Dahaad: an out of the box crime thriller with excellent digital debut by Sonakshi & class act by Vijay Verma


By Rajesh Ahuja

A serial killer on the prowl for unsuspecting women victims and a punctilious cop on the hunt for the perpetrator of the ghastly crimes seems to be the usual formula of many a crime thriller  streaming on OTT platforms over the last few years.

New web series Dahaad bring streamed on Amazon prime video however makes its presence felt with its stick treatment, gripping screenplay and brilliant  performances. 


Dahaad is an out of the box crime thriller with excellent digital debut by Sonakshi and class act by Vijay Verma 



A series of women are found dead in public bathrooms under mysterious circumstances, Sub-inspector Anjali Bhaati (Sonakshi Sinha) is tasked with leading the investigation. As the case unravels she begins to suspect that the seemingly clear-cut suicides may be the work of a serial killer on the loose,
What follows is a riveting game of cat and mouse between a seasoned criminal and the underdog cop.

Set in a small hamlet in Rajasthan,  Dahaad takes us through the escapades of a suave and glib talking college professor(Vijay Verma) who manages to convince women from the lower middle class and the backward caste to elope with him only to  murder these women and escape with their money and valuables.

A crafty player,  Anand Swarnakar goes about his task in a meticulous manner, taking great pain not to leave any trace of his association with these crimes .

Initially,  Anjali bhaati,  the Dalit cop tasked with the investigation,  seems like a lone Warrior as she suspects the murders to be the task of a serial killer,  contrary to the opinion of her superiors who believe it to be the task of a gang.

Later, she receives support from her superior and SHO Devi Lal(Gulshan Devaiah) and inspector Parghi(Sohum Shah).

However,  even as Anjali zeroes in on the killer,  he outfits her at every step with his meticulous planning which leaves no trace of his link to the crime.

The Screenplay  is extremely gripping with numerous twists and turns at every step.

During the investigation into the killings,  the audience is also given a Peep into the social discrimination faced by women from the backward castes who find themselves to be a burden to families with exorbitant demand for dowry leading to their rejection from several prospective grooms. Infact, the protagonist Anjali bhaati is shown to be under constant pressure from her mother to get married .

Sonakshi Sinha makes an excellent debut on OTT as police woman Anjali bhaati,  one who is unapologetic about her caste and one who is punctilious about her job and believes in standing up for her views in face of opposition from her superiors.

Gulshan Devaiah is remarkable as Anjali's superior Devi Lal, an honest cop who believes in standing by his juniors . He also comes across as refreshing for his support to the ambitions of his daughter in face of opposition from his wife.

Sohum Shah is competent as inspector Parghi.

However the highlight of the series is Vijay Verma as Anand Swarnakar the suave , mild mannered and glib talking college professor who sweet talks several women into eloping with him after which his carries out their meticulously planned murders. While he has played negative characters in the past, the character of Anand Swarnakar is among his best acts. Infact,  he is the fulcrum around which the series revolves.

Rest of the cast,  including Manyuu Doshi,  Zoa Morani and Jayati Bhatia provide able support.

Directors Reema Kagti and Ruchika Oberoi have done a commendable job. Not only do they keep the audience on tenterhooks with numerous twists and turns but they also manage to present the social milieu of the small towns in Rajasthan through the series.

In short,  Dahaad is an out of the box crime thriller with an excellent digital debut by Sonakshi Sinha and classy act by Vijay Verma.

My rating: 4/5


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