Paatal Lok: A whodunit political thriller

Web series productions based on the intensely violent and caste-ridden lives in the society of north India have been exploding across various OTT platforms. The latest to join this genre is ' Pataal Lok' over Amazon Prime, which showcased its Anushka-Sharma backed venture from May 15 onwards.

On the face of it, it's a journey of self-discovery for a nondescript Inspector in Delhi Police – played very well by Jaideep Ahlawat-, posted in an insignificant police station which is in the netherworld of India's capital. Given charge of a high-profile case involving a satellite channel editor who is shown as a left-leaning liberal ( Neeraj Kabi) and a set of blood-thirsty and fiercely ambitious politicians in the far corner of eastern Uttar Pradesh, the nine episodes show the state of affairs at its violent, repulsive best.

With ghazal and classical singer Anup Jalota who surfaces in the final episodes as a successful political leader, the references to modern Indian politics are clear and cannot be missed. Though the episodes sag here and there with a few subplots added to counterbalance the emotional quotient, it's an experience which would be of interest to all those who follow our political affairs.