Khakee: The Bengal Chapter Series Review – All Tropes, No Real Thrills.Filmygod

A Cop Drama Without the Punch

“Khakee: The Bengal Chapter” tries to be many things at once—a gripping cop drama, a hard-hitting political thriller, a revenge saga, and a story of friendship. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite hit the mark in any of these aspects. Co-writer and showrunner Neeraj Pandey’s latest attempt at crime storytelling is a predictable affair, packed with overused tropes and lacking genuine excitement.

The show resorts to tired plot twists, excessive violence, and a scattered non-linear narrative in a failed bid to keep the audience engaged. Instead of crafting an intense crime thriller, it ends up feeling like a subpar episode of “Crime Patrol” or a simplified “C.I.D.” case. Given Netflix India’s recent struggles with content quality, “Khakee: The Bengal Chapter” feels like yet another addition to its list of forgettable crime dramas.

A Story Recycled from Every Crime Thriller

Unlike its predecessor, which had a sharp focus and gripping execution, “Khakee: The Bengal Chapter” is a bland rehash of every crime thriller cliché. The story follows an honest police officer (played by Parambrata Chatterjee) who is brought in to clean up Kolkata’s crime-ridden streets. However, his appointment is nothing more than a political gimmick orchestrated by the ruling party to improve their public image before elections. The chief minister takes orders from a corrupt cabinet minister, Barun (Prosenjit Chatterjee), who secretly collaborates with notorious gangster Bagha (Saswata Chatterjee). Bagha’s protégés, Ranjit (Aadil Khan) and Sagor (Ritwik Bhowmik), have their own ambitions of taking over the criminal empire.

As expected, the honest cop is eliminated early on, leading to the arrival of Arjun Maitra (Jeet), the show’s protagonist, who takes over the case. What follows is a predictable series of betrayals, shootouts, and chase sequences that add nothing fresh to the genre. The plot moves in a direction that crime drama fans have seen countless times before, making it feel more like an assembly-line production rather than an original story.

A Shallow Depiction of Bengal’s Political Landscape

One of the biggest missed opportunities in “Khakee: The Bengal Chapter” is its failure to deeply explore the political environment of Bengal. The state has a rich history of political turmoil and power struggles, yet the show reduces this complexity to a series of long-winded speeches by ruling party leaders and repetitive opposition slogans.

Chitrangada Singh, playing the opposition leader Nibedita Basak, reminds audiences of her powerful performance in “Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi” (2003). However, her role here lacks depth and impact. She is reduced to shouting slogans in a cotton sari, with little influence on the narrative or the fate of other characters. The lack of real stakes makes it difficult to invest in her character.

Moreover, while the show initially embraces Bengali culture through accents and local aesthetics, it doesn’t go beyond surface-level representation. Instead of using Bengal’s unique political landscape to create a compelling thriller, it treats the setting as a mere backdrop for a generic crime story.

Weak Character Arcs and Forced Conflict

One of the more intriguing dynamics in the show is the friendship between Ranjit and Sagor, which takes a dramatic and violent turn. Initially, the growing tension between them is well-executed, with hints of rising insecurities and diverging ambitions. However, the transition from subtle rivalry to outright bloodlust feels rushed and unconvincing.

Ranjit’s transformation into a psychotic, bloodthirsty villain comes across as forced rather than organic. Aadil Khan delivers a commendable performance, effectively capturing Ranjit’s manic energy. Ritwik Bhowmik, too, does justice to Sagor’s innocence but struggles to bring the same conviction to his character’s more violent side.

Jeet, playing the lead role of Arjun Maitra, is perhaps the weakest link in the show. His performance feels distant, as if he’s merely going through the motions without truly inhabiting the character. On the other hand, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Saswata Chatterjee bring much-needed gravitas to their roles, embodying ruthless power players with effortless menace. However, even their strong performances cannot compensate for the lack of depth in the script.

A Show Without a Soul

Beyond the weak writing and uninspired storytelling, “Khakee: The Bengal Chapter” suffers from an overall tonal imbalance. This is evident right from the intro music, which sounds more like a tourism advertisement than the opening of a gritty crime thriller. The jolly tune, with lyrics like “Ek aur rang bhi dekhiye Bengal ka” (Come to see another shade of Bengal), is completely at odds with the show’s supposed dark and intense themes.

Comparing it to the first season, which was based on a true story and had a more nuanced approach, makes the flaws even more glaring. Three years ago, when streaming platforms were still exploring fresh narratives, the original “Khakee” managed to stand out. But in 2025, with content becoming increasingly formulaic, this new installment feels like a product of an industry that prioritizes quantity over quality.

With dull storytelling, clichéd characters, and a lack of originality, “Khakee: The Bengal Chapter” ultimately fails to deliver the thrills it promises. Instead of being a gripping crime saga, it ends up as yet another forgettable addition to Netflix’s crime drama catalog.