Kaala Paani: Les eaux sombres

This is an intense, wonderfully constructed series that pulls no punches.

Kaala Paani is the smartest and most intense reflection on what happened during the Covid-epimedic with people and those that carry the responsibility to govern them. The story centers around the outbreak of a deadly infection that happens on the Andaman and Nicobar islands, which are a part of India.

The story follows characters on all levels of society. Tourists, that are caught unaware by the epidemic. Doctors that try to fight it. Public officials who try to manage the situation or try to exploit it for their own gains. Corporate executives who try to cover up their role in spreading the disease. A group of natives who play a very special role in fighting the disease.

The writers of Kaala Paani created wonderfully rich and layered characters, each of them with their own meaningful challenges, flaws and abilities. And as a viewer, I was heavily invested and interested in their individual fates.

Kaala Paani has a meta-theme that glues together all these story elements. A meta theme that is introduced with a little side story at the beginning of the second episode: Which decision will you take if there are only bad solutions, you have the power to choose between those bad solutions and whatever you choose, the result of your decision will be the loss of life (the "trolley problem").

Most of the characters we follow - whether they are people in power or everyday people - are confronted at some point in time with such a decision, some of them even more than once. And in Kaala Paani those decisions have stark consequences. People we viewers might assume are "save", because they are essential for the story will die. The actions of seemingly unimportant side characters might have ripple effects that can change the whole scenario.

In short: Wonderful story telling :-)

Side note: As someone who has never been in India, I highly enjoyed this small window into Indian culture and society that is given by this series. Thanks a lot to the creators and writers of this story.

Final Verdict: Watch this series if you enjoy intense and gripping character drama that centers around the outbreak of a deadly disease and is set up on a beautiful island archipelago.

A bingeworthy show, with great cast and amazing direction. What I love the most ka they got the science correct. Especially around the gene theory. Great dialogues. A lot of the comic reflects the TVF shuttle comedy.

Some flaws were food chain stuff they said. Small animals don't die first. Food chain exist all at once. Nothing comes before or after. We exist all together. Another point was you don't detect compounds like peptides under Microscope.

But overall worth watching indian series after long time. Another hit from panchayat creators. More power to posham pa films. I will wait for second season.

Brilliant acting, beautiful cinematography, crisp and tight plot. While watching this show, it feels as if nothing gets wasted (in terms of plot). Every small action is important. If you like shows where they show you a small unimportant thing that later turns out to be important, this show is fillied with such scenarios. Grim but also somehow wholesome. It's a show where you'll feel and care for the characters. Every person is important. And the attention to details even in dialog is something that I can't stress enough upon. Take this exchange for example:

Junior: Sir I have a theory, this will work.

Senior: you don't have a theory, you have a hypothesis. You haven't proved it yet, so don't call it a theory.

I mean, the writers and makers have kept so many similar dialogues which other shows won't. They chose to focus on small details without compromising in pace and story. No unnecessary heroism, no melodram, just pure logic and emotions.

I'm on episode 4 and so I haven't even touched my remote. I'll say it again: ACTING & CINEMATOGRAPHY!!! One of the best Indian OTT shows so far. Just marvelous.

Acting: 9/10 Direction: 9/10 Location: 10/10 Authenticity: 9/10 Casting: 10/10 Realistic:7/10 Dialouges: 7/10 Screenplay: 8/10

What makes Kaala Paani different from others?

Its not predictable. No idiotic surprises that does not goes with the flow of the film, but naturally drawn around the subject, that has a very true possibilities of happening.

Amazing story plots, amazing acting by the actors. After some time, you fill feel like its a documentary that has real life characters. Its that real when it came to acting. Amazing cast, and its so good to see that we are finally here, where we act and show films with maturity and keeping reality in check.

Its a must watch!

Biswapati Sarkar, just look at the number of shows this man has created with his masterful storytelling and screenplay. Nothing feels out of place in the show. Cinematography to acting to background score - everything blends into the story. The small tricks of making an insignificant event significant, at some point later, are not cliched.

A good story makes the viewers emotional without making the characters emotional. Kaala Pani's writing and direction will definitely give you that experience. The acting skills of Sukant Goel, Amey Wagh, Vikash Kumar needs special mention. Good to see Ashutosh Gowariker after so many years. If not for these shows, the acting skills of many of these so called failed Bollywood actors would have gone unnoticed for ever.

Thanks to netflix as I firmly believe Bollywood would never have backed up a project like this. A definite watch.