Poison Review

Ranveer Srivastava has served 7 years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Now that he is out, with nothing to lose, and a driving need for vengeance, he sets out to Goa, to make everyone who put him behind the bars, pay. As the need for revenge consumes and becomes a poison in his mind, Ranveer takes law in his hands and becomes what he previously was not- a criminal.

Poison is a revenge story about Ranveer, and it maintains that mystery till the end. Ranveer is hell bent on the course of retribution; stopping at nothing, doing anything to achieve it, and the viewers can’t help but wonder why. From the beginning, he is shown as a criminal, but the way Tanuj Virwani portrays it gives away the impression that there’s more to the story than meets the eye. And at last when the mystery is revealed, the wait seems to be worth it. Tanuj plays his grey character with the necessary flourish.

Arbaaz Khan’s digital debut definitely roots his presence with his impressive acting. He is the fresh breath in the otherwise intense and convoluted plot, with his ruthless yet slightly comical character- Antonio Varghese. The crime-lord operating under the ruse of businessman is sharp, witty and merciless, and Arbaaz portrays him perfectly.

Poison blurs the line between what is right and what is wrong, venturing into the grey area that generates a conflict of interest towards certain characters and the story. It shows the dark depths of human nature; how power, greed and revenge can turn honest men into ugly people, with stark, unflinching clarity. Many important characters end up dead throughout the series, shocking you for a while, and leaving you admiring the will and daring of the creators.

The composers have done an incredible job at supplementing the series with the apt background score, be it the melancholic, thrilling music or the intimate, warm score, when necessary. The opening credits with its trippy visuals and mysterious, war-cry like music creates anticipation for the proceeding plot.

Poison is far from being watch-worthy material, let alone binge-watch worthy.