Dahan review: Tisca Chopra, Saurabh Shukla's series is packed with outstanding performances but a dull plot

3/5

Story:

Dahan: Raakan Ka Rahasya is an intense horror show that follows a dark and superstitious tale that features paranormal occurrences in a quaint, rustic village of Shilaspura, also known as the ‘The Land of The Dead’.

Review:

Dahan begins by showcasing the chaotic life of an IAS officer, who recently lost her husband and is also speculated to have committed corruption. To get a fresh perspective on life for herself as well as her teenage son, she decides to take a short-term transfer to a secluded place in Rajasthan, which has recently been discovered to have been filled with rare minerals. As soon as she reaches Shilaspura, unwanted incidents start taking place, including the deaths of the locals.

Tisca Chopra as Avani, the IAS officer, has been one of my favourite characters. The complexities and her fearlessness as a single mother are things that ought to be in a character like hers. The actor surely gives her best to engage the audience through her performance. Her screen presence makes you hooked on the show and also entangles your mind to wonder if she is a protagonist or if she will turn out to be the main antagonist.

Saurabh Shukla's performance is as good as is expected from an experienced actor like him. However, the features of his character keep changing throughout the show.

Meanwhile, Rajesh Tailang's character is one of the most surprising elements of the story. At first, he seems off as soon as he debuts in the series, but later he turns out to be one of the evilest people.

Dahan follows a dark tale packed with myths and legends. However, it doesn't seem to have the perfect storyline to keep the show going. The performances of the lead, as well as the supporting characters, keep you hooked to the screen, but the story fails to keep you on the edge of your seat, which is expected in a horror or suspense thriller.

In the beginning, the story takes time to build and grow on you, and it's justified in shows with genres like this. However, Dahan stays a slow burner throughout the show, and even the end doesn't satisfy you as it finishes on a confusing note.

Mukesh Tiwari is another actor that shines in the show. He plays a serious local cop, but his few sarcastically funny punches take the edge off the intensity and even make you laugh. Meanwhile, young actors such as the Mission Mangal actor Rohan Joshi and the Brahmastra actor Lehar Khan are also a few better additions to the cast.

Dahan could have made for a must-watch only if the story had a less confusing plot with a better ending instead of leaving the audience puzzled. That being said, the cinematography and VFX get good numbers as it's a visual treat.

Verdict:

Even with a loose plot, Dahan makes for at least one time watch due to the actors' performances and the visual aid. Stream the horror drama on Disney+ Hotstar.