Rekka review: Srijit Mukherji's series slowly grows on you

3.5/5

Story:

Rabindranath Ekhane Kokhono Khete Asenni aka Rekka is a famous restaurant in Kolkata that hides many secrets. The biggest secret is in its owner Mushkan Zuberi. She has various secrets that Nirupam Chanda (Rahul Bose) is on a mission to unveil.

Review:

Every place has a hidden story. While a few of these stories keep you intrigued, the others astonish you. The story behind the (fictional) famous restaurant in Kolkata, Rekka, falls in the second category.

However, the story takes its own sweet time to develop. It grows on you at tortoise's speed, especially in the first few episodes. Rahul Bose takes almost 10 minutes to move from the restaurant to the tea stall in front of it. The same follows for every character in the show.

Of course, only two characters are introduced in the first episode. Anirban Bhattacharya's entry as Attor Ali makes a powerful first impact. Sitting on a bench near the tea shop, he pretends like he owns the place. His scene while disturbing Nirupam's phone call is quite a moment.

Throughout the story, Attor's character grows on you. He breathes a new lease of life into the narrative. Bangladeshi actress (the only one in the show) Azmeri Haque Badhon leaves a powerful first impression as Muskhan Zuberi. She meets an MLA like an equal, ensuring people clearly understand she is a powerful personality. The suspense around her character keeps building as we see her in action in the kitchen. This kitchen has a mini chemistry lab right next to it so that Muskhan can conduct her "experiments" on food.

The songs, however,  become a distraction occasionally. Every single time, Azmeri's character Mushkan Zuberi is introduced, she is heard singing a song. While no one is disputing that Bengali is a sweet language, the songs aren't always in the same tone in the series.

The first few episodes are quite a disappointment. They are shot in a very dark space making it tough to understand for the viewer to understand the proceedings. It is mostly shot near a grave to give an eerie feeling but rather than that, it could end up irritating you since you are constantly trying to figure out what is happening, with no proper solution provided by the series itself.

The background music is occasionally eerie but is in sync with the story. It comes at the right moment, making that scene more impactful.

However, a few scenes do not link with each other and come out of the blue. The first scene (accident) and an online dating scene are a few examples among the others. Even though their purpose in the series is cleared later on, the sudden shift between the timelines and these stories could become frustrating.

The accident scene, which was the first scene in the series, is explored further.  It is both the lowest and the highest points of the series. Every person overacts and the audience does not get to see the point of the scene soon enough. This is a concern soon resolved by a gruesome scene and a situation that is not for everybody. This scene takes the series to a whole new level.

Simultaneously, the viewers are introduced to Inspector Tapan, played by Anirban Chakrabarti. He is very subtle in his acting. There isn't a moment where you see him as an 'actor' because he fits into the role so naturally. Right from his interesting entry of being a smart, no-nonsense cop who is ill till the moment he loses his temper, the actor hogs all the limelight despite Rahul Bose and Anirban Bhattacharya being in the same frame.

Also Read: Exclusive! Rahul Bose: I wasn't prepared for Rekka, drove Srijit mad

On the other hand, sub-inspector Anwar (Ayan Saha) behaves like a goon since the time he meets Nirupam Chanda. He overacts and is loud, which is unnecessary and less powerful in front of 'Tapan' Anirban. Anjan Dutt might be one of the most powerful characters on the show but he barely leaves an impression.  However, his character, much like the series itself, grows on you.

The makers appeared to be rushing as the series came to an end. The theme song in episode 8 begins in between an intriguing conversation. That is quite rude to the viewers, who are waiting to know more about the incident. It is also rude to the actor who put in his all in the scene, only for it to be chopped out.

Both Rahul Bose and his character Nirupam Chanda were on a roll the moment his identity was revealed on the show. It is a big moment in the series. Even though you expect it to some level, when the moment arrives, it takes you by surprise. The whole tone of the premise changes after that. Every character brings in something new to the story which affects their lives deeply. His outburst, also seen in the trailer, is also among the high points of the show. The cinematography soon has a deeper meaning. This gives Rekka a beautiful ending.

Verdict:

Watch Rekka only if you have a lot of time at hand. Look out for Anirban Bhattacharya, Azmeri Haque Badhon and Rahul Bose in the series (in that order). If you are a fan of Srijit Mukerji's work, Rekka has his name written all over it. Thus, the web series is a must-watch for his fans.