GRAHAN - V View Reviews #22


Grahan is inspired by Satya Vyas' popular novel "Chaurasi". The year 1984 was a dark phase in the history of India that saw the anti-Sikh riot. This web series is not a document of history but a means of entertainment. It's a fictional story with the backdrop of the events following Operation Blue Star in Punjab and the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi by Sikh bodyguards which resulted in hate against the community.
The show traverses two worlds that are three decades apart. A1984 blooming, intense and sweet romance between Manu and Rishi that succumbs to anti-Sikh riots and one is 2016 righteous IPS officer Amrita Singh begins investigating the root cause of anti-Sikh riot in Bokaro. She witnesses the dark politics and haunting secret. More than investigation drama, it highlights the love story between Rishi and Manu which is set in the 80s.
The series begins with Amrita who lives with her father and he wants her to marry and move to Canada. But her world comes crashing down when she finds that her father Gurusevak is a prime suspect and is responsible for slaughtering Sikhs and looting their homes. He led the masses in Bokaro in 1984 when the town was out for vengeance. His name was Rishi Ranjan then. Her father is silent causing tension between father and daughter throughout the show. This series is a beautiful blend of police procedure and politics. It highlights the choice between Amrita's personal and professional life.
It is a well-crafted story of riot, greed, power, love, hate, brainwashed individuals, political manipulations, and divisive politics.
Grahan focuses on two stories simultaneously and both the past and the present are beautifully connected without creating confusion. The screenplay smoothly switches between 1984 and 2016. The colour tone and the costumes neatly distinguish the two timelines. A lot of attention has been paid to the small details of the series. The makers have adapted the story pretty well to be fair. Violence for both victims and culprits has been touched upon sensitively.
Music plays a big role to convey emotions. The dialogue and the performance of the cast were perfect. The lead character Amrita Singh is played by Zoya Hussain fits perfectly as a police officer. Her character is well written and stole the show completely. Anshuman Pushkar who played the role of Rishi Ranjan or young Gurusevak had a tremendous screen presence. His dialogue delivery, personality and body language are superb. His hairstyle reminds us of Amitabh Bachchan's hairstyle in the movies of the 80s. Wamiqua Gabbi played the role of Manjeet Chhabra. She is a girl with twinkling eyes and a radiant smile. Her charming face and innocence coupled with her effortless and natural performance did help to create the ambience of the old school romance. Sahidur Rehman as DSP Mandal was awesome in his look, his body language and dialogue delivery. His poise and attitude were perfect. Teekan Joshi as Sanjay Singh or Chunnu babu looked great in grey shade. Pavan Malhotra as Rishi Ranjan or Gurusewak(old) has done full justice to his character. Abhinav Pateriya who played the role of Jhandu was impressive too. All the characters are believable and help us to transport to the era shown on screen.
Grahan is a political drama and an impactful love story. With a sensitive subject, this emotional tale displays the mixed emotions of love, hate, anguish and betrayal. It leaves a deep impact on the audience after eight episodes. The underlying mystery keeps us hooked till the last episode. The last episode of this series is thrilling.
If some loopholes are ignored this series is an experience of the wound that never heals. There are beautiful moments that touches our soul. It's watching worthy and it's streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. 

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