We’ve seen films and shows on cops, soldiers, doctors, and lawyers, but hardly any that represent customs officers on screen. Here comes a show that doesn’t just represent them but places them at the centre of a fine fiction narrative, loosely inspired by real events, with plenty of drama and action. Created by Neeraj Pandey, Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web follows the tale of three customs officers cum friends at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. They vow to fight corruption within the system and nab the huge racket of international smugglers and their head, who turns out to be an Indian settled abroad.
People often have a superficial understanding of the customs department, and they don’t fully grasp the seriousness of the work done by their officers. This is where Neeraj Pandey’s Netflix show comes in, offering an in-depth look and showcasing the earnest and dedicated work of the customs department and its officers. While many shows on OTT platforms, such as Panchayat (Prime Video) and Sacred Games (Netflix), explore new worlds or different aspects of people’s lives and have become quite popular with viewers, Taskaree isn’t as massive as the aforementioned ones. Nevertheless, this show manages to keep you interested and engaged with its storyline. Moreover, the dramatic elements coupled with witty humour make it even more creative.
The first few episodes take time to build up, but the series remains informative and engrossing throughout. As the world of the customs officers and the excise department has often been perceived as one associated with “money,” the grit and gravity of the job are hardly known to the general public. Taskaree grants a closer look into this landscape with drama, with an undertone of humour.
Along with penning down an engaging plot, writers Neeraj Pandey and Vipul K. Rawal have written effervescent dialogues in the show that fit the mood and ambience of the scenes. There comes a dialogue that explains how a customs officer has been handpicked to lead an honest and efficient team by a major politician of the country due to his “uncorruptness”, but sadly, he turns out to be the Brutus. This line mirrors reality in the making of the show, as the pivotal actors seem to have been handpicked by the creator himself. Except, here, they turn out quite promising and do not betray their craft or their part in the show.
However, this is not to say that the story is without flaws, or that it’s a completely perfect show. There are times when some incidents feel repetitive, like the smugglers getting caught at the last minute each time. Even some scenes appear quite predictable, too, but the brilliant performances by the cast and the strong grasp of their respective roles in the narrative keep this show afloat. Additionally, introducing certain important characters at the right time in the story proves to be the right move by the makers, as it works in favour of the narrative.
As already mentioned above, the pivotal actors slip flawlessly into their characters, including Emraan Hashmi, Nandish Sandhu, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sharad Kelkar, and Anurag Sinha. Meanwhile, Virendra Saxena and Jameel Khan give the utmost shocker with their small yet crucial characters. Freddy Daruwala and Zoya Afroz also play their part quite well.
Along with the customs department, the lure inside the smugglers’ world and how they operate across borders, with considerable risks, some help, and overconfidence, keeps the narrative intriguing most of the time. The series does pick up a serious tone in the last few episodes, yet manages to end on an amusing yet thrilling note, which makes the overall experience delightful. For someone who enjoys engaging shows with the perfect balance of action, drama and wit, this series offers pure fun from start to finish, and that’s why it works for us and is on our list of must-watch shows.
P.S. – Emraan Hashmi’s effortless charm and wit get extra points!
