After three successful seasons, Criminal Justice is back with an intriguing fourth installment titled Criminal Justice: A Family Matter. Starring Pankaj Tripathi, alongside Surveen Chawla, Asha Negi, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Shweta Basu Prasad, the series is directed by Rohan Sippy and produced by Applause Entertainment. Here’s our review of the initial three episodes, which were released on JioHotstar on Thursday.
Story
The new season remains faithful to its title, centering around a fractured family where secrets outweigh truths. Raj (Ayyub) is estranged from his wife, Anju (Chawla), and is now involved with his daughter’s caregiver, Roshni (Negi). Tragically, Roshni is murdered, making Raj the primary suspect. Will Madhav Mishra manage to extricate him from this complicated situation? Who killed Roshni and Why? How Madhav Mishra cracks this case and find the actual culprits is the crux of the story.
Performances
In these episodes, the tension escalates, the thrills are captivating, and the performances consistently impress. Almost every episode concludes with a cliffhanger, laying a robust foundation for the remainder of the season. Tripathi seamlessly embodies Mishra’s character, exuding a calm and effortless presence, as though no time has elapsed since his last appearance in the iconic black coat!
Chawla and Ayyub keep the momentum alive, and despite Ayyub being incarcerated for much of these first three episodes, he remains a significant and memorable presence. Raj’s housemaid Kamala and his daughter, Ira, also emerge as vital characters.
Behind the scenes
From the very first scene—even before we learn about Raj and Anju’s separation—we sense the underlying tension between them, with the actors effectively using silence to convey their strained relationship. The series skillfully juxtaposes character testimonies, slowly unravels suspenseful layers, and delivers a shocking visual of a bloodied body right from the opening episode.
True to the nature of compelling whodunits, the storyline invites viewers to engage their minds and ponder: Who killed Roshni? Clues are cleverly concealed in plain view, the characters spark intrigue, and the flashbacks gradually assemble the narrative puzzle. Some characters, though only briefly featured, are hinted to play significant roles as the story unfolds.
Director Rohan Sippy and his team of writers have put up a commendable effort to keep up the suspense element throughout and building the necessary curiosity laced with histrionics of Madhav Mishra. They have succeeded to the hilt in this aspect ably supported by Cinematographer Murzy Pagdiwala, BGM Composer Anirban Sengupta and Editor Gaurav Aggarwal who made noteworthy contribution to the narrative.
Final Analysis
Despite its strengths, Criminal Justice: A Family Matter isn’t always the most seamless viewing experience. At times, Tripathi’s understated portrayal of the common man can feel repetitive and tiring, and his role as comic relief occasionally disrupts the series’ otherwise serious tone.
Additionally, the depiction of his wife, Ratna (Khushboo Atre), as oblivious and foolish for laughs feels rather grating. Another area where the series could improve is the representation of the police involved in the investigation.
Kalyanee Mulay plays Gauri, the lead investigator, and Saahitya Pansare portrays her colleague, Ravi. Regrettably, both characters lack the edge necessary for such roles, resulting in a struggle to establish them as astute, formidable figures.
The opening episodes proficiently set up the premise and character dynamics.This season delivers all the elements fans have come to expect from previous iterations: excitement, compelling characters, and a well-paced narrative to make it an engaging, gripping, and thought-provoking watch.
Only three episodes have been released initially, with the remainder set to follow later on Thursdays according to the reports from the streaming partner. This staggered approach to airing episodes may act as the spoiler for a mini-series like Criminal Justice. Although Criminal Justice has previously enjoyed success and built a solid following, prolonged gaps between episodes could lead to waning interest.
https://snooper-scope.in/its-home-coming-for-pankaj-tripathi-in-criminal-justice-season-4/
https://snooper-scope.in/criminal-justice-season-2-review-a-resounding-thappad/
