Pharma review: Nivin Pauly-PR Arun’s series will make you ponder before you pop a pill next time

Pharma series review: Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly and filmmaker PR Arun sell a bitter pill that you need to swallow, as they tackle a relevant subject that needs urgent attention.

Nivin Pauly's Pharma web series review

Pharma

Pharma series plot

The latest Malayalam series, Pharma follows KP Vinod (Nivin Pauly) or just KP as he struggles to make a mark as a medical representative. But the ‘wonder drug’ Kydoxin changes his fortunes for better, only to get a reality check on what exactly he had been selling to the patients. He then takes charge of a crusade as he seeks to bring down the evil corporation of RLX with the help of an NGO Zaathi led by Dr Rajiv Rao (Rajit Kapur).

Pharma series review:

Nivin Pauly’s first web series has the Neram actor returning to his roots in a way that we get back the enthusiastic yet struggling youth, as director PR Arun takes time to build his world with some good-natured humour and light-hearted scenes. Binu Pappu, as the KP’s boss Alex, gets some of the best lines here as he lords over the new joinee.

The plot, also penned by PR Arun, threads the predictable path as it narrates the good samaritans vs evil corporate battle, a classic David vs Goliath tale set in the pharmaceutical industry. The series is dedicated to the ‘real superheroes’ of doctors and paramedics, and the superheroes here are Dr Janaki (Shruti Ramachandran) and Dr Raji Rao, who take on the might of the companies, despite the multitude of risks involved. This gives the series, which the makers claim is based on real-life incidents, an air of idealism. Much of the series mostly works in shades of black and white, with only KP having a change of heart, but that is a given.

Also read: Pharma director PR Arun: This season marks the beginning of a larger universe | Exclusive

However, Pharma does really hold your attention as it tackles a crucial topic - that the medicine you and I would be taking could be made in unhygienic conditions and without adequate tests on its possible side-effects. When KP does escalate the matter, a CEO’s casual reply that we have medicines for the serious side-effects as well would make you ponder before you pop the next pill. The series also specifically points out children as victims, which would have the alarm bells ringing in most families. This especially gives the series a heart and an emotional core that is hard to look away from.

Before Pharma’s release, PR Arun had brushed away comparisons with the likes of Netflix series Kaala Paani, saying that the series should be rooted in reality for the Malayali audience to accept it. Pharma does achieve that and succeeds in imparting a social message, but the execution falters at times with a flat template for the series that hardly has any twists or surprises, but for the final blow against the corporates.

The series, marketed as a medical thriller, does not race away as KP fights his battle but builds his case with calculated precision. Pharma runs into 8 episodes with each around 30 minutes or even lesser duration, which seems to be the predicament ailing most Malayalam series. Another minus is that some of the supporting cast do not come across as convincing, making you wonder if budget restraints prevented the makers from going for a better cast. For all the talk about the evil corporate, much of it remains on paper, and we needed a more vile villain to increase the stakes.

Among performances, Shruti Ramachandran truly embraces her character, giving us a kind-hearted yet determined Janaki. But Nivin, as the lead, gets the most-fleshed-out character as he gets to play the many shades of KP, from the over-enthusiastic sales rep to guilt-tripping family man and finally the Thirichuvaravu Mon (the comeback man)

Rajit Kapur also makes a confident return to Malayalam cinema, 25 years after we first saw him as a helpless husband tied to customs in Shobana’s Agnisakshi. The senior actor adds credibility to the series, and even gets his lip-sync right. Veena Nandakumar, Narain, and Muthumani have limited roles to play and make the most of what is given.

Pharma series verdict

Shortcomings of the series notwithstanding, Nivin Pauly and PR Arun sell a bitter pill that you need to swallow, as they tackle a relevant subject that needs urgent attention. As a character says, the battle is not won, but they have made the first step towards victory.

Pharma is streaming on JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium

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