"Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein": A Twisted Love Triangle with a Pulp Thriller Vibe

Plot

Vikrant dreams of settling down with his lady love Shikha and pursuing a career in engineering. However, his father wants him to work for a powerful and shrewd politician, Akheraj Awasthi, whom he has served for years and worships like a god. Conflict arises when Awasthi’s daughter Purva, who has had an obsession with Vikrant since childhood, sets her sights on him and insists that she will go to any lengths to have him.

Acting

Tahir Raj Bhasin delivers a solid performance as Vikrant, showcasing his character's desperation when caught between a rock and a hard place. Anchal Singh is a revelation as Purva, portraying a mix of vulnerability and fierceness quite effectively. Shweta Tripathi as the girlfriend and Saurabh Shukla as the gangster-politician Akhiraj both deliver strong performances. The cherished character actors also make their mark in the show, with Brijendra Kala as Vikrant's father and Sunita Rajwar, Hetal Gada, and Anant Joshi providing good support.

Cinematography

The camerawork by Murzy Pagdiwala adds authenticity to the plot, with picturesque locations of Ladakh being beautifully captured. The series never felt like it was dragging or going off the rails due to its flawless cuts by editor Rajesh G Pandey.

Direction

Director Sidharth Sengupta returns with a well-crafted and intelligently written dark thriller, which he co-wrote with Anahata Menon and Varun Badola. The screenplay is gripping and manages to create a pressure cooker-like atmosphere in which Vikrant is stuck with Purva and his every move is being closely watched.

Overall Review

“Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein” attempts to bring the femme fatale character to a small UP town, surrounded by the politics and violence of the hinterland. While the narrative is grim and intense, Vikrant's fictional sequences of future prophecies and his childhood friend Golden provide some comic relief. The show does give us a refreshing take on obsessive love by turning the man into the victim and the woman into the aggressor. The plot is simple, but the actors' performances make up for it. Overall, if you enjoy pulpy Bollywood thrillers from the 90s, this is a must-watch.

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