Crackdown Season 1

Crackdown Season 1

STORY: A covert operations unit of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is hot on the trial of a cross-border terrorist. Are they able to stop him and at what cost?

His dramatic escape from the clutches of Pakistani militants continues to haunt him the gruesome episode also gives him power to become unwavering in his mission. He is also one of the few among his rank and file, that believes like the collateral damage in this fight against terror. Maybe, the reason why he is so cynical about having an innocent youthful hairstylist Divya (Shriya Pilgaonkar) to break into a treacherous terror group to spy RAW. But call it professional danger or the call of duty, Riyaaz recruits Divya in his deadly assignment, which keeps getting more dangerous and complex, every passing moment.

The relentless and busy plot (Suresh Nair) of the show kickstarts with its very first scene which opens in the scenic mountains of Kathmandu, Nepal. The thrill and tension are real, as we see long drone shots of automobiles meandering through the lush green hilly terrains resulting in shady terrorist hideouts. The very first episode pretty much sets the stage for a gripping narrative that requires full viewer focus, but at the subsequent episodes, the rate drops. The series loses steam midway as a plethora of characters are introduced creating an already complex screenplay much more crowded. While the general plot remains intense, too many subplots are a dampener. Thankfully, director Apoorva Lakhia (in his OTT introduction ) doesn't get rid of focus of the picture. He ensures that the last few episodes recover the thrill quotient with high-octane action and adventure.

Saqib Saleem is clearly the star of this show with the most author-backed function. His sculpted avatar and no-nonsense demeanour provide his character that the conviction of a man on a mission to serve his country. Shriya Pilgaonkar is cast too. She is equally believable as the ordinary middle-class Mumbai girl, who's exposed and as a trained RAW representative, who can pack a punch. Iqbal Khan as the foul-mouthed and violent Zorawar is a small put-off owing to his constant swearing. He appears fantastic but can get on to your nerves after a stage as a consequence of his non-stop bickering. Waluscha De Sousa (as Garima) and Rajesh Tailang (as RAW main Ashwini) are decent, but their familial subplots are downright dull. It is these plethora of figures and lots of clichés that produce the otherwise riveting story very clunky in parts. That said,'Crackdown' does not cut corners in providing its audience the larger-than-life thriller experience. From its compelling cinematography in real places to wealthy production values and a gripping background score - it all eventually adds up. Barring a few corny lines from the terrorists, most dialogues (by Chintan Gandhi) are sensible and easy on the ear.

'Crackdown' uses recognizable spy thriller tropes to engage its viewers. Though it takes the lengthy cut to get to the stage, it does so with enough certainty and entertainment to make it binge-worthy.