Hindi web shows are gradually taking over the local Indian audience that used to be swayed by foreign creations.
However, the growing censorship in the country is a thing of concern.
Karmma Calling is the latest series from India to hit the streaming platform, Disney Plus Hotstar.
Based on the American series, Revenge, created by Mike Kelley, the show’s seven episodes run for forty minutes on average.
Is it any good? I will answer it through my review.
Karmma Calling Synopsis
After losing her father to a conspiracy by the rich, Karma Talwar plans a plot to take revenge. Her principle is simple: Fear Karma not God. God forgives but Karma doesn’t.
But Karma’s pursuit must contend with Indrani Kothari, the superstar of a luxurious neighborhood.
Created by Ruchi Narain, the series features Raveena Tandon (Indrani), Namrata Sheth (Karma), Rohit Roy (Satyajeet), Gaurav Sharma (Kaushal), Varun Sood (Ahaan), Devangshi Sen (Mira), Any Aela (Yana), Masi Wali (Krish), Rachit Singh (Vedant), Viraf Patel (Zane), and Piyush Khati (Dash), among others.
What Works for Karmma Calling?
The fate of the series depends squarely on one question: do you like watching outright revenge dramas? Because that’s what Karmma Calling is all about.
A daughter witnesses her father’s downfall as a child and decides to avenge his departure upon growing old.
Even though we have aged watching such themes unfold, it never gets old. The show’s storyline is the glue that sticks Karmma Calling together despite its cliches.
It comprises a lot of drama, anger, and arrogance of being rich. Furthermore, the creation evokes the sadistic pleasure of enjoying a bunch of wrongdoers getting what they deserve.
The Indian series’ screenplay can be called decent since it doesn’t seem interested in going beyond the ordinary.
Thankfully, if you can get past the first 4-5 episodes, the final few have enough twists and turns to compensate for your time.
I wish the whole series was made like that. Lastly, in Karmma Calling, you must not come with many expectations.
How are the Performances?
Raveena Tandon, the veteran actress who earlier debuted on OTT with a Netflix series, plays the part of Indrani Kothari.
She does a decent job in the preliminary stages and gets better with time.
I think it is about getting comfortable with Tandon’s style of acting, which happened quite late for me in Karmma Calling.
She is the best when her expressions are not forcibly thrown to generate the lavishness of an ultra-rich woman.
Namrata Sheth comes good on most occasions but she is let down by the direction. Based on her past performances, I have no doubt saying she is a brilliant actress, a better one than this.
Her portrayal of Karma Talwar has its moments though expectations were much higher from a performer of her calibre.
Gaurav Sharma as Kaushal Kothari is excellent. Thankfully, he gets to play a primary role when we are used to seeing him in supportive characters.
The actor makes the most of the opportunity and shines through his encompassing delivery.
Sadly, Varun Sood, who plays Ahaan, cannot bring much to the show.
He has the looks and the style, but wish that was enough to excel in the world of acting. His expressions are as banal and unimpressive as they can get.
Any Aela as Yana is a surprise package. Amid the humdrum around her, she strongly carries herself on the screen. You can sense dedication in Aela’s less demanding role.
Viraf Patel depicts Zane Khan and triumphs over the others. His humorous walkthroughs, serious handling of scenes, and a sense of screen meandering give the show some substance to hold onto.
However, I’m not sure who came up with the idea of making him an uncle. The dude still looks young.
What Doesn’t Work for Karmma Calling?
Revenge sagas are blatantly high in number when it comes to films and shows.
But that’s not the problem. Anyone can create stories of this sort. The issue is in the execution of the idea.
One must find new ways to tell the same story, which, sadly, is not the case with Karmma Calling.
On top of a redundant concept, the series progresses in an old-fashioned way. Its approach is too linear to satisfy a modern audience.
The predictable plot does nothing to hide its goals in the long run.
Moreover, crude performances by a set of actors who seem to have been wrongly cast in their roles don’t help the series either.
Lacking conviction, some shots force you to question the direction of Karmma Calling. They seem unfinished to be part of the final product.
Not only that, the initial episodes show a complete lack of professional filmmaking.
If you’re coming on the back of watching an international series, it is possible you’d see it as a laughing stock.
The timing of expressions, the angles, the camera movements, everything seems scattered all over the place.
Furthermore, some fallacies within the plot weaken the show. For example, if you have evidence to save someone in court, why would you take it to the public prosecutor?
It should rather be given to the defendant’s lawyer fighting for the accused.
Secondly, I believe the starting point of a show should come to a full circle in that particular season.
Keeping it for the second season is just a ploy to mislead the audience.
Additionally, the show’s dialogues, writing, and characterization never fully recover from the jitters initiated by the naively orchestrated narrative.
Stream or Skip?
The show has a story that comes alive towards the end. But can you survive the first 4-5 episodes? If not, you better skip watching Karmma Calling.
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