'Crime Beat' review: Saqib Saleem is show-stealer in thriller series
What's the story
Sudhir Mishra's thriller series Crime Beat stars Rajesh Tailang, Saqib Saleem, and Saba Azad, among others.
Its fast-paced approach and mostly well-fleshed-out characters are its biggest strengths, but the narrative sometimes limps, and the show struggles with consistency.
Despite these issues, Crime Beat makes for a decent watch, with the performances hooking you in.
It's based on Somnath Batabyal's book The Price You Pay.
Plot
A dedicated journalist's job takes him to a dangerous criminal
The eight-episode-long series follows Abhishek (Saleem), a passionate crime journalist looking for a big story that will catapult him to greater heights in his career.
He has a run-in with dreaded gangster Binny (Rahul Bhat), also seen as a messiah in a part of Delhi, and securing an interview with Binny may help Abhishek finally prove his worth.
Is this assignment worth the risk?
#1
Saleem leads the show excellently
Most of Crime Beat's strength comes from its strong cast.
Saleem is a fantastic lead and carries the show well, staying consistent in his character.
Abhishek goes through a gamut of emotions—he is rejected from multiple jobs, his byline is stolen, and sometimes assignments don't turn out the way he intended.
In all such scenes, Saleem sells the character's ache and disappointment extremely well.
#2
Tailang and Bhat are equally fantastic
Tailang, who had a villainous turn recently in Bada Naam Karenge, plays a police officer, showing his incredible range, and finds able support from Adinath Kothare, who plays his colleague.
Bhat, fresh off the success of Netflix's Black Warrant, hands in another glorious performance, living his role as a menacing, twisted gangster who has never known morality.
#3
It's gritty and keeps you on edge
Crime Beat reminded me slightly of Tanaav in terms of the suspense that it gradually builds.
Some characters are painted vaguely for much of the show's runtime, and while this may confuse you initially, it works in the show's favor eventually when the mysteries are resolved.
The show bubbles with potential at all times, uncovering the nexus of crime, police, and politics.
#4
A sense of peace and calm helps the series
The show is set around 2011, and I enjoyed seeing a time just before technology inexplicably blew up and began dominating each facet of our lives.
Referencing that time, the show repeatedly mentions the Commonwealth Games, and an unhurried approach dominates several scenes, particularly the ones exploring the characters' personal lives.
This grounds the show into reality.
#5
Negatives: Sometimes, it bites more than it can chew
It's tough to root for Crime Beat wholeheartedly because of how needlessly twisted the story is.
While the length of episodes (nearly 30 minutes each) helps the show, you can't help but feel that there is a lot of needless fluff here that serves no purpose other than complicating the narrative.
The lack of coherence, thus, is a major issue in the entire series.
#6
Done-to-death representation of media
Another recurring problem in Crime Beat is that it struggles to break free from the cookie-cutter, cliché representation of the media.
Sensationalized news reporting, cranky, grouchy bosses, and journalists who would sell their souls for a story—we've seen the media being presented like this in cinema several times before, and Crime Beat is no different.
I wish it went for more nuance and depth.
#7
Struggles with Azad's character the most
Crime Beat also struggles to provide adequate screen time to all characters.
Azad, who plays a journalist named Maya, and Abhishek's girlfriend, suffers the greatest in this regard.
After being introduced early on, she disappears completely, then pops up again but is reduced to being Abhishek's love interest, and finally returns in the last few episodes in a turn that feels anti-climactic.
Verdict
Could have been better, but still certainly watchable; 3/5
Crime Beat doesn't always capitalize on its strengths and squanders its potential at times, and the sermon-like, clunky dialogues sometimes lend the scenes a mechanical feel.
However, if you are a fan of shows that explore relentless crime, action, and suspense, Crime Beat is right up your alley, and the actors give you no chance to complain.
3/5 stars.