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A good story let down by weak screenplay and direction (expected much more from Vishal Bhardwaj). Dont know why in order to turn series classy, makers had to add so much melodrama and poetry. It was a common man story and should have been told like one. In order to make it something great director robbed it of simplicity which the story begged and deserved.

Ever wondered why old DD series Byomkesh Bakshi worked so well and subsequent moder adaption on TV/films bombed? Its because of simplicity. In the guise of 'Art' unnecessarily making story slow and complex will not work ever. Period.

Detective stories works when they are fast paced and not when actors are staring at sky for hours unnecessarily.

Well I criticized the first episode and wrote...

Hopefully the upcoming episodes have something good to offer. This review is based on the pilot episode.

Since I am a fan of Agatha Christie's work, I could be over critical.

But now after watching the complete season 1, I must say it's a good watch. Acting is good but some scenes are very fast paced, but that I think is because of the six episode limit of the season. The only thing I wanted a clear answer of was how did the killer was identified, that was not hinted properly. Otherwise a good one time watch. Priyanshu is a good actor, hopeful to see him in the upcoming seasons too.

A great 6 episodes suspense thriller having great stat cast, well made episodes and a new detective character Charlie Chopra ,a bubbly & master spy . Off course good old Hercule Poirot is missed.

Sets, story telling, direction and acting are top class with old time suspense thriller having story of a fascinating hill station.

Feels like suspense of a english classic spy thriller in the class of Christie & Sherlock. A fascinating presentation by the director & producers. Indian audience want more of such adaptation . May be some of the actors are not utilised fully like thespian Naseer. But overall all the actors chipin with mature performance. Charlie rocks.

Adapted from the legendary writer Agatha Christie,Bharadwaj spuns a web of mystery thriller of whodunnit that shows some matured signs following the foot steps of "Knives out"... With the crispy screenplay and the unique way writing that portrays the American sense of characters onboard is a usual cinema line that's created two decades before by Kjo...but with added bgm and mood inside a house Bharadwaj shows a promising package to be delivered in coming weeks... While Wamiqi Gabba does superb performances and her career is glowing on and on ... Especially with Modern love Chennai and this title series will be a milestone in her feather cap.

Announced somewhere into the pandemic, vishal bhardwaj's adaptation of an agatha christie whodunnit, the sittaford mystery is not a let down nor a terrific work.

Charlie chopra and the mystery of solang valley is good in parts and far fetched in others. The first episode is the best and most fast paced. The quirky series is definitely worth your time.

A first, the entire shah family dominates the cast.

Wamiqa gabbi as the protagonist charlie chopra is a delight. Carries the show on her new to acting shoulders. Her speaking to the audience bit is funny and witty.

Neena gupta, gulshan grover and lara dutta also play pivotal roles with finesse.

The classic teesri manzil, a vijay anand whodunnit is not so cleverly weaved into the plot. How on earth could one of the suspects get the murderer wrong?

Overall ccatmosv kept me guessing and intrigued till the end. And yes, i was almost correct.

Featuring a standout ensemble, 'Charlie Chopra And The Mystery Of Solang Valley' showcases stellar performances from some of Indian entertainment's finest. Wamiqa Gabbi shines as the aspiring private investigator, delivering a refined and engaging performance. The supporting cast, including Priyanshu Painyulli, Neena Gupta, Ratna Pathak Shah, Lara Dutta, Vivaan Shah, Imaad Shah, Gulshan Grover, Chandan Roy Sanyal, and Baharul Islam, all leave a lasting impression, with standout moments despite the extensive lineup.

Vishal Bhardwaj, the master of adapting classics, works his magic again with Agatha Christie's 'Charlie Chopra And The Mystery Of Solang Valley.' Bhardwaj's uncanny ability to recreate the essence of well-known authors is evident, infusing the series with atmospheric storytelling and an admirable Indian touch. While the series diverges slightly from the original, it remains intriguing, with a gripping narrative and a commendable cast.

The Shah family's collective presence, a first in filmmaking history, adds an interesting dimension. However, the constant breaking of the fourth wall by the protagonist, Charlie, feels distracting and frivolous, diminishing the somber touch needed for Christie's works. Despite these flaws, the series is a well-crafted addition to Agatha Christie adaptations, with a relatively short runtime that enhances its crisp storytelling. Though the climax could use more cinematic flair, 'Charlie Chopra And The Mystery Of Solang Valley' is engaging, entertaining, and worth a one-time watch.

Vishal Bhardwaj's original score is both esoteric and highly enjoyable. Ketan Sodha and Debarpito Saha's background music complements the series without being overly flashy. Tassaduq Hussain's cinematography, while not groundbreaking, is solid, and Manas Mittal's editing is efficiently done.

Low rating of this show is mainly because many reviews were written only after watching first episode as the pilot was released first and the whole show later.

As for the show, it is very well made by Vishal Bharadwaj in his trademark style. Highlight of the show is the female lead Wamiqa Gabbi who despite of a star studded cast, shines in the series especially the Fleabagish fourth wall breaking.

The show is a bit sluggish in the middle but the reveal is very good. The music is soothing and Rekha Bharadwaj songs are a treat for ears. The show is the adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel. Go for it.

Overall a good show, but I believe that Jimmy doesn't deserve Charlie at all. From what's shown.. Sitaram bisht, o sly yet relatable character had way better bonding with her. They were one who went through all sort of odds together with each other, like a true story needs to infold unlike charlie agreeing to marry 'Crybaby Jimmy' just because he's 'Cute'. I wonder if all she felt towards Jimmy wasn't love but pity and compassion for how dumb he was? Haha. She needs to understand how understanding Sitaram was.

Now some people would argue how he was helping her just to get promotion but COME ON guys! That's what Jimmy did in his initial days too leeching off charlie, taking her help and making her his personal emotional support.

In the end all Jimmy did was screw himself up lol(Go on write answer on quora if you disagree, since we can't reply here)

The location and videography are great. You almost feel the cold weather. But there has been overuse of breaking-the-fourth-wall (characters talking directly to the audience). There is also unnecessary use of humor in a murder plot which is like chunks of chocolate in a spicy curry - you enjoy neither. There are too many detours and interruptions especially when the main character Charlie talks directly to the audience. Instead of us organically discovering the personalities of various characters and the nuance of a situation; we are given an explanation by Charlie.

A murder mystery needs to keep you on the edge but this felt more like a chick flick. The story does not keep you hooked. You can take a loo break and not feel the urge to resume watching the show afterwards.

Beautiful :

Locations, Cinematography, Cast and somewhat Acting.

Good : Mystery, some of Acting, and Songs.

Bad :

Dialogue Writing, Character Development, Dramatic Scenes (feels like out of need and importantance expect in Last Episode that was great.)

Wrost :

Writing, Storytelling, Screenplay,

And Copying Hollywood's FLEABAG ( Phoebe Waller-Bridge's acting sequences .. for me it's the wrost thing happens in this series).

In every episode there is a small amount of main Lead actress CRINGY dialogues, Title theme.

If you are not aware of world outside Bollywood then i think you like it otherwise i hardly think anyone would.

Having this potential Cast it would be so much better with good writing, screenplay, Character development, Storytelling.

And if director leave FLEABAG and Phoebe Waller- Bridge out of this mean why even main actress Cut hair like her. Mean WHAT THE HELL .. ??

I Will never get back a few hours of my life back again. As someone who just have to compulsively complete things, it backfired with this series. The star studded lineup is a decepetion, felt like they were being forced to be in the series.

As a lifelong Agatha Christie fan, I was excited when i heard vishal bhardwaj is making this seires. What a disappointment. The acting by lead 'investigator', will make anyone compelled to uninstall the app they are watching it on. The only saving grace of the series are shooting locations. Cinematography is beautifully done, wish they had spend some time in improving music, acting and direction of this series.

Wamiqa is excellent along with all the actors. She is going to be the next big thing in Indian cinema if Bollywood doesn't spoil her. The plot is amazing while the direction and cinematography is top notch. The entire essence of the novel has been kept intact. We seldom see such efforts and shows in Indian entertainment industry. But this show is a leap forward and Vishal Bhardwaj has showed why he is a mastermind. I had high expectations since I knew Vishal sir is directing it. All the expectations have met . The supporting actors have done their job well. Wamiqa is an amazing actress. She is not an eye candy like other female actors but she is a superb actor. May be one of the best female actors right now we have.

Web Series Review: Charlie Chopra & the Mystery of Solang Valley streaming on Sony Liv

A true underated gem from the master of adaptations , Vishal Bharadwaj!! An official adaptation of Agatha Christie's " The Sittaford Mystery", this Web Series is about the birth of an unlikely detective - The chirpy and quirky Punjaban, Charlie Chopra ( Wamiqa Gabbi).

When her quiet and timid fiance ( Vivan Shah) is implicated in the murder of his uncle, Brigadier Meherban Singh Rawat ( Gulshan Grover) during a family reunion at his home in Solang Valley, Charlie has to put all her wits to test in order to get the love of her life acquitted before he is sentenced to death!! With the police not cooperating, the list of suspects too long & the body count rising, Charlie finds herself pitted against a cunning murderer where no one including herself is safe !!

Casting is Mashallah!! Amazing ensemble cast chaar Chand laga dete Hain iss webseries ko !! Veteran actors like Ratna Pathak Shah, Naseeruddin Shah ,Imaaduddin Shah & Heeba Shah (Oh teri😱...Poore Shah family ko hi sign kar liya 🙂) , Neena Gupta, Paoli Dam and Chandan Roy Sanyal among others really light up the screen like never before !!

The direction has a distinct Vishal Bharadwaj stamp on it .... Very unconventional, seems a bit slow and laidback at times too. But make no mistake dear friends, this one is not to be trifled with as it bounces back just when needed to provide the right kind of dhamaka at the climax !! Cinematography too is brilliant and the snow clad locales in Himachal Pradesh look very beautiful and alluring indeed!! Vocals by Rekha Bharadwaj and Sunidhi Chauhan also add color to the narrative and the opening credits!!

Highly recommended & bingewatch- worthy. 6 episodes with an avg runtime of around 35 mins, this one can be watched in a day!!

Would love more seasons of Charlie Chopra from the ace director!!

Dekh daalo jaldi .. it is a clean old fashioned murder mystery and can be watched by young and old alike!!

Going with 4/5 for this brilliant adaptation.. Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #CharlieChopraOnSonyLIV #charliechopraandthemysteryofsolangvalley #wamiqagabbi #NeenaGupta #NaseeruddinShah #RatnaPathakShah #VivaanShah #GulshanGrover #PaoliDam.

The premise is well laid and the canvas is wide and beautiful, with a slew of good actors introduced in the first episode itself. Location is brilliant, with occasional snowy views

Details are disappointing. Everyone hams and overacts, with Naseeruddin Shah his real life family thrown in for good measure. Noone seems too interested in doing good acting, and the Director seems to have dozed off whist an intern did his job for him.

Lead character does justice to her character, but doesn't seem to establish a warm connection with others.

Overall, abrupt/illogical twists and inadequate character development mar this sub-par series beyond redemption.

Best Indian adaptation of Agatha Christie's.. Wow..... what a direction !!

Wow..... what an execution !!

Wow..... what an acting !!

Wow..... what a cinematography !!

Kudos.. Vishal Bharadwaj !!

Kudos.. Wamiqa Gabbi !!

A Star is Born 😀!!!

The director 's theatrical presentation is truly mesmerizing as always.

Loved the way Wamiqa was engaging herself with a kind of conversation with viewers. The lead actress is outstanding in her acting prowess, far better than the so-called decked up Bollywood beauties.

The character Charlie Chopra is unexpectedly intriguing and you would love the innocently brilliant nature the actress embedded in her.

Eagerly waiting for Season 2.

Loved all.

I think it's more or less Wamiqa Audition collection Best photo shoot and location Closeups. To long shots Walking Jumping fences Outside strools and inside Rooms Reality check for her with best actors available

Either she is on honey moon or the Director

Now it's looks like this is session one as the name suggests But the mistery is simpler then the lead actress Wam. I rate her 8 out10 as she needs to go with complex storyline after every episode U need to understand she is searching for murder or what's her motive to get into every one life End is she gets the murderer as all stories

First I thought this is kids show but Director proven me wrong with all the its she has Then I thought it's a family show - Nah na Finally I thought of retired old guys might be targeted but I doubt

I feel this is made for themselves and the subsequent sessions will come in improvised ways

U can watch this if U want to feel light and don't have any specific taste and lots time

Go head from my side.

Vishal Bhardwaj takes Agatha's 1931 British novel The Sittaford Mystery and sets it in Solang Valley and Manali in Himachal Pradesh. The snow-covered mountains and old-world mansions, however, are the only visual similarities between the adapted text and the original one.

The characters and their backgrounds are steeped in local flavour and benefit from India's ethnic diversity. The detective investigating the murder case is Charlie Chopra (Wamiqa Gabbi), a Punjabi girl, engaged to Jimmy (Vivaan Shah), an entrepreneur who has been arrested for the murder of his maternal uncle, Brigadier Rawat (Gulshan Grover).

Gulshan, infamous for being cast as the 'bad man' throughout the years, is actually the one who's been killed here. The actor's polished demeanour and the underlying evil streak lend him a beyond-the-grave intrigue that haunts the entire storyline.

Speaking of haunting, those of you who have watched the pilot episode that dropped back in June, would know that the show kicks off with a supernatural/horror element. Roy (Naseeruddin Shah), a paranormal investigator, invokes Lady Rose, a spirit who guards the Solang Valley, to declare that Rawat is dead.

Costume designer Abhilasha Sharma's eccentric clothes, cinematographer Tassaduq Hussain's staging, and Naseer's immersive histrionics make that scene feel like a page straight out of a play. Agatha's novel also started with a table-turning session, but the theatrical quality of the scene in Charlie Chopra makes it amply clear that it's not a supernatural murder mystery. Since it's set almost a century after the original text, we see the other actors in the room share our amusement and suspicion towards the mumbo jumbo.

Another theatrical element used generously by co-writers Vishal, Anjum Rajabali, and Jyotsna Hariharan, is Charlie breaking the fourth wall. Charlie has a banging introduction, dancing in a baaraat before she wears the detective hat and begins tracing the groom's stolen jootis. It's only when she receives a call about his fiancé's arrest that we see her break the fourth wall with a Punjabi expletive.

Wamiqa looks and feels like Charlie, a hereditary detective trained well by her estranged mother (watch out for that cameo). But her dropping sister di gaalis and exposition directed towards us in the middle of a scene don't always land. This format is still very new to the Indian senses, and Charlie Chopra is only a baby step in the direction of the Fleabags.

A fellow investigator in journalist Sitaram (Priyanshu Painyuli) only makes the case for breaking the fourth wall weaker. Charlie is always discussing the nitty-gritties of the investigation with him, instead of bouncing theories with us.

The technique does evoke instant reactions at two particular points - when she asks us to look away while changing her clothes, and when she shuts the door on us after an embarrassing moment. Those two instances make the viewers truly participative by questioning their prying gaze.

The USP of Charlie Chopra & the Mystery of Solang Valley is how seamlessly Vishal interweaves the individual back story of each character with the investigation process. It gives this whodunit wings because every suspect has not only a motive, but also the means and will to get the job done. It's only the one who took the leap in that moment that ended up as the killer.

During Charlie's investigation, we come across several side-plots which could very well be separate short stories of their own. There's a physically-challenged Parsi woman (Ratna Pathak Shah), a no-nonsense ill-tempered boy (Imaad Shah), a struggling writer (Chandan Roy Sanyal) and his wife with a beauty parlour (Paoli Dam), a dialysis-bound former soldier (Danish Aslam), a retired army general, a Muslim single woman (Lara Dutta) and daughter, your regular genial mama and mami (Neena Gupta), and the most obvious suspect - the house help and his wife (Hiba Shah).

All their storylines are fascinating to say the least, and like any sumptuous whodunit, all roads lead to murder. Every character is so promising that instead of having them rushed through a three-hour narrative, I'd have personally preferred weekly drops of an hour-long episode dedicated to one suspect each.

Casting of the entire Naseeruddin Shah family under one roof, a murder by slamming the tabla on head, and an important reference to Vijay Anand's 1966 thriller Teesri Manzil are just some of the winks in Vishal's screenplay. But the mood of the show isn't all winks, and no wisdom.

There are at least a couple of extremely moving moments, like Wamiqa fake-calling her estranged mother on the phone instead of talking to the camera for an intimate conversation, or a soldier helping out a wounded fellow, or a mother getting betrayed by a lustful father.

Even the original music that Vishal inserts through the series ranges from the pulpy opening theme (can't get Sunidhi Chauhan crooning 'Charlie Chopra' out of my head), Sunidhi and Rekha Bhardwaj's pensive mood pieces in the above-mentioned moving moments, and the meditative yet suspenseful sprinkling of the tabla and the sarangi.

These desi touches of music, humour, and personalities make Charlie Chopra & the Mystery of Solang Valley a whole new experience even for those who have read the original book. And for the others, it may seem a bit overwhelming in the beginning, but would soon engulf you into its world of deceit and empathy. Empathy, because none of the suspects are seeking power here, they're only trying to get by through tough times.

"Charlie Chapra and the Mystery of Solang Valley is an absolute delight! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The storyline is captivating, blending humor and mystery seamlessly. Charlie's character is charming, and the Solang Valley setting adds a picturesque backdrop. The plot twists keep you hooked, and Chapra's detective skills make for an entertaining read. A five-star adventure that leaves you eagerly anticipating more from this talented author!""Charlie Chapra and the Mystery of Solang Valley is an absolute delight! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The storyline is captivating, blending humor and mystery seamlessly. Charlie's character is charming, and the Solang Valley setting adds a picturesque backdrop. The plot twists keep you hooked, and Chapra's detective skills make for an entertaining read. A five-star adventure that leaves you eagerly anticipating more from this talented author!""Charlie Chapra and the Mystery of Solang Valley is an absolute delight! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The storyline is captivating, blending humor and mystery seamlessly. Charlie's character is charming, and the Solang Valley setting adds a picturesque backdrop. The plot twists keep you hooked, and Chapra's detective skills make for an entertaining read. A five-star adventure that leaves you eagerly anticipating more from this talented author!"

I love Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah as actors but the whole clan in a series on the back of Shah's recent short film at that is a bit much. Everyone seems to be sleepwalking or hamming. Wamiqa Gabbi does. Not have the chutzpah of a leading lady and her erratic punjabi accent appears sporadically. The series feels scattered. The lighting is terrible. The direction clumsy amd disineterested (never thought I will say this about a VB directorial. The BGM is generic - the sound design not that great. VB said in an interview he had Charlie break the 4th wall to make things immersive - probably influenced by Fleabag) but it is never used smartly - WG is no PWB - you need killer timing to ace this.

A disappointing subpar fare overall.

Dont waste your time. Specially on sony the voice is so bad, cannot hear the dialogue unless the sound is kept high, then any music plays so loud. Total bakwas, acting, direction, screenplay. Looks like made with phone. Stupid they are asking 600 words for review so just like a bakwas serial i am also writing all bakwas and stupid things to complete 600 words. Dont waste your time. Specially on sony the voice is so bad, cannot hear the dialogue unless the sound is kept high, then any music plays so loud. Total bakwas, acting, direction, screenplay. Looks like made with phone. Stupid they are asking 600 words for review so just like a bakwas serial i am also writing all bakwas and stupid things to complete 600 words.

Overacting, poor casting choices, and a sluggish storyline ruin the experience. The series fails to engage, with exaggerated performances and mismatched actors who don't fit their roles. Pacing is painfully slow, dragging through episodes without meaningful progress. Overall, it's a fuddu series that doesn't live up to expectations. Not worth the time. Even the dialogues feel forced and lack emotional depth. Background score is overdone, trying too hard to create drama where none exists. Characters are underdeveloped and their motivations unclear. A major disappointment in every aspect of storytelling.