Jaha Bolibo Shotto Bolibo review: Mimi Chakraborty and Tota Roy Chowdhury deliver power-packed performances, but the twist is hard to digest

3/5

Story: Police officer Tapash Sen (Anindya Pulak) gets lynched by five assailants while trying to save an unknown woman pillion rider on New Year’s Eve. After a fight for a few days in the hospital, he dies. It is revealed that four out of five assailants are also police personnel from different ranks. Lawyer Pritha Roy (Mimi Chakraborty) takes up the high-profile and sensational case as a public prosecutor. Big shot lawyer Joyraj Singha (Tota Roy Chowdhury) emerges as the defense lawyer to take on Pritha. 

Review: Jaha Bolibo Shotto Bolibo is essentially driven by two characters – Pritha Roy and Jayraj Singha. And both are a treat to watch. The show marks the debut of Mimi on OTT and she does a fascinating job with Pritha’s crisis, dilemma, and fidgety fingers. 

 Also read: Jaha Bolibo Shotto Bolibo actress Mimi Chakraborty: I took my time and finally dived into OTT 

Joyraj Singha is the author’s most loved character and Tota is breathtakingly good in the show. Joyraj’s smirks and cold suggestive slanders make him a loathsome person and Tota does the job effortlessly. He is proud, stylish and wounded and every shade of his greys are visible on the screen. 

The show is inspired by a real-life incident where a policeman, Bapi Sen, is killed by a bunch of fellow rowdy policemen. The series is a blend of a courtroom drama and an emotional saga. The courtroom drama that keeps us glued for the first three episodes, becomes a little overwhelmed by the emotional drama that unfolds. It finally reaches a fanciful resolution that not only weakens the story but also impacts the smartness of the show.

Also read: Tota Roy Chowdhury on pairing up with Mimi Chakraborty: After RRKPK, I have started reading several scripts 

The show started with an unputdownable pace. Mimi draws the audience into the drama with her restless fingers, subdued expressions, and convictions in her eyes as Pritha. The drama unfolds brilliantly in the first two episodes and by the third one, we reach the courtroom, where the real game begins. Tota grips us with his charm and chewy dialogue. His occasional murmur correcting his surname with a tinge of frustration is just too good. While there are only a few cross-altercations between Pritha and Joyraj, the actors keep us glued to the screen. 

And then certain unwarranted twists impacted the story and logic adversely. For example, at one point Pritha slams her boyfriend saying, “When your career is important, why my career is being treated as an ‘extra-curricular’ activity?” Soon after this altercation, a twist dampens the punch of her lines. While a lot of time is spent on build-up, the resolution comes in haste. The real investigation or courtroom proceedings do not stand a chance due to twists in the tale that falls flat. The camaraderie between the investigating officer Arnab, beautifully portrayed by Anujoy, and Pritha is half-hearted in a certain way. 

Verdict: The show has fitting background music. It is a six-episode show with no episode stretching beyond 30 minutes. It is moderately fast. Mimi and Tota did a fantastic job. Watch it for them!