Story:
A rookie investigative reporter tries to find a suitable media organisation where he gets recognised for his efforts. However, his knack for getting a byline in a leading newspaper takes him through many hardships and even entraps him in a web of lies. It also turns him into a ruthless journalist, who is out to reveal the truth via his reports However, in his pursuit of the truth, ethics and righteousness take a backseat. Inspired by Somnath Batabyal’s 2013 novel The Price You Pay, the Sudhir Mishra and Sanjeev Kaul directorial is written by the latter.
Review:
Somnath, the popular Indian author and columnist, is known for his political and crime-related comments and writings in leading news agencies and books. Crime Beat also showcases the novelist’s love for crime, politics, and the drama that comes with it. The summary of this investigative thriller appears exciting. However, Sudhir Mishra and Sanjeev Kaul’s attempt to showcase too much in an eight-episodic series appears to be a hurried job.
Crime Beat begins with the murder of an infamous criminal in public and instantly catches your attention. Soon, the narrative takes you back several months to show the chain of events that led the story to this point. One of the thumb rules in journalism is that a journalist never reveals their sources. And the show keeps reminding you of the same. A young rookie journalist seems to be highly interested in finding the whereabouts and the upcoming motive of a small-time lawbreaker-turned-famous fugitive.
From the mastermind plan of a big gangster to the unethical methods of obtaining and presenting news to the corruption taking place among prominent businessmen and politicians, the series chronicles all the events that take place leading up to the murder of a criminal in broad daylight. However, in establishing so much at once, the screenplay often appears to go haywire and leaves the audience at the mercy of assumptions. For example – When the fugitive runs to another country, it seems that he is planning something huge, and a national threat is set to arrive soon. However, when he returns to his country, it all starts to appear as a political agenda. But soon after that, he turns into a messiah and seeks to surrender.
While the series falls short of engrossing the viewers’ attention, the brilliant actors come to its rescue. Rahul Bhat plays the hot-shot criminal and never fails to impress with his top-notch act. Apart from properly inhabiting his character, the actor does a good job of looking like a charmer throughout. However, Saqib Saleem impresses the most and steals the show with his act of a rookie correspondent, who eagerly wants to get a byline on the front page by exposing wrongdoers. But, soon enough, he becomes a scoop-hungry journalist, who cares more about sensational news than ethics. Saqib surely impresses with the way he’s caught the pulse of his character and its different notes.
Saqib and Saba Azad’s chemistry lights up the screen and makes for a decent watch in the show. The actress also portrays a journalist but unlike her co-worker, she is ethical and truthful. Meanwhile, Sai Tamhankar puts up an applaud-worthy act as the right hand of a big-time gangster. Apart from the pivotal actors, Adianth Kothare, Rajesh Tailang, Vipin Sharma, Bhuvan Arora and Sudhir Pandey keep the series afloat with their key characters. On the other hand, Danish Hussain and Kishor Kadam are the perfect journalist duo who set an excellent example of the ‘survival of the smartest’ trope and impress with their respective characters.
Verdict:
The lazy script and cluttered screenplay make the series a mediocre watch. However, the talented bunch of cast and their outstanding performances keep the lacklustre show afloat. Crime Beat is available to stream on ZEE5.
Crime Beat
Watch On:ZEE5
Directors:Sudhir Mishra, Sanjeev Kaul
Writer:Sanjeev Kaul
Cast:Saqib Saleem, Rahul Bhat, Saba Azad, Sai Tamhankar, Danish Husain, Kishor Kadam, Rajesh Tailang, Adianth Kothare, Bhuvan Arora
Rating:2.5 stars
