If you are patient and up for a mystery-thriller, then this is it. Dahan creates a peculiar, yet an unforgettable experience for the bingers. The slowburn-mystery-thriller has shades of specter to touch your amygdala. Tisca Chopra and Saurabh Shukla starrer Dahan: Raakan Ka Rahasya deserves the IMDb rating it has got.
You expect myth to lose its medal against science? This nine episode long series will take you through a constant battle between science and myth, nature versus culture, conflict between integrity and corruption; everything seeking the ultimate truth.
Save all of your hatred for Tisca Chopra who portrays the role of a single mother and special officer (IAS). She’s been sent to Shilaspura(fictional town) to help a mining company to extract some uncommon mineral. Even the company is unaware what is underneath. However, people of Shilaspura believe that the place was haunted as the greatest demon Redhiyakan’s head was buried there (five thousand years ago). Pramukh (played by Sourabh Shukla) of the Karapali has been the main hurdle for the mining. If the mining work gets the green signal, then Redhiyakan will rise again and there would remain nothing but destruction. The drama proceeds as the officer manages to inaugurate the mining. Here begins the bloodshed. People are being assaulted and murdered by the Raakan. The mass has to believe that it’s the resurgence of the mayavi who/what controls the mind of people who are in close contact- Apocalypse is knocking at the door. The officer is to be blamed. Being an IAS officer she should have approached the habitants sensitively. When she does, it’s too late.
The first five episodes set up the foundation. The next two deal with the turmoil and confusion. The final two are redemptive for the protagonist. Tisca Chopra has nailed it in the role of a mother. Sometimes she’s vulnerable and prejudiced, which is questionable for an IAS officer. The performance of Saurabh Shukla as Pramukh is subtle. Rajesh Tailang and Mukesh Tiwari have well utilised their opportunities, however, the latter missed the depth required. What intrigued me the most, is young Rohan Joshi’s performance as a son and a friend. His innocence and gullible nature makes it difficult for his mother to understand his problems and simultaneously complicates the drama. The setting of Shilaspura-the countryside, the mine and caves are structured to perfection. The makeup for the human turned Raakans and the possessed bodies is enough to spread the chill.
Vikrant Pawar’s writing and direction has shaped the series with the balance of occultism and medical science. The idea of showing the effects of climate change and epidemic could have been made more realistic. It’s undeniable that the director has brought the best out of his protagonist but, left the plot with some loopholes. Even in the aftermath of the heinous incidents and the doctor’s effort to check the epidemic, the protagonist failed to free herself from the prejudice. The director pushed it too hard to create the height of horror which actually did not happen. The merge of two or three episodes would have been more economical and less time consuming. If, someday, I’m able to meet the director I’ll surely ask him this question: Are the mother and son descendants of the mayavi Redhiyakan?
Mayavi aavego or mayavi aavegi? Tell us on the comment section.
