Grahan review: Sweepingly emotional adage on love, faith and redemption

 

What: Inspiredfrom Satya Vyas fictional novel ‘Chaurasi’ based on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Grahan created by Shailendra Jha and directed by Ranjan Chandel, is a touchy, relatable human touch to the holocaust horror.

OTT web series Grahan synopsis

Inspired from Satya Vyas novel ‘Chaurasi’, Grahan is set during the early 80’s, it’s the story of Rishi Ranjan(Anshumaan Pushkar) and Manu (Wamiqa Gabbi) in Bokaro. The situation in Punjab is tense and the golden temple incident has taken India and the world by shock. Situation goes out of control when Madam Ji (Flora Jacob – modelled on India’s ex PM Indira Gandhi) gets assassinated by her own bodyguards resulting in a growing rage and madness. The madness during the 1984 anti-Sikh inhuman holocaust gets labelled as an organised crime. Many inquiries are conducted but the culprit goes scot free. Nearly thirty years later, at the brink of an important election in Bihar, the Bokaro horror pops up again forcing young IPS officer Amrita Singh (Zoya Hussain) daughter of a simple honest pious Gurusevak (Pavan Raj Malhotra) to land in Bokaro and things don’t remain the same.

OTT web series Grahan review

Yes, things on holocaust make us disturbed. It rubs salt to the wounds. Madness has no religion and its humanity that rules in spite of all the hate. Guru (Saharsh Shukla) a transformed rioter says, Koi bhihinsa ho, chaahedange ho, balaatkaar ho, jansanhaar ho, uskiwajahsirfyahihai, kisi ka ahankaar," Guru is now serving Sikhs in a gurdwara as his redemption act.

Ahankar (false pride, ego) well if we peep into the things that are happening around, we will understand how false pride of people in power has caused havoc in our life’s.

Satya Vyas fictional novel ‘Chaurasi’ is adapted for the series and dramatized diligently to create an absorbing eight-episode series which is filled with the power of emotions and superb acting display.

The team of eight writers hired for this eight series period drama - Anu Singh Choudhary, Navjot Gulati, Prateek Payodhi, Vibha Singh, Ranjan Chandel, Shailendra Kumar Jha and consulting writers Karan Anshuman and Ananya Modi ensure that the interest is maintained and the momentum doesn’t drop. Director Ranjan Chandel’s smooth narration slowly and gradually engulfs the audience in its aura and transforms them to the era with ease. High on melodrama and emotions with right dose of nostalgia (the mid 80’s era), tension and romance, Grahan is a perfect binge watch right from the word go.

Special mention for the detailing is a must – the radio, the songs of movies actually released in those times – Hero, Himmatwala, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and the actors actually humming those songs gives a terrific nostalgic feeling.

Power full in its impact, Grahan leaves a lasting impression.

Performance

Pavan Malhotrais a class apart.

Zoya Hussain as SP Amrita Singh is brilliant.

Anshumaan Pushkar as Rishi – reminds of late Mazhar Khan and Amitabh Bachchan and is quite striking.

Wamiqa Gabbi as Manu is charming.

Teekam Joshi as Chunnu is outstanding

Sahidur Rahman as DSP Vikas Mandal is amazingly natural.

Satyakam Anand as CM Kedar Bhagat is fantastic.

Shreedhar Dubey as Santosh Jaiswal leaves an impression.

Saharsh Shukla as Guru is fantastic.

Abhinav Pateriya as Jhandu leaves his mark.

Good support comes from Nandish Singh, Abhishek Tripathi, Sukhvinder Chahal, Raj Sharma. Anil Rastogi, Vijay Shukla, Flora Jacob, Purva Parag, Namrata Vashneyand Donny Kapoor.

Technical

Production designer Wasiq Khan deserves a pat on his back. Cinematography by Kamaljeet Negi is brilliant. Editing by Shan Mohammad is as desired. Songs by Amit Trivedi are in sync with the momentum.

Scene that should be deleted at once

None

Any memorable dialogue/scene from graham that will stay for long

The pre climax.

Bottom line

Grahan is an ode to humanity amidst the devil and horror of a holocaust born out of hate. Grahan is a human triumph on screen. It should not be missed.