Shehar Lakhot

The first 3-4 episodes are very slow, they feel very dragged and it is hard to be invested as the series doesn't make it apparent as to what it is actually about. The show could have definitely been shortened. It is not super unique but definitely worth a watch. The different storylines and characters seem random at first, and there is no real crime or crisis for viewers to care about.

It gradually becomes more engaging as the real plot uncovers. The characters are quite interesting, but tragic. It's a very hopeless melancholic story but with lighthearted, real and funny moments in between which feels refreshing.

Went with high expectations after catching the excellently cut trailer, but was hugely disappointed. The series is set in the town of Lakhot somewhere in Rajasthan (though the cars have an RJ27 registration, so I think it was shot in or near Udaipur). It is a sleepy marble stone mining town, where our protagonist Devendra Singh Tomar (Priyanshu Painyuli), a negotiator working for Centre Marbles a supposed giant in the sector is sent (from Gurgaon to Lakhot) to work out a deal with the local protesting Kachdaar tribe, and the company executives of Centre Marble. The fight is over a slain deer on the mining land of the company, reminding us of the Bishnoi community of course. Dev himself has some bad blood with the town and the people living including his family. What follows is Dev getting muddled into the mysteries of the town where everybody hates him for some reason and trying to turn a new leaf for the sake of his family and an old flame.

Navdeep Singh tried emulating the same things that worked for him when he made Manorama Six Feet Under while writing Lakhot. So much so that he has set the series in the same city that his first movie took part in. No prizes for guessing this - Lakhot! But the reason why Manorama worked was because of its taught plot and interesting characters. It was a perfect neo-noir thriller complete with femme fatales, men from royalty turned dubious politicians, etc. And who did the makers have to thank for this excellently written film? Why, but Robert Towne and Roman Polanski! Because the entire movie was heavily inspired by the 1974 Oscar-winning screenplay of Chinatown! It's also weird that the two films that have worked well for Navdeep, i.e. NH10 and Manorama are both almost-remakes of Eden Lake and Chinatown respectively. The two times he tried something original with Laal Kaptaan and Lakhot, he has failed miserably.

None of the characters generate any interest or sympathy from the audience, nor do they try to do so, because the writing is such. Most of what Priyanshu Painyuli tries to say as Dev is quickly cut down by the five expletives he uses in the sentence, which leaves the audience perplexed! You'd have to peel through the alternately placed profanity to decode a sentence. So, the screenplay sucks! Chandan Roy Sanyal who is the villain is the only person who has been given a meaty role and he righteously delivers. But you don't have an ounce of a clue about how and why the characters are the way they are. So, it doesn't really matter. The makers give you quick-cut childhood flashbacks for most characters to give you a semblance of a backstory. But they add to the bore.

It was torture to sit through the entire series.

Anwar Says: Navdeep Singh has two accredited movies to his belt, NH 10 and Manorma Six feel under but on OTT debut , he has chosen same repetitive story , one small town , one powerful gangster , corrupt police , one protagonist , kind of true love , lot of violence and abusive language . How many times you would eat the same Biryani in different utensils . Even for keeping the interest alive the pace should be good but with myriad characters and too many stories going together , you miss the track and sometimes you feel need to rewind .

Priyanshu as Dev and Kabbra Sait as SI Pallavi played some bizarre characters but ultimately look real . The character really shines is Chandan Roy Sanyal as as Kairav , highly manipulative and fearless and everyone is bound to succumb before him. Others have also played their roles honestly . Background of Rajasthan was not exploited by the cinematographer and Navdeep couldn't resist himself and added some not so relevant songs.

Overall hardly anything new , extremely dark in every sense ( minimum use of lights), very long episodes , so watch if you have lot of time and nothing else to do.

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"Shehar Lakhot" is a captivating series set in a marble mining town, revolving around the character of Dev Tomar. After a decade away, Dev returns to his hometown of Lakhot, only to find himself in the midst of a power struggle and rampant corruption. The death of his brother drags him deeper into a web of criminal activities.

Priyanshu Painyuli's portrayal of Dev is noteworthy, bringing a relatable moral compass to the character that makes him easy to root for. The series boasts a strong ensemble cast, including Chandan Roy Sanyal and Manu Rishi Chadha, who bring depth and entertainment to their roles. Kubbra Sait and Shruthy Menon also deliver compelling performances, contributing to the rich tapestry of characters that make the series engaging.

The narrative is skillfully written, blending exhilarating plot developments with stellar scriptwriting, including witty dialogues and humorous elements. The series also features beautiful locations, with the marble architecture of Kairav's residence and hotel standing out.

While the series is praised for its unpredictable narrative and exceptional character work, it does have some drawbacks. The pacing can be slow, and some narrative threads feel overstuffed. Additionally, the representation of homosexuality in the series has been criticized for being weak and used more as a plot device rather than an integral part of character identities.

Overall, "Shehar Lakhot" emerges as a strong and enjoyable thriller, despite some issues with episode length and narrative complexity. Its engaging story and strong character portrayals make it a series worth watching over time.

Sometimes, the newer Indian series can be very good, especially if they tackle social issues in a changing India. This unfortunately is not in that category. The writing and narrative for the story is terrible, made worse by the ridiculous way the series is edited with never ending flashbacks that only worsen the viewer's ability to understand how it relates to the characters. There is little in the way of story continuity, character context or development. It makes the assumption that the intended audience already understands the caste system, and justice process in India, hence it really has no global appeal at all. As the series progresses, very little happens, and the plot just seems to go nowhere. Gave up after the third episode.