Kaalkoot Review: Vijay Varma shines bright in compelling cop role

The crime genre has become a mainstay of the OTT landscape in recent times. This week’s new release Kaalkoot  is yet another investigative drama set in a similar space. It features Vijay Varma, fresh off from playing some compelling grey characters in Dahaad and Lust Stories 2. He turns an unlikely hero in this police procedural. So, did Kaalkoot manage to deliver something fresh and redefine the genre? 

3 things you need to know

• Kaalkoot touches upon crime against women. 
• It deals with the insensitivity surrounding such crimes.
• Ravi, played by Vijay Varma, is not a run-of-the-mill cop we usually come across in crime dramas.

Hot Take

The makers of Kaalkoot try to carry out two important tasks in the series– informing  the audience about crime against women and fleshing out a character study of the largely male-run law enforcement system. On one hand, Vijay's character Ravi highlights the rampant toxic masculinity found both in the public and private space.  On the other, acid attack survivor Parul's (Shweta Tripathi) journey serves as an examination of gender and social bias. The show strikes a good balance between them.

Is Kaalkoot worth the hype?

The narrative plays out in a culturally insensitive world where women are ‘men's pride’ until their fall from grace. They are then subjected to mockery.  Their pain is used as  an 'example' for those not falling in line. The storyline keeps female characters on the fringe. They function within the four walls and lack agency. When they venture out, they are subjected to casual sexism and heinous crimes.

(Vijay Varma in Kaalkoot | Image: Vijay Varma/Instagram)

In a sombre manner, Kaalkoot lays bare the inherent hypocrisy of patriarchy. It also exposes how the legal system functions differently when it comes to men and women. After Parul is subjected to an acid attack, cops dig deep into her private life. This sets the stage for her character to be examined. The victimisation begins as she battles for her life. She is judged unfairly because of her outgoing nature.

Kalkoot examines this and more from the perspective of of male characters. This compels viewers to think about  whether the actions of the characters are ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. It also makes one think about what is ‘insensitive’ and what is not.

Vijay proves his mettle

The actor once again speaks through his silence. His transformation from a cop who is ridiculed for being 'not manly enough' to becoming one who terrorises the vulnerable is seamless and is highlighted  through the change in his body language and demeanour. As he takes charge, like 'men' are supposed to, Ravi confronts his deepest insecurities and frail nature. The character's journey is both outwards and within. He must abandon any shred of weakness to survive and he does, turning into one of the system's own.

(Vijay masters his two sides in Kaalkoot | Image: Vijay Varma/Instagram)

Ravi is morally corruptible. The constant derision he faces forces him to abandon his vulnerable self. However, a shred of empathy, somehow intact within him. This helps him break free and become a 'hero'. Vijay masters his two sides in Kaalkoot. In the first half, his reluctance in accepting the true nature of the job makes him a target for others. In these scenes, shaky and documentary style camera movement lets us feel his indecisiveness.

When he comes into his own, the camera gets steadier to emhasise that he is in control. In the latter half, his character is well lit and the shot lingers on him. This makes him more reliable as a character in the midst of shady cops he functions with.

The negatives

The lack of a villain is a minus. The hunt for the culprit takes cops into various directions but the climax waters down the whole exercise. The impact would have been stronger had the villain been given a face.

Stream it or skip it?

Kaalkoot has half-hour episodes. The runtime is crisp and the narrative does not deviate much. The ‘slow and fast’ pacing is a bit unconventional, but serves its purpose. The show is watchable for Vijay alone. He anchors Kaalkoot and lets it deliver a message. 

The Bottomline 

Vijay has managed to become one of the most versatile actors in the industry. It's a delight to watch him do what he does. Kaalkoot gives him a character to bite into and he steps up to the challenge. 

(Rating: 3/5)