Kankhajura maker Chandan Arora decodes ending with Mohit Raina-Roshan Mathew, discusses possibility of season 2 | Exclusive

The recently released web series Kankhajura, currently streaming on SonyLIV (available on OTTplay Premium too), continues to be spoken about for the underrated performances and moments that work their magic. In order to talk more about the very magic that the series brought forth, OTTplay connected with the helmer Chandan Arora, who decoded what went right with the show. He also discusses if there is a possibility of season 2.

Excepts from the interview...

Take me through the process of working on Kankhajura. How did it happen? What attracted you to the story and how did you convince your actors to take up this series because clearly, the spotlight is on one actor alone even though others have their little moments from time-to-time.

The nature of the original series, Magpie, the way the story is told in that series and it being a thriller but not being about typically one murder case or drug situation. It was a crime-thriller but still a very emotional story between two brothers and the dynamics between them. The material was very exciting, which was the reason why the producers had eyes on the show. Fortunately for me, everything fell into place. The writing might feel like it's all about Ashu (played by Roshan Mathew), but all the other characters are as important in making him who he is. They're all the rings of the onion, where each one of them has a part to play in what is happening in the progression. Without any one of them, Ashu is not who he is. All relationships are equally important. It is not judged by screen time. It didn't take much convincing with the actors. As soon as the process started, almost everyone who was on the first as the wishlist, we got on board.

Kankhajura last episode is what I would want to talk about. At one point, you smartly put the spotlight on Mohit Raina while keeping Roshan Mathew in the dark. What was going on in your mind, given that was one of the turning points for both the characters?

I would credit the actors for understanding what was going on in the characters' minds and actually feeling what we tried to put out. It is the DOP absolutely understanding in what frames we would get the people, so. When it comes to the filmmaking, we tend to ensure to use every tool towards making a scene work. We were all working towards the same thing and it seems to have come across.

While for most of us, the very last episode is the turning point because you never know what would happen, which was the most memorable moment from the show for you?

Me and my DOP would constantly acknowledge that we have got gold in our hands because each day there would be magic in somebody's performance, in some direction. We came back with good material and enough fuel to go back the next day. The moment between the two brothers - where Ashu is tied up and Max arrives there - that evening was memorable for the whole crew. They lauded spontaneously.

Any lessons you took back from Kankhajura?

The material I got in the longer format as compared to a feature film. There needs to be a hook to bring back the audiences after each episode and that needs a different writing. It was exciting for me in both Kanneda and Kankhajura too.

You have also very authentically showed us a side of LGBTQIA+. There's no forcing it down the throat or making fun, even if there is a whole dark world that the series explores. Take me through the whole idea of Amy. Is there a world waiting to be explored when it comes to her?

We thought about bringing a transgender character on board, and agreeing to cast a transgender person in that. The writing and conceptualization of the original itself is quite sincere and responsible. Even the way Ashu played the stuttering or any social themes that one gets to see, they were sincerely played by all the actors. It's a result of all of that.

Was there a reason to pick Goa as the venue where Kankhajura story unfolds? I personally think it could be because it has a chill vibe which overlooks all the harsh realities going on there, but what was your thought process behind choosing that destination?

When reading the material, I already knew it shouldn't be set in a metro city like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore or Pune. It needed another world which had proximity to wealth and had a gang world. Thanks to that, it became a very obvious choice.

Will we get to see Kankhajura season 2? Since the show has ended on a cliffhanger.

With so many characters, there will always be an incomplete and ongoing story. Magpie does have a season 2, but whether we get one depends on the love the series gets.