Kaala Paani Review: Mona Singh and Ashutosh Gowariker's Netflix Series is a Well-Made, Brilliantly-Performed Show About Humanity Being Tested in Face of Calamity (LatestLY Exclusive)

Kaala Paani Review: Something needs to be said from the very start. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Netflix's new show, Kaala Paani. Okay, I think 'enjoy' might not be the right word, given that there are numerous sequences in the series that are harrowing, tense, and even disturbing. Thanks to its subject matter, Kaala Paani predominantly paints a grim picture and maintains this tone consistently throughout its seven episodes in the first season. However, amidst this darkness, there are moments of profound humanity that tug at your heart, writing that leaves you astounded, and performances that truly captivate you, making Kaala Paani a nearly flawless watch. OTT Releases Of The Week: Mona Singh’s Kaala Paani on Netflix, Sumeet Vyas’s Permanent Roommate Season 3 On Amazon Prime Video & More.

Set in the year 2027, the islands of Andaman are in the midst of a major festival, attracting a plethora of tourists from the mainland. Meanwhile, on another part of the island, the Orakas tribe is sabotaging the water pipeline from Jenkins Lake, which supplies water to the city. Dr Soudamini (Mona Singh) is on a mission to unravel a mysterious disease that has afflicted 11 of her patients with bizarre symptoms, including black rashes on the back of the neck and persistent hiccups. Despite receiving little cooperation from her colleagues, the police, and the administrators, Soudamini is unwavering in her determination to uncover the source of this disease. However, by the time she does, it's already too late, and Andaman becomes an open prison for all its inhabitants, living up to its notorious nickname, Kaala Paani.

Kaala Paani starts off strongly in its first couple of episodes, establishing the main characters, the gravity of the situation, and the far-reaching consequences, all while maintaining a palpable tension. A well-executed disaster thriller truly works its magic when it makes viewers comprehend the gravity of the situation, empathise with the characters while worrying about their fates, and keeps them guessing with twists and turns. Kaala Paani checks all these boxes, setting the tone by the end of the first episode when it courageously eliminates a major character. From this point on, no one is safe.

Watch the Trailer of Kaala Paani:

I can't recall exactly when, but I believe it's at the beginning of the second episode when the LG of the islands, Zibran Quadri (Ashutosh Gowariker), discusses the "trolley problem" at a conclave. For those unfamiliar, the "Trolley Problem" is a series of ethical and psychological thought experiments that pose stylised ethical dilemmas, involving the question of whether to sacrifice one person to save a larger number. This ethical Chekhov's gun reappears at various junctures, from a macro to micro level, as each character grapples with their own moral dilemma. Whether it's Zibran deciding whether to sacrifice a few to save a large population or a desperate father determined to save his child, consequences be damned, the writing deftly utilises this trope throughout the series.

At times, the metaphors are hammered a bit too strongly, especially with Quadri, who tends to be more verbose about these ethical dilemmas, perhaps as a way to convince himself and others that his decisions are not about being good or bad, but being the right ones. Nevertheless, for the most part, they work well. Even when the final episode hammers home the Darwinian theory of "survival of the fittest," this concept is subtly introduced in the first episode when a character succumbs due to their physical limitations, highlighting their perceived weakness in the race for survival.

With the plot often drawing parallels to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, whose horrors still haunt our collective memory, Kaala Paani is not an easy watch. I couldn't help but let out an uneasy chuckle when Quadri is informed that the mysterious illness can be called LHF-27, and he grumbles about his distaste for diseases being identified by numbers. I think I can speak on behalf of this post-COVID world when I say 'we can relate, bro!'

From the third episode onward, the series focuses on different sets of surviving characters, most of whom are not connected to each other, as they strive to either reunite with loved ones, escape the island, or simply survive. Each plot strand is thoroughly explored, and each character is given ample room for development, often pulling at the heartstrings. One aspect I particularly appreciated about Kaala Paani is its refusal to simplify characters as either good or bad. Instead, it portrays them as human beings coming from different strata of societal privilege, showing how they react to dire situations, which ultimately shapes their path forward. Atom, a major corporation, could be viewed as a secondary antagonist in the epidemic, possibly responsible for its spread. However, even they are given an opportunity to present their side of the story and argue why they believe they are right. For instance, Swati (Poornima Indrajith), the wife of Atom's CEO, may not be a very sympathetic character, but when she grapples with her own personal 'trolley problem,' you can't help but empathise with her.

Similarly, every other character is depicted as complex, with their own compelling journey. A travel guide and small-time poacher, Chiranjeevi (Sukant Goel), embarks on a journey of self-discovery in the jungle while confronting his own past. A former nurse with a traumatic history, Jyotsna (Arushi Sharma), seeks redemption during the crisis as she awaits a reunion with a childhood friend, Vinayak (Priyansh Jora). A pacifist father, Santosh (Vikas Kumar), is put to the test emotionally, mentally, and physically in the wilderness as he strives to reunite with his children. Ritu (Radhika Mehrotra), a PhD researcher determined to find a cure, undergoes her own coming-of-age saga, pitting her principles of humanity against the 'greater good.' Scoop Review: Karishma Tanna Gives Career-Best Performance in Hansal Mehta's Gripping and Often Contemplative Netflix Series.

Then there's Ketan (Amey Wagh), a corrupt cop. If Kaala Paani has a Littlefinger, it would be him, although his motivations revolve around escaping the island rather than accumulating power. Each storyline is well-defined, and each character is given ample opportunities to draw you into their plight. The creators maintain an engaging pace, even if some of the more dramatic moments experience a slight dip, while keeping the mystery alive regarding the origin and destination of the disease.

Amidst their stories, Kaala Paani delves into conversations and issues of eco-preservation, tribal displacement, bureaucratic red tape, and the detrimental impact of corporatisation on our world under the guise of making it better. When a character discovers how the epidemic resurfaced in the present era, I couldn't help but be amused at the absurdity of the cause, all the while acknowledging that such scenarios are entirely plausible in our PR-centric world. Kudos to the writers - Biswapati Sarkar, Nimisha Misra, Sandeep Saket, and Amit Golani for such strong writing!

Was I disappointed at some point? Yes. Similar to some major Hindi shows I've watched in the past, like Asur, Farzi, and Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen, Kaala Paani maintains itself as a mini-series throughout and concludes on an open note, leaving us uncertain about when a second season might emerge. That said, the first season of Kaala Paani finishes with a banger of a sequence.

Technically, Kaala Paani excels in various aspects. The cinematography, skillfully handled by Ewan Mulligan, Barny Crocker, and Dhananjay Navagrah, along with the production and set desgn, captures the essence of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, turning them into formidable characters of their own. The editing by Dev Rao Jadhav ensures a seamless flow, while Rachita Arora's background score sets the mood perfectly.

The performances in the show are the true gems. Mona Singh and Ashutosh Gowariker bring finesse and credibility to their roles, but it's the other actors who truly shine. Sukant Goel, known from Monica O My Darling, delivers a fantastic performance as the street-smart smuggler, utilising body language and dialect to great effect. Vikas Kumar, famous for his role as the sympathetic soldier in Hamid, portrays desperate helplessness with such conviction that it is bound to move and even terrify you when his character is pushed to the limits. Arushi Sharma adds charm and authenticity to her character from the very beginning, making her a character worth rooting for. Radhika Mehrotra delivers a strong performance in the final episodes. Choona Review: Jimmy Sheirgill's Netflix Heist Series Doesn't Live Upto Its Promising Potential.

The ever-reliable Marathi star, Amey Wagh, steals the show whenever he pops up with his portrayal of wavering alignment and nonchalance. The supporting cast, including Poornima Indrajith, Virendra Saxena, Chinmay Mandlekar, Priyansh Jora, Sarika Singh, Rajesh Khattar, Kannan Arunachalam, Veena Nair, young Aradhya Ajana, Payash Jain, Dhaniram Prajapati, and Desire Junior Binde, all deliver outstanding performances.

Final Thoughts

Kaala Paani is a well-crafted, expertly written, compelling, and thought-provoking series that delves into intricate ethical dilemmas, human nature, and societal privilege in the midst of a harrowing epidemic. It adeptly balances tension, emotion, and mystery, with outstanding performances that consistently shine. While I found myself somewhat divided over the show's conclusion and encountered a couple of infrequent clichéd writing tropes (such as the recurring promise of a meeting between two characters, which often foretells an unfortunate outcome), these are minor quibbles in an otherwise brilliant show. Don't miss out on Kaala Paani, now available for streaming on Netflix.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 18, 2023 12:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).