REVIEW: DURANGA – Drashti Dhami at Her Absolute Best in the Mind-Bending Thriller -

Duranga is a new Zee-5’s original web series that hit the OTT on 19 August 2022, starring Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami. And as you see the hype around this Pradeep Sarkar and Aijaz Khan directorial, it’s all for a good reason. The series is edgy and dark and features a high psychological drive as you’re pulled into a perpetually twisting storyline. With a total of nine episodes, each about thirty to thirty-five minutes long, this show aims to create a thrilling sensation in the serial killer niche in India, where there’s no lack of indigenous serial killer examples.

That said, the show is based on a Korean show ‘Flower of Evil,’ and the adaptation isn’t lazy. It comes with its own blends and twists, where you can witness a fresh and desi approach to mixing romance and mystery, action and drama, and above all, a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase.

Talking about the performances, Drashti has outdone herself. She’s consistently appeared in meek, subdued roles, over which this change is refreshing. Moreover, she brings out a whole different side of herself as a police detective giving a serial killer a chase, her husband. And the husband, Gulshan Devaiah, who at times looks like he is giving the good old Hannibal Lecter a homage, has also delivered a performance to remember.

However, various instances in the series seemed like coincidences were forced. You could also spot some cliched romance scenes squashing the audience’s hopes for something fresh when it comes to Bollywood romance. The background scores on various instances gave an excellent pace to the series, but that’s the only thing they did, give pace. It would also be better if the side characters had more to contribute to the main plotline.