Killer Soup

Killer Soup, an eight course delectable experience, served up by Netflix is a concoction of dark humor and mystery. The show will leave you satisfied and uneasy in equal measure.

Swathi a novice cook with dubious cooking skills and equally questionable morals finds herself in literal pickle when her misadventures with her husband's (Prabhar) doppelganger Umesh goes awry. Prabhakar's discovery of Swathi's affair also leads to his demise, upon which Swathi decides to swap him for Umesh with slight adjustment to Umesh's configurations. How the two then try to fulfill their ambitions while at the same time attempt to cover their tracks fraught with moral and ethical dilemmas serves as the basic premise of the series.

The show is replete with stellar performances from the cast. Konkona Sen Sharma immaculately portrays the desperation and wickedness of Swathi. Manoj Bajpayee is in his usual best masterfully depicting the brashness of Prabhakar and excels as a loyalty laden partner in crime Umesh. Sayaji Shinde shines as an arrogant, foul mouthed patriarch with little clue as to what his sister in law and daughter are brewing.

The series ably keeps the viewers guessing regarding what will transpire. However, like a cook in haste, it does muck up a few details. Some of the progression, especially that of Inspector Hassan seem quite convenient. The constant appearance of Thupalli as a guiding voice of Hassan will ultimately get to your nerves.

Overall, Killer Soup is a worthwhile mix of thrill, dark humor and mystery. It does become a slow simmer on a couple of occasions but you will be satiated in the end. It may not be everybody's cup of tea but will delight any dark humor connoisseurs.

Abhishek Chaubey's "Killer Soup" simmers with a delectable blend of eccentricity, deceit, and dark humor, crafting a narrative that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. This culinary caper introduces a cast of quirky characters entangled in a web of lies, making it a thrilling and entertaining experience.

The series opens with Swathi Reddy (Konkona Sen Sharma) serving Paya Soup to her husband, Prabhakar Shetty (Manoj Bajpayee), setting the stage for a tale brimming with mystery and unexpected twists. While Swathi dreams of opening a restaurant, the unfolding events reveal a world filled with transactional relationships, deceit, and devilry.

Abhishek Chaubey's directorial prowess shines through in the meticulous attention to detail in each scene. Symbolism, such as the recurring theme of mushrooms, adds depth to the narrative. The careful interweaving of elements requires viewers to pay close attention, as correlations reveal themselves later, creating a satisfying viewing experience. Though the plot may seem busy with multiple character arcs, Chaubey maintains a tight grip on the overall narrative, ensuring a seamless flow of the storyline.

The infusion of supernatural elements and poetry adds an extra layer of intrigue to "Killer Soup." The series seamlessly transitions between a dark fairytale ambiance, reminiscent of a witch's forest, and whimsical scenes featuring fireflies. This juxtaposition of contrasting elements enhances the overall atmosphere, making it a visually and narratively stimulating journey.

Konkona Sen Sharma and Manoj Bajpayee deliver outstanding performances, embodying characters that are morally ambiguous yet intriguing. Umesh's guilt and Swathi's genuine affection for her niece, portrayed by Anula Navlekar, add layers to their personas. Secondary and tertiary characters, notably Sayaji Shinde and Vaishali Bisht, contribute significantly to the series' power, commanding attention with their compelling on-screen presence.

"Killer Soup" emerges as a dark comedic thriller with nuanced storytelling and layers that captivate audiences. The series offers a culinary feast served by Abhishek Chaubey, a binge-worthy experience that leaves viewers craving more of its killer flavor. As the characters navigate a world of deception, desperation, and dark humor, "Killer Soup" stands out as a delectable and thoroughly satisfying addition to the genre.

Show intended to be a Dark Comedy Thriller including a series of murders and one thing leading to another and to another but the weak script and average acting(poor in some cases) took the show to nowhere. It has it's moments but couldn't lift up show's genre game. Didn't expect such below the mark acting from legends like Manoj Bajpai and a refined actress like Konkana Sen Sharma. The events of story sometimes feel like made up and predictable. I intended to finish it in one go but failed to do so even after fast forwarding through some dull and clippable moments of the show. Easily avoidable to save your precious time.

Expected better role and presence for Manoj Bajpai sir. Director hasn't used him well. Mostly revolves around Konkana Sen Sharma, she has done a fine job but series is a stretch. 6 episode with quick turnarounds would have made it interesting. All the actors have done a good job. To avoid simplicity of suspense, it has actually turned into a soup.

Even with above observations it kept me glued since I like dark comedy, suspense etc. We can relate it to Rajkummar Rao's Oh My darling which was also similar genre and better.

Do watch first few episodes to see if it is your cup of soup oops tea...

Another series from India which is becoming a trend, a Bollywood equivalent of Indian OTT series, with typical elements of quirky characters played by good actors/actresses, swearing laden dialogues, twists and turns which stop raising curiosity after the 2/3rd twists, and try to lace the series with dark humor throughout.

The formula's individual elements sound interesting but it doesn't work just by mixing all of these together and hoping it makes an interesting watch. It doesn't. It becomes as bland as the paya soup shown in the series.

The fundamental elements of movie making, a good story, a good script, meaningful elements of humor etc. Etc., basically the ART part of movie making, cant be created through formula.

This is another OTT series, which even if you watch the entire series, which by the way will need enormous patience, you will forget about it in another week's time. Definitely worth a miss for any intelligent viewer, even for casual watch.

Regarding story, acting, or anything else nothing worth a mention, quite pedestrian overall.