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Choona is more of a political satire in the first half of the show but soon becomes a heist drama. The first half is where we get to see the titular antagonist take center stage and let the viewers know he is the man people cannot mess with.

Spoilers Ahead

Avinash Shukla, aka Shuklaji, for his party members and the people of the constituency, is a man who is obsessed with power and astrology. He is well-read on both topics, and he makes sure to merge both subjects and use them to his benefit. He is a staunchly religious man, but he has committed brutal crimes to safeguard his power and influence in his constituency. Avinash makes all his moves as per the astrological charts because he must make sure nothing goes wrong. He commits crimes, extorts, plans his political moves, and everything else as per his chart in the...

Choona, the brand-new political satire that became a heist drama, will be reminiscent of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven. Choona takes the audience through the whole world of the political Game of Thrones and how bribery, extortion, corruption, scheming, and plotting become inherent parts of this circle. To break this cycle, a bunch of people want to go against the most influential politician in the state. It would require a huge amount of manpower to put him out of power through a robbery. What will the gang’s plan of action be, and how will they make sure the heist is a success?

Spoilers Ahead

Who Is Avinash Shukla?

Choona began with the state minister for urban development, Avinash Shukla, requesting the presence of his loyal Pandit because he complained of being haunted by dreams that predicted his defeat. Avinash, who is known as Shuklaji, is a religious man, a staunch believer,...

Choona is an exceptional tale of a heist coupled with political satire set in the Hindi heartland of India. This Netflix original did everything right in almost all departments and allowed the audience to indulge in the political nitty-gritty of a state that is known for rampant corruption. Several characters in Choona come forward to dethrone a corrupt politician who seems to be too confident for his own good.

The first season of Choona ended with the gang completing the heist, robbing 800 crores of cash from Shukla’s party office. The man was in utmost shock at the way the entire burglary was conducted. It is understood that this gang took advantage of Shukla’s belief system and his paranoia regarding the protection of the money he accumulated. All of them made sure to come forward and reveal their identities to let Shukla know the motive behind this robbery. All...

There’s been a handful of political satires made in the Hindi cinema space. The prominent examples are Peepli Live and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. These two are cult favorites, and not many filmmakers have been able to tap into the genre. The new Netflix India Original created and directed by Pushpendra Nath Misra, Choona is a political and social satire set in the heartland of Uttar Pradesh. The show was released on September 29, 2023, on the platform.

Choona is a Hindi word that essentially means quicklime, but in the context of this eight-episode-long show, it means to cheat. The show is set amidst a hotbed of politics when State Cabinet Minister Avinash Shukla is on the verge of destabilizing the current Chief Minister, paving the way for himself to be the next leader of the state. Avinash is ruthless and religious and is vocal about his ambitions. The man is...