Sparks are few and far between in musical thrillers
The gap that separates apparent intent from real content isn’t exactly yawning surpriseA SonyLIV series produced, co-written and directed by Rohit Jugraj but little that exists takes some of the shine out of the musical thriller. Not only are its sparks few and far between, they’re not bright enough.
From poignant to poignant, romantic to radical, the six-episode series often grapples for the right rhythm. It tries to dive deep into the Punjabi popular music scene and its social context but fails to break free from the usual revenge story device.
surprise An anthology of love, crime, revenge, social rifts and music that overflows. Some of its key plot points are effortlessly expanded upon, while other equally important strands of the story are glossed over.
The series features pop and hip-hop numbers composed/sung by Punjabi stars and created and produced by the showrunner himself. Sadly, the narrative doesn’t quite match the heights the music achieves.
An aspiring singer flees Vancouver after violence — a heartbreaking backlash — lands him in trouble with Canadian law. He reaches Chandigarh and stumbles upon a secret that sends his life into another tailspin which is the crux of the plot.
surprise Approximate the wandering and wayward nature of the hero’s struggle. The narrative ricochets between the extremes of art reality and stirs the heart of the troubled young man as he struggles to come to terms with his tragic family history.
Kala (Paramveer Singh Cheema) grapples with the rough and tumble of the music industry even as he seeks to delve into the truth behind the murder of popular pop singer Tara Singh (Gippy Grewal in a special appearance) nearly twenty-five years earlier.
Beas has been through a lot since the violent incident, but with some help from Kala, drummer and wannabe singer Jasmine “Jazz” Narula (Isha Talwar), an independent woman, whom he meets by chance and develops a romantic relationship with. Find Tara Singh’s killers.
The police have conveniently swept the case well under the carpet but a cynical old journalist Gurpal Singh (Kuljit Singh) has not given up hope of finding out the reason behind Tara Singh’s murder. Kala makes common cause with the latter, having newspaper clippings, recordings and concert posters relating to the life and times of the slain singer.
Journo’s report suggested three possible scenarios – a terrorist attack, an honor killing or betrayal by allies. Armed with the author’s fountain of information, Kala began to wander for more clues. Predictably, powerful people don’t want the truth to come out.
Kala is a singer, not a crime investigator. Circumstances forced him into the role. It assumes increasing importance as he descends into a quagmire of intrigue centered on a prosperous music label Teeja Sur.
The company is run by the temperamental Pratap Deol (Manoj Pahwa) with the help of three children whom he doesn’t fully trust – Jai (Dhanveer Singh), Guru (Mohit Malik) and Naz (Ankita Goraya). The old man’s hatred is particularly directed at Guru because the latter is not the boy he expects the boy to be.
Kala has her sights set on a career in music but her investigation repeatedly deviates from her calling. Someone tells him that he must succeed as a singer if he is to find what he is looking for – the same people responsible for eliminating Tara Singh a quarter of an hour ago.
Singer Mika Singh, playing himself, reminds Kaala that even though he has a powerful voice, only when he becomes a strong man can he ensure that he gets his way. Music becomes a tool of revenge.
At the beginning of the show, Kala squares off against MC Square in an impromptu rap competition outside a bar where he is hired as a valet. The video went viral and helped him gain industry attention. But his big break is still some way off.
Jealousy and selfishness come to the fore when Kaala teams up with Lata Brar (Akasa Singh), the only daughter of reclusive music guru Jugal Brar (Suvinder Vicky) to deliver her first hit. Struggling jazz doesn’t like being left out in the cold.
surprise Explores the power dynamics in the business of finding and promoting talent and the search for stardom in a demanding industry in a frustratingly mechanical manner.
Kala is trapped in two separate territories. One is represented by the reaction to the murder, the other by the hurdles he faces on the career front where vested interests can make or break fortunes.
surprise Tangentially they refer to Singh as a revolutionary singer who became established. A journalist who tracked his career pointed out to Kala that there is no diversity or equality in the media business. Only the dominant sections of society can tell their stories.
An artist’s non-conformism and lack of representation in journalism – neither angle is explored beyond a point. This leaves a lot of potentially important themes unnecessary in a show that could definitely do with more depth and variety.
Paramveer Singh Cheema, last seen in a supporting role in Tabbar (also on SonyLIV), fits the bill to a T but the inconsistency of the character makes his task more difficult. It redounds to his credit that he came out of it largely unscathed.
Among the other cast members, Esha Talwar, playing the drummer whose goals elude him even though he believes he has found a soul mate, shows many shades of awareness in portraying a girl who hopes to make it on her own steam.
Manoj Pahwa as the deft music producer gives the show many of its moments. Subinder Vicky, in a supporting role with limited scope, makes the most of what the script offers him.
surpriseIt’s not quite as bright as the title suggests, aside from the music assembled to line up a predictable story. In other words, the series sounds outstanding but its sparkle is subdued at best.
