Choona Review: ‘Choona,’ starring Jimmy Sheirgill, is now available on Netflix. In Choona, there is a lot hidden beneath a really brilliant coating of fun.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars!
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Streaming on
Netflix
Cast
Jimmy Shergill, Vikram Kochhar, Namit Das, Gyanendra Tripathi
Language
Hindi
Director
Pushpendra Nath Misra
Music Director:
Dhruv Ghanekar
Cinematography
Aditya Kapoor, Will Humphries
About Choona
An unlikely band of six bands together to take down a shared foe — an all-powerful corrupt politician who has mistreated them — using jugaad as their sole weapon. A powerful mafia-turned-politician is extremely superstitious and bordering on insane. On his climb to the top, he makes enemies only to have them turn on him and pull out a devastating theft in his kingdom.
Plus Points:
Choona, which translates to “conning someone,” is a show that recognizes it comes after a deluge of stuff along similar lines. Misra co-wrote the program with Srishti Dubey and Mugdhaa Ranade, and it’s about have-nots revolting against their oppressor in such a way that it doesn’t kill them but makes him regret his actions. The fact that Misra constructs this universe so profoundly contributes to the plot that appears impossible, and even the creators are aware that it is on the verge of being so. Shukla, called “Calculator” for his devious mind, believes in astrology and money beyond all else. He employs both of them as instruments in his quest to destabilize the regime. Choona appears to be another usual political drama full of drama and deception. However, new players emerge quickly.
Minus Points
But he stumbles when he attempts to combine all of this with mythology and the astrological thread. While we are in agreement for the most part, at times it becomes too much. I get that one of the key characters believes in it, but his engagement with the plot blossoms much later; by then, you’ve had plenty of it. Choona also follows several well-worn routes, which adds to the show’s sense of repetition. Chandan Roy can entertain you even when he isn’t permitted to speak, as evidenced by this video. Gyanendra Tripathi is an excellent performer who deserves to be seen more often. Vikram Kochhar can breeze through such scenes.
Namit Das explains why he has remained relevant for years, and his performance is the high point of the second half. Given how talented Niharika Lyra Dutt is, I wish she had more opportunities to demonstrate her abilities.
Especially how unashamedly Jimmy Shergil’s Shukla gets a bathtub placed smack in the middle of a shrine. Even with the set design, the drama is at its pinnacle. The music, on the other hand, is mediocre and rarely surprises.
Choona Review: Verdict
An intriguing show with a distinct trajectory from the rest. There’s humor, intrigue, and excellent performances all mixed throughout. Take the plunge.
This substantially lowers the stakes of the moments where the climactic clash is to take place, which is unfortunate given the clever storytelling of Shukla’s demise. There is no blood and violence in this fight; the plot is more wit than brawn, which is a refreshing viewpoint. If the stakes had been appropriately placed (a shorter run-time would have greatly aided), the program could have played to its strengths.
