Charlie Chopra & The Mystery of Solang Valley

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.

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.

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.

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.