebration by itself.

NB: The series is reviewed at the writer's own interest and expense.