What Is the Story About?
Ambaji, Mani and Shivaji are three prisoners who escape the jail and rob a bank. Unfortunately, the plan doesn’t go according to the plan leading to a hostage situation. They have nine hours to get back to jail.
Do the prisoners escape? Who is the mastermind behind them? How CI Pratap (Tarakaratna) deals with the situation and where it ends forms the thriller series’ core plot.
Performances?
Nandamuri Taraka Ratna is sincere in his actions, and that’s the best one can say about him. We can feel the same with his dubbing which feels strained and laborious. Also, he looks visibly a little out of shape. Still, the character has heroism, and his actions are appealing. It makes one temporarily blinded to the weaknesses if the focus is on the story.
Ajay has a smaller but significantly critical role in Nine Hours. He confidently breezes through the proceedings and impresses. He comes across as the actor who is most at ease and assured in his performance.
Vinod Kumar plays a significant role after a gap but overacts. We see him seething in anger and overacting even when he is supposed to be calm and raging with intensity.
Analysis
Jacob Varghese and Niranjan Kaushik direct 9 Hours. It is a heist thriller set in the backdrop of a bank in the mid-1980s.
The basic premise of 9 Hours is intriguing without any doubt. And towards the end, one realises there could be a lot more in store and is also different from the initial expectations. Yet, the series fails to leave the mark as it should. It is mainly due to the execution and the casting.
The actors have done their parts sincerely, but the direction is ordinary here. The narrative never feels gripping, and it has a consistent underwritten and superficial quality.
The key plot points are also heavily inspired by the stuff seen within the genre. It isn’t wrong to use them, everyone does that, but they have to be impactful. It doesn’t happen in 9 Hours.
The middle portion of the series feels like a drag due to the weak execution, predictable twists and turns, and disastrous subplots. The husband and wife track is the most significant example. It is terribly underwritten and gives an impression of a filler. There are more of this kind with other actors and none work.
Towards the end, when the ‘real’ twist in the tale occurs, some momentum is built. One is curious to see how it ends. Unfortunately, the whole thing merely acts as a set-up for the next season.
Overall, 9 Hours holds interest at the beginning and the end on the strength of its story. Weak direction and writing are what lets it down significantly. If you like heist thrillers, even with some routine troupes, give 9 Hours a try.
Other Artists?
The genre demands multiple artists, and there are plenty in 9 Hours. Among them, only a few have some semblance of an arc. Madhu Shalini has a terrible role akin to a blink and misses part literally. There seems to be something up her sleeve, though, which unfortunately will be known in the next season. Preeti Anju Asrani looks lovely in traditional wear. She has a few dramatic moments but without any impact. Ankith Koyya forms a pair with her. He is a bland choice for the part, even if the sincerity is reflected.
Giri shines as a creepy guy lusting after a colleague. Sameer’s part had excellent potential, but it’s wasted. Ravi Varma overacts in a role that is confused in its details. Gemini Suresh is okay. Benerjee is alright in a critical role. Ravi Prakash and the team of robbers are okay at best. The rest of the cast is decent, but they don’t have anything worthwhile to do.
Music and Other Departments?
Shakthi Kanth Karthik’s background score is excellent. It is a significant reason for one to stick to the narrative despite the ordinariness. Manojh Reddy’s cinematography could have been better, considering the period setting. Parts of the setup come across as very artificial. The editing is decent. Dharmendra Kakarala has done good work in parts. Krish Jagarlamudi’s writing should have been better.
Highlights?
Story
BGM
Ending Episodes
Drawbacks?
Casting
Direction
Writing
Length
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, In Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Little Reservations
9 Hours Web Series Review by Binged Bureau
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