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Hutatma (2019)

'Hutatma' a web series that’s based on the book of the same name by Meena Deshpande. The web series begins with the introduction of the main characters, including the biggest character of them all, Mumbai. In Mumbai, as Vidyut, a young woman is getting ready to watch the Raj Kapoor starrer Shree 420, her father is reporting as usual to work in the mill, political forces are gathering across the city, demanding for a united Mumbai and Maharashtra. The first episode itself is intense and full of actions and reactions and makes for a compelling watch. The characters are introduced in a simple yet memorable manner, and audiences should be geared up for a gritty drama that’s based on how Mumbai and Maharashtra were carved out in the pages of history.
Director Jayprad Desai has done a great job of creating a decades old Bombay. It’s always difficult to create a period for cinema, but Jayprad has succeeded in it. With that, the series hits home hard the points that generations have now forgotten. On the performance side, Anjali Patil embodies the very spirit of the educated, jovial woman who’d be an integral part of a growing up Mumbai.
Just in the first episode, Hutatma stows out the fact that politics is never easy, and history could have changed with a flip of a coin. The very first episode shows off the various facets, political gain, capitalists versus socialists, and the common people who are stuck in between.
The cinematography was very neat with the lights that compliment well-suited production design. I loved how it never submitted itself to a higher tonal contrast which would have created drama by itself. The concise framing helped to bring out the narrative even better. Acting performances were clearly a stand-out among other aspects, by each and every one. The three young rebellions from the poster, performed by Patil, Tatvavadi, and Mahajan shine in their roles with sincerity. Even the veterans were reliable as ever. It’s an absolute treat to watch them perform weighty lines with absolute ease. Ashwini Kalsekar and Chhaya Kadam were fitting in their respective roles. The clear stand-out performances, for me, were by Sachin Khedekar and Kiran Khoje. Sachin Khedekar absolutely kills it whenever he’s on the screen. If he can do it with such a small role with very few lines and more silences, he will be scene-stealer in the further seasons.
Hutatma makes its place as a must- watch series.