Today, OTT is a new medium platform for film actors as well as director-producers. They are reinventing themselves by telling stories and conducting experiments that cannot be done in a two-and-a-half-hour film through web series. OTT companies are also producing web series that are in line with movies.
The latest web series is directed by Mahi V. Raghav, known for his work in 'Yatra'. This web series is currently streaming on the popular OTT platform Disney+Hotstar.
The story revolves around Savitri (Shelley Nabu Kumar), who has three children named Bali (Rishi), Jaya (Devayani Sharma), and Gumti (Zaffar Sadhik). After her husband leaves her, she becomes the mistress of a police officer to support her children. Bali dislikes the neighbors gossiping about his mother. When he asks his mother to stop such activities, she responds, "I will stop when you start earning." However, Bali struggles to find a job. Meanwhile, his sister attracts the attention of the police officer, who tries to assault her and ends up getting killed.
As a result of the incident, Bali gets imprisoned for the first time. After serving his sentence, he is released after several years. What happens next? How many people does Bali kill? How many times does he return to jail? Why does he join the naxals? Who is responsible for the death of Gumti, his beloved younger brother? What is Bali's relationship with Kalavati (Kamakshi Bhaskar)? What role does Police Officer Nagireddy (Ravi Kale) play in Bali's journey? How does Bali eventually meet his end? To find out, watch the web series 'Saitan'.
Until now, Mahi V. Raghav has been known as a sensible director. His films like 'Pathashala', 'Anando Brahma', and 'Yatra' have been devoid of vulgarity. Moreover, the web series 'Save the Tigers', where he worked as a show runner, is a clean comedy. Therefore, it comes as a surprise when a director with such a clean image abruptly changes course and presents a bold and adult web series like 'Saitan'.
This web series revolves around crime and features stories conveyed through an unexplainable language. It contains excessive violence and sexual scenes. Mahi has designed this web series with a specific target audience in mind, and it undoubtedly resonates well with that particular demographic. However, as the director has mentioned from the start, this is not a web series meant for family viewing. Consisting of a total of nine episodes, each episode contains bold scenes and dialogues. Right from the first episode, the director delves into the world of 'Shaitan'.
'Shaitan' tells the story of a criminal who, due to circumstances beyond his control, starts making mistakes that ultimately lead to his downfall. Although the premise chosen by the director is not new, the execution feels fresh. Despite the brutal nature of the Bali family's murders, the director crafts the story in a way that justifies their actions. However, there are instances where unnecessary dialogue seems to be inserted.
Certain conversations, such as "If a single woman has a relationship with another man, society labels her as a 'lam**', but why isn't that a man given a name?", may come across as harsh but sounds true.
While there are emotional scenes, the bold approach taken by the director makes it difficult for the audience to connect with them. Some scenes in episodes four and five appear to be dragged out. The interactions between the police and naxals lack impact, and cinematic liberty is overly utilized in some instances. Due to the extreme violence and sexual scenes, this web series is not suitable for family viewing. Nevertheless, a particular segment of the audience may enjoy it.