Asur/Web Series/Review

Director: Oni Sen

Producer: Tanveer Bookwala

Cast: Arshad Warsi, Barun Sobti, Ridhi Dogra, Anupriya Goenka, Sharib Hashmi, Amey Wagh

Watch it on: Voot

Total Episode: 8

"The Dark Side"

Asur's Punch Line         

Ratings

IMDb: 8.5/10

Times of India: 3.5/5   

Asur was recommended by one of my friends when we were locked down in our house due to the Covid-19.

  

                            (Photo from Google)

This series is a drama based detective unique crime thriller that pits two opposing world's against each other. A serial killer, whose ideologies and thinking are deeply rooted within the Hindu mythology, is challenging a team of brilliant forensic experts to solve the murders.                                     

CBI officer Dhananjay Rajput (Arshad Warsi) has been accused of his wife’s murder and his former colleague Nikhil Nair (Barun Sobti) is the only one with willingness and expertise to solve the mystery. But before the FBI-returned Nair could get a grip on the situation, he finds himself entangled in serial killings. What he and his fellow officers such as Lolark Dubey (Sharib Hashhmi) and Nushrat (Ridhi Dogra), could achieve in a limited period forms rest of the story.

In fact, the essence of Asur is to give it a mystical touch and exploring the impact of religious beliefs on the making of a serial killer. There are loose ends but Sen has tried to attach authenticity to his characters. You see characters reciting verses from religious books and standard psychology books. We also witness people fighting due to their biases and some only sticking to facts. In short, there’s a segregation—objective and blinded by faith. And this has been done in the most obvious way. 

                        (Photo from Google)

Barun Sobti’s simple-yet-cool charm and assuring presence takes over from here. Be it Tu Hai Mera Sunday or 22 Yards, he has gone beyond expectations. He is subtle, unassuming and nuanced. Wish we could see more of him and quite often. Though Arshad Warsi spearheads Asur but Sobti slowly makes it his own.

Warsi and Sharib Hashmi have also stuck to their briefs. With his experience, Warsi never crosses the threshold of theatrics and brings in other supporting characters without making it obvious.

The look and feel of Asur is also relatively new to the Indian audience. Though Sacred Games will also be the pioneer in this segment but Asur has got its game right.

Asur is a good pick web series during lockdown.