ASUR - a concoction of psychology, science, murder, investigation and forensics!

ASHOK’s FIVE reasons to watch brings you another series on another platform “ASUR” now streaming on Viacom’s Voot. This is a psychological thriller build on a strong premise and dazzles but perhaps fails to impress. Nevertheless, it is worth checking out for good scripting, commendable acting and superb cinematography. The series leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions but when you actually sit down and navigate the eight-part series, you are held spellbound with a lot of questions around your dark side.

1.       Watch ASUR for Arshad Warsi and Barun Sobti. Warsi is one actor everyone likes to see. He is the common man’s representative out there and you find yourself egging him on to deliver the goods whether as Circuit in Munnabhai or in Asur as Dhananjay Rajpoot. Here, he is in a non-comic role and keeps you in your seat with intensity and exceptional emoting. He remains as earnest as ever, save for some weight around the mid-riff that is nicely camouflaged with extra-long shirts that are never tucked in. Sobti meanwhile makes his move from the small screen to OTT as Nikhil Nair the forensic expert. He has a role of lifetime but is disappointing on several counts; perhaps the most vexing part is how he keeps taking his hands to hid head in frustration all the time!

2.       ASUR is an amazing concoction that mixes psychology, action, religion, murder, science, astrology, investigation, revenge and thriller. Conceptualised and written by Gaurav Shukla and directed by Oni Sen, the writers seem to have done a fair bit of research and raises fundamental questions of good over evil. As Naina (Nikhil’s wife) played by Anupriya Goenka consoles her daughter “There are no good or bad people; just bad circumstances”. The plot is developed well and blends concepts from religion and astrology well into the motives and murders and sets up the forensic experts to go after the mystery. As Nikhil says in the beginning “There is a difference between a dead body and the dead. The dead can talk”

3.       ASUR is what it is on account of a great cast. Besides Warsi and Sobti, do keep an eye out for Anupriya Goenka (although she does seem a little under-utilised in the role), Ridhi Dogra, Sharib Hashmi as funny man Lolark Dubey and of course Vishal Bansal as Shubh!

4.       Fantastic Cinematography by Sayak Bhattacharya is what raises the visual quotient as the episodes commence with the flashback scenes from Varanasi and then move back to present day.

5.       ASUR grows on you and the episodes keep you hooked rather well. There are quite a few unanswered questions in the end – why did the killer engage Nikhil Nair to pass on the clues, what happened to Dhananjay’s conviction and why did the killer chop off half the index finger. The symbolism around the Balinese mask and the murders based on chemistry and physiology do keep the intrigue going.

ASUR is worth a watch for coming up tops in a genre that is actually the mainstay of linear television in some manner. Whether it lets you explore the dark side of yourself or not, the series does catch your fancy and keeps you engaged right till the end.