Lootere

Rajat Kapoor is characteristically measured and involving as the beleaguered captain, though I wish there was more of him, and more often. This is where the density and sprawl of Lootere start to work against it. Its steadily inflating scope and diverging plotlines give us little to hang on to. Despite the vast dramatis personae of the show, the most fascinating characters are on the ship, including Barkhad (Martial Batchamen Tchana), the tough yet honorable leader of the pirates. A former militant, Barkhad has traded the tumult of his broken land for the choppy familiarity of its open seas. Vikrant mentions seeking one’s fortune in the Gulf of Eden. Barkhad is halfway there.

Technically, the series looks very international and the scale also looks big. Post-production work on the show is noteworthy, especially big action pieces and even different backdrops in and around the centrepiece of the series -- the ship. Jai Mehta also lets you in on the sights and sounds of Mogadishu. For shows that are mostly centred in UK or Europe, this change of place is a definite welcome. Performances are a strong point, with Gomber taking the lead and showcasing his versatility. Amruta Khanvilkar is in top form and her scenes with Vivek are one of the highlights of the show. Lootere works because it doesn’t get trapped in the easy-set formula of men battling pirates. Jai Mehta’s direction has shades of his father, Hansal Mehta’s frames, and sometimes even the dialogues are reminiscent of Hansal Mehta’s hit franchise, Scam.