Cast: Deepak Tijori, Martial Batchamen Tchana, Vivek Gombler, Gaurav K. Sharma, Rajat Kapoor, Amruta Khanvilkar, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Nareshh Mallik
Crew:
Creators: Hansal Mehta, Shaailesh R Singh
Writers: Anshuman Sinha, Vishal Kapoor, Gibran Noorani, Suparn Varma
Cinematography: Jall Cowasji
Editing: Viraj Gadodia
Director: Jai Mehta
Released on 22-03-2024
Streaming On : Disney+ Hotstar
No: of Episodes: 8
Genre: Thriller
Lootere Web Series Rating: 3/5
Hansal Mehta has been able to create good web series based on real life incidents. Now, he has come up with Lootere, a series about Somalia pirates hijacking an Ukranian ship and navy officers trying to save the on board employees and the cargo as well. This rescue operation based thriller has promised major moments that we did not watch on Indian screen before prior to its release. Makers did not go for highly known faces and they have employed a promotional strategy that is understated and based on content being liked audiences. As the web series is now streaming, let’s discuss about it in detail.
Plot:
As a secret consignment is being transferred through an Ukrainian ship by a nefarious businessman, Vikrant(Vivek Gombler) is hijacked in Somalia, on board captain AK Singh(Rajat Kapoor) has to work with Indian Navy seals and coastal guards to safely navigate through this threat. Revealing more details would account to spoilers. hence, we recommend you to watch the series.
Analysis:
The research behind the situations and makers commitment to stay realistic is visible throughout the series. As the sequences unfold, we enter into a sea pirate world not many of us would even wish to experience ever in our lives. The performances of the actors who play Somalian pirates also add to the make-believe reality that the makers have created. On top of that, the production values also add to the setting. The situation and increasing animosity between the characters intrigue us as the episodes go by.
Performances by the ensemble cast are also good. They all add to the intrigue and involve us into them. Majorly, Rajat Kapoor has a big role in keeping us glued along with the actors who play as Somalian pirates. Excruciating amount of research has been done to bring everything to life and it surprises us how real it all looks. Writing is also every innovative in creating intrigue with variety of characters. Writers keep the characters so real that we at times are confused between rooting for captain or the pirates.
While things are kept real and engaging, after a point, the slow pacing takes a toll on the viewer. It feels a tad bit underwhelming to see some potential situations being underutilised. While the intriguing setting and clever writing are in tandem, execution at times feels underwhelming. The series could have done away with some filler episodes in the mid-season as they seem to go nowhere. The first two episodes and last two are worth watching as the narrative catches pace and resolution is quite satisfying, too. On the whole, it is a good watch with some patience.
Positives:
Production Values
Ensemble Cast performances
Intriguing writing
Negatives:
Slow pacing
Filler episodes
Lethargic Narrative at times
Lootere Web Series Bottomline: Good Watch