Kan Khajura

So, I accidentally stumbled upon *Kankhajura* while looking for another show (*Ayyana Mane*, which everyone was buzzing about on Instagram), and let me just say-this wasn't a detour, it was a freaking descent. Into the mind. Into trauma. Into moral chaos. And honestly? I kinda loved it.

Based loosely on the Israeli series *Magpie (2019)*, *Kankhajura* tells the story of Ashu, played by Roshan Mathew, who has just gotten out of jail after serving 14 years for a childhood crime. He shows up in his younger brother Max's life with a suitcase full of apologies and a whole lot of psychological baggage. But here's the twist: Ashu is not here for a basic redemption arc. He's manipulative, vulnerable, brilliant, and dangerous-all at once. And it's terrifyingly beautiful.

Roshan Mathew's performance is honestly one of the most spellbinding I've seen in a long time. Like, you cannot look away. He plays Ashu as someone constantly walking the line between tragic and terrifying. There's a quiet fragility to him that masks this insidious ability to control people, and just when you feel bad for him, he'll do something so psychotic you literally whisper "No..." to your screen. It's that kind of show.

What made this even more layered was the presence of Trinetra's character-a trans woman portrayed with nuance, grace, and without falling into the usual stereotypes. Her scenes weren't just fillers; they added emotional gravity and perspective. And Sarah Jane Dias? Stunning. Real. Every frame she was in felt textured and grounded.

Let's talk direction and aesthetics. First of all-thank you, creators, for showing Goa like an actual place where people live and hustle, not just a postcard of beaches and beer. The show dives into the working-class life, the crime, the domesticity, and the real social fabric of the city. No party shots. No slow-mo sunset clichés. Just grit, steel, and dust-and it works.

The plot takes a little time to build, but once it hits episode three, you are not moving. It's not about traditional twists or jump scares. It's about slow, creeping unease. The kind where someone says something too calmly and your brain screams. And it just gets more twisted the deeper you go. Everything revolves around Ashu-almost too much. Other characters do feel like they orbit his darkness without much independent gravity, but you don't really mind because his presence is that magnetic.

There's very little romance in the conventional sense, but the emotional intimacy between Max and Ashu is so intense it feels borderline romantic at times-which is not creepy, just an indication of how psychologically tangled their relationship is. Max is torn between guilt, obligation, and growing fear. Watching that unravel is half the show's power.

Also, can we give a round of applause for the writing? It's subtle. Thoughtful. Haunting. The show doesn't yell its themes at you-it whispers them. About bullying. About disability. About the long shadows of childhood trauma. About what happens when the person you love is the one slowly ruining your life.

Of course, it's not perfect. Some pacing issues in the first episode. Some characters could've been fleshed out more. And the metaphor of the "kankhajura" is hammered a bit hard in the dialogue at times. But honestly, who cares? When the rest is this good, a few bumps feel like texture.

Final thoughts: *Kankhajura* is not just a show-it's a psychological earworm. It burrows in, feeds off your discomfort, and leaves you questioning the way you see mental illness, redemption, and familial bonds. It doesn't want you to relax. It wants you to *feel*. If you're looking for comfort TV-run. But if you want a slow-burning, character-driven, emotionally disturbing masterclass in acting and atmosphere, then pull up a chair and let Ashu crawl right in.

7/10. But honestly? Ashu alone is a 10.

There are multiple factors that work in the favour. The casting is amazing, though there are few new faces to me but I found the acting quite up to the mark. The story and how the story unfolds is also brilliant I would say. Mohit Raina is fantastic as always. Here he gave different vibe from his last show.

Plus, The works of parikshit jha are always a treat to watch and the same is the case with this one.

My overall rating would be Cast 8/10 Story 9/10 Screenplay 9/10 Overall rating 9/10 So, you can definitely watch this and if you are a fan of the genre you are going to love it for sure. Need more content like this.

'Kankhajura' as the name suggests the series gets all the way up to your brain makes you think about it in various aspects of life around you. A unique storyline is intersting to follow though not orignal, but I have to admit I haven't watched a better series in this genre for a long time, the story is captivating, binge watched the whole series. The casting is done awesomely well. Be it Mohit Raina, His partner Sarah Jane and all others have done a good justice to their character. But notable performance that stands out is indeed of the main protagonist Roshan Mathew, he has done a great job and is exceptional with his acting loved it completely. A must watch if you like Drama and thriller

Acting 9.5/10 Story 8/10 (Not original so 2 marks for that) + Has a retention power to it.

Everything is upto the mark and to my expectation after watching the trailer and promotion. I just found one thing odd with Sony Liv, I had access to the whole series a day before, I condemn them for that, not encouraging for the markers at all.

Though not a original story but adaptation has been done brilliantly. I would encourage people who follow this genre must give it a go, you won't regret.

Anwar Says: Validation is denied and this explains this unusual webseries in one line. Based on Israeli series Magpie, meaning police informer or Mukhbir, would keep on haunting you even after you finish, only because of one character- Ashu played by Roshan Mathew. His character written in this series is a case study, whether you call him Psychopath or a Manipulator.

It's Ashu's story all over and other characters throughout the series just keep revolving around him. He is vulnerable and fragile but fatal simultaneously. His desperation to get validation from his elder brother is so well written that the script writers left the other characters and even Mohit Raina doesn't impress. One more thing, I liked in this webseries that Goa has been shown as Goa and not only beaches, shacks and parties.

A bit disturbing and you may not like to binge watch but Sonyliv always comes with something unprecedented and manipulation would be understood in a different way.

#SonyLIV #anwarsays #psychopath #magpie #dreamproject #roshanmathew #mohitraina #chandanarora #fragileandfatal.

I started watching this series solely for Mohit Raina, but it quickly won me over in every possible way. It delivers a perfect blend of sibling obsession, love, family, passion, and so much more. Mohit flawlessly portrays the negative character, bringing depth and intensity to the role. But Roshan, who played Ashu, absolutely stole the show-his brilliant performance was mesmerizing, making every emotional moment hit even harder.

Overall, this is a compelling series with a powerful message: 'fun' bullying can have lifelong consequences. It serves as a strong reminder that individuals with disabilities or any differences deserve love, care, and respect-not ridicule.