Rudra: The Edge of Darkness review: Ajay Devgn is the ray of hope in this faltering but edgy thriller

2.5/5

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a race-against-the-clock thriller set in Mumbai that delves into the minds of highly intelligent criminals and the detective who hunts them. Even as the overarching series arc continues, each episode in the series features a new threat, depicting the grave personal cost at which DCP Rudra Veer Singh pursues criminals and killers and the unlikely friendship that he forms with Aliyah, a genius sociopath. In the series, Mumbai is more than just a backdrop for our hero's vigilante actions; it serves as the stage for the battle between good and evil. Even amid darkness, Rudra believes in the existence of love in the world. Because, at the end of the day, humanity is all we have. And it is for this belief that Rudra gives up everything.

Over the years, we have seen Ajay Devgn in one or two cases in each of his cop roles. Now, just imagine getting him to solve cases throughout six episodes. Well, that's what Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is in a nutshell. The series is based on the hit British series Luther, which features Idris Elba in the titular role. Raashii Khanna is seen as Aliyah, a sociopath, originally played by Ruth Wilson.

In every episode, we see Devgn solving crimes, which get gorier and more gruesome as the series progresses. In the very first episode, it's established that Khanna is a criminal who befriends Devgn's character in an unrequited way. Although he is among the smartest cops, he fails to arrest her for her crimes, even though she keeps on repeating them the whole time.

But that lacks much convincing, knowing that he is a cop who was put on the job to wipe out criminals in the city. Yes, Luther has a similar plot, but it could have been a correction in a sense. Instead, we see Aliyah becoming Rudra's go-to person for catching other criminals.

Every episode is like a Crime Patrol episode, where we see the weirdest and most dangerous criminals going on killing sprees in the bylanes of Mumbai. Most of the episodes are set against the backdrop of night, as the title says, "Edge of darkness."

The first three episodes are thrilling enough to make the whole series gripping and intriguing. Every episode has a serial killer who is revealed in just a few minutes. Yes, the series is nowhere near the whodunit genre, and we don't have to scratch our heads to figure out who the killer is.

Although I have not watched Luther, I know that in the British series, the hunt for the killer stretches for more than an episode. While in Rudra, it's more about Devgn's character facing his inner demons and showcasing his suave while solving the case in a jiffy in just one episode. The tagline of the series has been repeated so many times that it just becomes a known dialogue when the makers are going to put it in the next time.

Rudra is backed by an exemplary supporting cast and interesting subplots, so to speak. But everything goes lost in translation when lifting Devgn up and above all. Knowing the actor's calibre for his work in movies from the past three decades, Rudra could have been a cakewalk. Instead, the makers make it more challenging to show the effortless actions of the talented star. Devgn is shown more as an emotional person and his action sequences get meddled with that, which is kind of a dealbreaker.

Not just that, the other supporting cast, including Atul Kulkarni, Ashwini Kalsekar, Tarun Gahlot, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Satyadeep Misra, has a great character graph. But barring Kulkarni, no one else gets to show their acting prowess or make any impact with their characters. As the head of the Special Crimes Unit, Kalsekar was her usual brilliant self. Her no-nonsense attitude is something she brings to every character she plays.

While Kulkarni matches up with Devgn as his colleague, his character trajectory becomes predictable by the time you reach the third episode. So does Khanna, in her seductive avatar. The actor, Aliyah, tries to induce sexual tension between Rudra and her. But, their chemistry is not as electrifying as it demands it to be. The actor, who also makes her OTT debut with Rudra, seamlessly gets forgotten and just bounces back and forth once or twice in each episode.

Another actor who has also made her way to OTT is Esha Deol Takhtani. With a heavy heart, I have to say that she is the most disappointing aspect of Rudra. Unfortunately, it feels like the actor didn't make enough efforts to create even a slight impact as her character, Shaila, the estranged wife of Rudra.

With Rudra, director Rajesh Mapuskar (like his previous works Ferrari Ki Sawaari and Marathi film Ventilator) tried to make it heavy on emotions, which sadly doesn't work in favour of the series. The writing by Ishaan Trivedi, Abbas, and Hussain Dalal sticks to Neil Cross' creation but gives it a very modern Indian approach. However, the fast pace of solving crimes in each episode fails to create the punch that it aspires to be.

It's an out-and-out Ajay Devgn series, and the actor has made a fantastic OTT debut. However, there are a few emotional sequences that seem slightly uncomfortable for the actor, knowing that he is a huge action star. Nevertheless, the actor makes it up by letting his eyes do the talking, but there is less to converse about this time.

There's scope for the second season going by the story of the original series. But the end gives a little chance to look forward to the next instalment.

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a well-made remake of the psychological crime thriller Luther, and everything from the casting to the compelling storytelling is apt. However, the series falters in its execution with the uneven pace and getting crimes solved quickly with limited detailing.