What Is the Story About?
Reeta Sanyal, raised by a single parent – her mother – is striving hard to prove her worth as an advocate. While she keeps taking up petty cases for livelihood, she unexpectedly bumps into Keshav, whose mother Sujata Kelkar is accused of killing a politician Parav Rane. Though Keshav claims to be the culprit, evidence suggests otherwise. How far will Reeta go to find answers?
Performances?
Adah Sharma is a perfect choice to play the titular character Reeta. Her portrayal makes the role more vulnerable and witty. She’s relatable and you end up rooting for her. Rahul Dev is an interesting casting choice for a hotshot, powerful lawyer, a welcome departure from the staple antagonist roles he’s been offered. Though the role doesn’t promise much nuance, he fits the part convincingly.
Ankur Rathee, in the shoes of a friendly cop Jai Vardhan, has an impressive screen presence. The other actors playing pivotal characters – Faisal Sayed, Manik Papneja – have little to offer in the first episode, but it’ll be interesting to see how their part evolves in the coming episodes.
Analysis
Legal dramas are the flavour of the season on OTT – with Maamla Legal Hai, Guilty Minds and multiple instalments of Illegal, Criminal Justice, growing big on audiences over the last few years. Reeta Sanyal promises to be a new, witty, low-stakes addition to the ever-growing list of courtroom dramas – where the protagonist discovers her father’s past while dealing with the murder of a high-profile politician.
Based on the popular Reeta Sanyal book series in Hindi, written by Amit Khan, the show gives a charismatic, entertaining character through a legal drama, who’ll go to any length to find the truth. As a budding advocate, she senses it’s high time to establish her professional credibility. A case falls in her lap out of the blue – which has a strange connection to her father’s past.
While Reeta is keen on knowing more about her father (who had died under mysterious circumstances), the mother keeps mum and delays the inevitable. However, it is evident that the death had something to do with M Raj Thakral – an experienced hotshot lawyer, whom she has to fight against, in her latest case. So, where and how does she begin her investigation?
Reeta’s first big case – involving the murder of Parav Rane – isn’t as simple as it seems. On the face of it, Sujata Kelkar is found guilty of killing him, but her son Keshav claims to be the culprit, who was trying to avenge a personal loss. Evidence suggests Keshav wasn’t in the vicinity of Parav’s residence at the time of the murder. Meanwhile, a rebellious girl Zi has a connection with the case too.
As the case progresses, Reeta adopts uncanny ways to find the truth despite many roadblocks in her path. Her methods remain quite unconventional, but she does what it takes to counter her opponent – Thakral – changing avatars, exploring new dimensions of the case and proving her mettle. It’s quite obvious that Reeta Sanyal, directed by Abhirup Ghosh, chases entertainment over logic.
Writer Deeptak Das, who had also worked on Abhay, Murder in Agonda, Crime Patrol earlier, does a decent job adapting the book series for the screen. At a story level, the foundation is built well in the initial episode. Reeta needs to fight a case, build a career, relook at her father’s demise and tackle a mighty opponent. There’s a good mix of humour, action, drama and suspense.
Going by the first impression, Reeta Sanyal makes for a popcorn-worthy drama with a decent premise. Provided you ignore a handful of cinematic liberties, chances are that you won’t be disappointed.
Music and Other Departments?
Composer Bharatt and Saurabh add colour and lustre to the legal backdrop with their score, making the most of an intriguing screenplay that takes interesting twists and turns. Cinematographer Anil Katke’s scope is only limited to a handful of locations, but it’s impressive how he ensures an appealing visual texture to the show. Ranveer Pratap Singh’s dialogues are catchy and easily palatable. The episode duration (around 25 min) is apt for the genre.
Highlights?
Adah Sharma’s performance
Interesting premise
Entertaining screenplay
Drawbacks?
Devoid of logic
Silly at times
Did I Enjoy It?
In parts
Will You Recommend It?
If legal dramas are your interest area, why not?
Reeta Sanyal Series Review by Binged Bureau