The crime drama series, “Shehar Lakhot,” directed by Navdeep Singh, is set in a fictional town in Rajasthan. Singh, known for his critically acclaimed film “Manorama Six Feet Under,” returns to the same location in this neo-noir series. While the show explores the murky history of the marble mining town, it often gets lost in a dense haze of opacity due to the multiple storylines.
Although “Shehar Lakhot” may not have the depth and range of other crime dramas, it manages to captivate viewers with its well-etched characters. The story revolves around Devendra Singh Tomar, a negotiator with a troubled past who reluctantly returns to his hometown. However, his return brings him face to face with the realities he wants to escape.
Dev’s journey is filled with challenges as he deals with his family, his job to end a blockade of a marble mine, and the local activist Vikas Kachdaar, who leads the protestors. The series kicks off with the discovery of a woman’s body, and the subsequent episodes delve into the deceit and treachery that unfolds.
“Shehar Lakhot” consists of eight hour-long episodes, and while it occasionally feels stretched and taxing, the intriguing characters and their complex relationships generate suspense. The narrative is further enriched by the addition of three characters outside of Dev’s immediate circle: the smarmy cop Rajbir, the persistent Pallavi, and the unapologetically wicked Kairav Singh.
The series explores themes of crime, politics, police work, and family dynamics, creating an environment where nothing is as it seems. The performances by the cast, including Priyanshu Painyuli, Kubbra Sait, Manu Rishi Chadha, and Chandan Roy Sanyal, are commendable, adding to the overall watchability of “Shehar Lakhot.”
However, the series would have greatly benefited from a shorter runtime, as it demands a significant amount of time from viewers. Despite this, “Shehar Lakhot” offers a fusion of genres and an evocative portrayal of a lawless town in flux, making it worth watching.
The cast includes Priyanshu Painyuli, Shruthy Menon, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Kubbra Sait, Manu Rishi Chadha, and Sanjay Shiv Narayan, with Navdeep Singh as the director.
