Grahan is set in the aftermath of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, also known as the 1984 Sikh Massacre, in which former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, resulting in a series of organised atrocities against Sikhs in India. Even decades later, the memories of the horrific events remain vivid in the minds of those who had witnessed them.
Helmed by Ranjan Chandel, this eight-part series is a fictional drama that follows Manjeet Chhabra aka Manu (Wamiqa Gabbi) and Rishi Ranjan (Anshuman Pushkar) as they fall in love against the backdrop of tragic incidents that transpired in 1984, particularly in Bokaro. However, at present, it is focused on Amrita Singh (Zoya Hussain), an honest and sincere IPS officer, who is also heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is tasked with investigating the 1984 riots. Amrita is adamant about finding what has happened decades ago and is taken aback when she learns that her father, Gursevak Singh (Pavan Raj Malhotra) was one of the prime suspects.
On the one hand, Shailendra Kumar Jha and his team of writers (Anu Singh Chaudhary, Navjot Gulati, Vibha Singh, Prateek Payodhi, Ranjan Chandel) have developed a mystery drama that explores how love blossoms in young hearts and reaches its zenith amid the constraints of a small town. And, on the other hand, it depicts the transformation of ordinary people into rioters- which is fueled sometimes by misleading exhortations and sometimes by individuals seeking personal gains. The screenplay features a multi-layered narrative that includes elements such as the naivety of 80s romance, gruesome violence and atrocities, and confessions, all of which combine to make this saga a compelling one. To keep the plot authentic to the one it is inspired by, Shailendra Kumar Jha keeps the names of the characters Manu and Rishi similar to those in Satya Vyas' novel 'Chaurasi'.
Kamaljeet Singh's cinematography deserves special mention since he has been able to capture the magic of the 80s era on screen and make it believable for the spectators. It's also well-supported by the background score, which complements the intensity of the story (for example, the melody of 'dhoom takit takit....'). And some meaningful songs by music composer Amit Trivedi and lyricist Varun Grover, such as 'Chori Chori,' and 'O Jogiya', captures the various facets of the plot and adds to its overall effect. The show moves at a slow speed, which at times feels like an ideal choice for a series of this genre. The various subplot, on the other hand, take far too long to unravel, causing the plot to lose its grip. Tighter editing (by Shan Mohammed) and shorter episodes would have had a greater impact on the viewers. Overall, it's a powerful, emotional experience, although the action sequences (choreographed by Sunil Rodrigues) don't quite reach the mark.
It's a simple love story with intriguing characters, especially in the way they're developed. With their believable performances, Wamiqa Gabbi and Anshumaan Pushkar as Manu and Rishi, respectively, bring purity and much-needed warmth to their romance. Manu's freckles, which change from scene to scene, are the only glaring inconsistency in the narrative, but, that again, is the make-up artist's problem. Gabbi, who is a Punjabi and has appeared in multiple Punjabi films, delivers her dialogues with a perfect colloquial accent.
The portrayal of an honest cop by Zoya Hussain who is struggling to work on her own terms, is remarkable. Amrita's character is loud even when she isn't speaking, and always sporting t-shirts and cargos while carrying an intense look throughout. She is well supported by her subordinate DSP Vikas Mandal (played by Sahidur Rahaman). Pavan Raj Malhotra as Gursevak outshines everyone with his powerful and riveting performance as Amrita's father. The rest of the cast lends good support in pushing the narrative forward.
Overall, 'Grahan' is an emotional tale that will leave you with a bag full of mixed emotions - love, hate, anguish, and betrayal. At times, it overwhelms too. But it's worth watching, especially for the handling of such a sensitive subject and its well-crafted, believable characters.
Helmed by Ranjan Chandel, this eight-part series is a fictional drama that follows Manjeet Chhabra aka Manu (Wamiqa Gabbi) and Rishi Ranjan (Anshuman Pushkar) as they fall in love against the backdrop of tragic incidents that transpired in 1984, particularly in Bokaro. However, at present, it is focused on Amrita Singh (Zoya Hussain), an honest and sincere IPS officer, who is also heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is tasked with investigating the 1984 riots. Amrita is adamant about finding what has happened decades ago and is taken aback when she learns that her father, Gursevak Singh (Pavan Raj Malhotra) was one of the prime suspects.
On the one hand, Shailendra Kumar Jha and his team of writers (Anu Singh Chaudhary, Navjot Gulati, Vibha Singh, Prateek Payodhi, Ranjan Chandel) have developed a mystery drama that explores how love blossoms in young hearts and reaches its zenith amid the constraints of a small town. And, on the other hand, it depicts the transformation of ordinary people into rioters- which is fueled sometimes by misleading exhortations and sometimes by individuals seeking personal gains. The screenplay features a multi-layered narrative that includes elements such as the naivety of 80s romance, gruesome violence and atrocities, and confessions, all of which combine to make this saga a compelling one. To keep the plot authentic to the one it is inspired by, Shailendra Kumar Jha keeps the names of the characters Manu and Rishi similar to those in Satya Vyas' novel 'Chaurasi'.
Kamaljeet Singh's cinematography deserves special mention since he has been able to capture the magic of the 80s era on screen and make it believable for the spectators. It's also well-supported by the background score, which complements the intensity of the story (for example, the melody of 'dhoom takit takit....'). And some meaningful songs by music composer Amit Trivedi and lyricist Varun Grover, such as 'Chori Chori,' and 'O Jogiya', captures the various facets of the plot and adds to its overall effect. The show moves at a slow speed, which at times feels like an ideal choice for a series of this genre. The various subplot, on the other hand, take far too long to unravel, causing the plot to lose its grip. Tighter editing (by Shan Mohammed) and shorter episodes would have had a greater impact on the viewers. Overall, it's a powerful, emotional experience, although the action sequences (choreographed by Sunil Rodrigues) don't quite reach the mark.
It's a simple love story with intriguing characters, especially in the way they're developed. With their believable performances, Wamiqa Gabbi and Anshumaan Pushkar as Manu and Rishi, respectively, bring purity and much-needed warmth to their romance. Manu's freckles, which change from scene to scene, are the only glaring inconsistency in the narrative, but, that again, is the make-up artist's problem. Gabbi, who is a Punjabi and has appeared in multiple Punjabi films, delivers her dialogues with a perfect colloquial accent.
The portrayal of an honest cop by Zoya Hussain who is struggling to work on her own terms, is remarkable. Amrita's character is loud even when she isn't speaking, and always sporting t-shirts and cargos while carrying an intense look throughout. She is well supported by her subordinate DSP Vikas Mandal (played by Sahidur Rahaman). Pavan Raj Malhotra as Gursevak outshines everyone with his powerful and riveting performance as Amrita's father. The rest of the cast lends good support in pushing the narrative forward.
Overall, 'Grahan' is an emotional tale that will leave you with a bag full of mixed emotions - love, hate, anguish, and betrayal. At times, it overwhelms too. But it's worth watching, especially for the handling of such a sensitive subject and its well-crafted, believable characters.