Khoj is a Hindi crime thriller that started streaming recently on Zee5. The 7-episode series is directed by Prabal Baruah and produced by Juggernaut. Is it worth a watch? Let’s find out.
Storyline
Ved Khanna, a lawyer, visits a police station in Panchgani to report his wife Meera missing since the previous night. Inspector Sathe, who is also a passionate writer, begins the investigation by visiting Ved’s home—a sprawling property where he lives with Meera and her sister.
Within a couple of days, the police bring back Meera safe and sound—or so they think. Ved takes one look at her and drops a bombshell – announcing that she is not Meera! The story takes off from here and what follows is a showdown of photos, albums, and proof, all of which clearly indicate that she is indeed Meera. In fact, Meera’s sister, their pet dog, and Ved’s doctor also confirm her identity. Inspector Sathe gets wary of Ved’s desperate insistence on further probes and Meera’s clear-cut evidences. Meanwhile, Ved’s medical reports put a question mark on his sanity.
So, what is the truth? Is Ved mistaken? If not, how come he has no evidence to prove that the lady is not his wife? Can Inspector Sathe solve this weird case or will it end up as one of his stories?
Our critique
The story starts strong, pulling you in with its intrigue. Thankfully, the absence of unnecessary subplots keeps things tight. But due to too much detailing, the pace suffers. And, like me, if you’re the kind of viewer who’s seen too many thrillers, you would guess the ending by episode two and let the rest of the episodes pass by, hoping that you are wrong. There’s also a glaring logical flaw that might linger in your mind while Ved desperately tries to gather evidence. The characters, I would admit, have been written well.
The direction is taut. The dialogues, particularly in the cop’s plate are sharp and lend weight to the story. However, with the entire series confined to the interiors of four properties, you might find yourself yearning for some scenic views of Panchgani to break the monotony. The music and camerawork are decent, they support the narrative.
Screen Performances
husband and a doting father. Anupriya Goenka as the enigmatic Meera is effortlessly convincing, and Aamir Dalvi as the witty Inspector Sathe is a treat to watch. If you stick around till the end, it would most likely be due to the stellar performances.
Overall opinion
At almost 3 hours, the series feels stretched. It could have benefited from a 20-minute trim and made into a gripping movie. While the tension falls short of expectations, it remains worth watching for its strong performances and a few impactful moments.
Our rating
