.png.f2ef893445674bbb37440938e93c45c3.png)
.thumb.png.ea12d62fcb43a79b1d7a7a4664107cbc.png)
At that moment, you realise only an actor of Ajay Devgn’s stature could’ve pulled that scene off. In that whole sequence where minimalism is key, any lesser actor would’ve tried to upstage the other actor playing the serial killer. It’s Ajay's understated performance that elevates Rudra to new heights.
Based on the popular British show Luther starring Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is about brilliant supercop Rudraveer Singh (Ajay Devgn) who is going through a tough time in his marriage with Shail (Esha Deol) and is notorious for taking the law into his hands to catch killers.
© Disney+ HotStar
Once a psychopathic killer Aliyah (Raashii Khanna) slips through his hands and he reluctantly forms a unique bond with her and even seeks her help whenever he is stuck in his investigation.
We go on this journey with Rudra as he tries to nab serial killers while dealing with his troubled personal life, one episode at a time.
Director Rajesh Mapuskar, who helmed the feel-good movie Ferrari Ki Sawaari in 2012 and a comedy-drama in Ventilator in 2016, changes gear here and helms a gripping thriller quite skillfully. I loved how he gave the show an almost neo-noir-ish treatment.
While I am not really a fan of episodic treatment of the narrative in shows, it works here.
I believe if you are adapting an already brilliant show or a movie, the best way to do it is to follow it to a T. As they say, why fix something if it isn’t broken? Rudra is more or less a faithful remake of Luther and that is a good thing.
The cinematography and the way Mumbai city has been shot add to the thrill and gloom element of the show. The editing is quite good as well. The episodes are around an hour long each but due to their taut screenplay, they flow smoothly.
© Disney+ HotStar
Coming to the performances, as mentioned, Ajay Devgn delivers a knock-out performance. There is another scene where subtlety works in the favour. When Rudra’s wife tells him about seeing another guy, Ajay doesn’t emote much and yet you feel the pain and shock he is going through.
While Idris Elba’s portrayal was a bit flamboyant in the original, Ajay Devgn takes it easy & makes it work.
Raashii Khanna, who was last seen in a brief role in Madras Cafe in 2013 is a revelation here. Her character is such that she could’ve easily gone overboard with it but thankfully, that didn’t happen. Some of the best scenes in the show are between Rudra & Aliyah and their chemistry is like a house on fire.
Atul Kulkarni is always good at almost anything he does. He plays Gautam, Rudra’s colleague and close friend. Can’t wait to see how his character shapes up in future episodes. Ashwini Kalsekar as Rudra’s boss provides able support.
Tarun Gahlot as Rudra’s partner is another good performer and has quite a good screen presence. Among the actors playing serial killers, KC Shankar stands out.
On the downside, if you have watched Luther, there is not much in the Hindi remake that may interest you, besides the presence of Ajay Devgn, of course. At least going by the first three episodes.
© Disney+ HotStar
With just 6 episodes, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is dark, edgy & a binge-worthy thriller.
View the full article
- Read more...
- 0 comments
- 498 views