Kaala Paani review: Mona Singh starrer survival series is earnest in parts, overwrought in others

world is today three years ahe of predicament it found itself in as dece turned in 2020, namely COVID-19 pandemic. Breaching same topic, reel imitates real in Sameer Saxena's Kaala Paani. Written by Saxena and co-directed by Amit Golani, survival series takes a look at age-old concept of 'survival of fittest' interlaced with several more mes which essentially illustrates how often nature's wrath is more likely a man-me disaster. Starring Mona Singh, Ashutosh Gowariker in his acting comeback, Amey Wagh, Arushi Sharma and Vikas Kumar among ors, Kaala Paani is currently streaming on Netflix.

Hot take

Morality and ethical dilemmas make up much of undercurrent of Kaala Paani. question posed is modelled on classic trolley problem. For uninitiated, series spins it's narrative around conundrum of sacrificing a few to save many against it's epidemic-stricken narrative.

Does it live up to hype

At a time when world of OTT content is past stage of boom and slowly treing into dumping ground territory, movies and series sans big and shiny names, rarely ever catch attention. This holds true for Kaala Paani. However, visual vibrancy of it's trailer, all-too-familiar me of contagion and Mona Singh's familiar face, go a long way in urging viewers to hit play button.

Mona Singh delivers an earnest performance

Mona Singh returns to screens with Kaala Paani, her third web series this year. Playing Dr. Soudamini Singh, chief medical officer of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Singh's character is essentially whistleblower in context of story. She brings her brand of understated yet impactful acting also recently witnessed in her stint as Bulbul Jauhari in second season of series Me In Heaven. It is worth mentioning here that Singh as Dr. Soudamini is a de ringer for Kate Winslet's Dr. Erin Mears in 2011 release Contagion, dealing with same me. 

Much of cast does justice to elaborate backgrounds given to m while simultaneously juggling larger context of plot. Love Aaj Kal 2 find Arushi Sharma too features in Kaala Paani - actress' second collaboration with Sameer Saxena post Jaugar (2022). Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker who makes his acting comeback with his portrayal of Lieutenant Governor Zibran Qri, maintains a barely-re screen presence failing to capitalise on potential of politically-loed role.

Too much to pay attention to/Too many mes spoil plot

need to etch characters in minds of audience is an understandable gimmick on part of writers. However, ding sub-plots and honestly avoidable character tracks simply deflects focus from bigger mes Kaala Paani attempts to cinematise. Salva family for instance, who are visiting islands for winter festival are stand-ins for viewer's outsider-looking-in perspective. plot point however, simply fails to take off in terms of creating any empathy. Naomi Watts starrer Impossible (2012) and Korean classic Train To Busan (2016) - both survival dramas - are much more potent recommendations for audiences in this regard, looking for human element amid disaster stories. 

Just feeding off of horrors of COVID-19 pandemic - contextually refashioned as Leptospiral Hemorrhagic Fever, or LHF 27 for show - could have been a simpler approach for breaking ground in survival drama genre which stands largely unexplored in Indian OTT content. Inste, complicated layers of intervention in terms of politics from Lieutenant-Governor's office, ecological integrity from perspective of Orakas -  seemingly fashioned on Sentinelese tribe and a timeline that oscillates between 1943 and 2027, makes Kaala Paani a watch which not just needs but demands alertness from its viewers - not always an appreciable factor.

Stream it or skip it?

Kaala Paani for sure has its moments. meticulous approach to story shows. However, an overzealous attitude in a bid to cover all possible bases, creates overlapping narratives which may leave viewer confused as to what to focus on. Stream it if you are up for a bit of mental exercise.

bottomline

Kaala Paani is an exhausting watch, but not without purpose. It attempts to cover it's me from a multitude of angles which occasionally tires plot. visual aestics of Kaala Paani are worth appreciating as is recurring allegory of nature's natural walls - waters - both protecting as well as symbolically caving in on humans.

Rating: 2.5/5