What Is the Story About?
A special crime branch officer Ramakant Kulkarni is deputed to Manvat, to decode the mystery behind serial killings in the village in 1972. From family politics to superstitions to lust for money and a couple’s desperation for an heir, the cop goes all out to connect the dots, find possible motives and nab the culprits before it gets too late. The show is based on the officer’s book – Footprints on the Sands of Crime.
Performances?
Ashutosh Gowraiker is definitely not new to acting and much like Kaala Pani last year, Manvat Murders proves why he must don the greasepaint more often. There’s remarkable assurance and poise of a veteran in his performance and it helps us buy Ramakant Kulkarni’s characterisation instantly. He has a formidable company in the form of Sonali Kulkarni, Sai Tamhankar and Makarand Anaspure.
Sonali is ageing with grace and the kind of versatility she has displayed in her recent portrayals yet again reasserts her class as a performer. Sai Tamhankar is equally convincing as a helpless mother trapped in a compromising situation. Kishor Kadam and Mayur Khandge are as solid as ever, coming up with praiseworthy performances in brief roles.
Analysis
Based on the infamous Manvat serial killings in the 1970s, a new Marathi show Manvat Murders, based on the investigating cop’s book, strives to provide an accurate picture of the many complex dimensions of the case on screen. Narrated across eight episodes, the five-hour-long show is singleminded in its focus, sans any attempt to dramatise/fictionalise the case in the guise of cinematic liberty.
For a change, the righteousness of the cop in the show isn’t derived from custodial torture. He talks to the suspects with the same air of dignity as he would do with his colleagues. There’s no loose talk or trivial discussions – he’s an embodiment of workmanship, strictly conserving his energies for the case. He’s neither a softie nor a rigid man – he just means business and wraps his work with sincerity.
Director Ashish Avinash Bende, the brain behind the acclaimed Marathi film Aatmapamphlet, does his best to showcase the complexity of the power hierarchy and the social setup in the village, without oversimplifying/diluting it for easy consumption. The show doesn’t strive to be a whodunit but puts the spotlight on an officer’s quest to nab the potential suspects through concrete evidence.
Beyond the case, the filmmaker devotes a major chunk of the show towards establishing the socio-economic realities of the average villager in Manvat, what entices them towards a world of crime, the corruption within the system and the nexus between cops and criminals. There’s a genuine attempt to understand the village from an insider’s perspective, rising above ‘black and white’ portrayal of characters.
While the foundation for the show is built well in the initial episodes, thanks to a slick narrative, it loses its momentum slightly later, only to find its mojo back towards the ending. The storytelling still has an undeniable touch of class (even if the narrative keeps meandering considerably) and the solid performances, music and cinematography help the show’s cause.
Manvat Murders merits a viewing – it may send a chill down your spine, but the ride is certainly worth it. Unfortunately, it also reminds us that not much of our villages have changed over the five decades since the ghastly murders (and the reasons are well documented in the show). Ashish Avinash Bende is a director with a social conscience and the show benefits richly from his viewpoint. with praiseworthy performances in brief roles.
Music and Other Departments?
Saket Kanetkar succeeds big-time as a composer with Manvat Murders, more so for the fact that he lets the music become an invisible character in the storytelling. Cinematographer Satyajeet Shobha Shriram brings elegance to the show with his earthy, effective visuals that drive the story forward. The narrative (edited by Faisal Mahadik) is not always cohesive but preserves the soul of the material across most occasions.
Highlights?
Performances by Sonali Kulkarni, Sai Tamhankar, Ashutosh Gowraiker
Depth in the writing and the execution
Remains gripping for the most part, and has a fantastic finale
Drawbacks?
The narrative loses focus at times and reiterates the obvious
Needed a sharper screenplay in the middle episodes
Doesn’t always succeed in retaining the tension
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Provided you like cop sagas inspired by true incidents
Manvat Murders Series Review by Binged Bureau
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