Chamak(Season 1)
Introduction
It is a Wednesday and we await yet another weekend with plenty of new releases lined up. And it does help your cause when you get a screener! With that, I finished watching the new Hindi/Punjabi show, the first season of Chamak which will start streaming on SonyLiv later today(on 6th Dec’22). Now, I am not a fan of trailers and I usually venture into the content ‘blind’ without knowing on what to expect. But things were different with Chamak. I happened to watch the trailer of Chamak and it seemed to be a one of a kind thriller with music at its epicenter.
It was recently that we witnessed an inconsistent father-son story in the recently released film Animal wherein the motivation of the protagonist was not highlighted at all. From the trailer, Chamak seems to follow a similar trajectory with the difference being that music seemed to be a huge aspect connected to the death of the character of the father, with his son seeking for answers while navigating the bylanes of the music industry in Punjab. That was a clear enough motivation, and I can’t quite recall a thriller being staged with music as its epicenter in recent times. The year 2023 has been a great one for the Punjabi Film Industry in the webspace with shows like Kohrra doing well, and in that regard, I was hoping Chamak is good as well. With much anticipation, I ventured into Chamak, does it manage to impress…let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
The first season of Chamak follows the story of a protagonist who wishes to uncover the mystery behind the death of his parents. As a result, he navigates through the Punjabi Music Industry to unravel the truth. The story here is fresh and truly a one of a kind thriller that helps you invest in the emotional angle of the protagonist, while laying a clear motivation of him wanting to get to know about his parents and their subsequent death. The screenplay standing at 6 episodes of roughly 50 odd minutes each does make for a gritty, dark and compelling watch although I did feel that the murder track mystery ought to have been concluded in this timeline.
The drama opens on a past timeline with a singer performing a concert in front of a live audience who are cheering for him. This until, he and his wife are shot suddenly in broad daylight by assailants, an event that instantly invites the user into the drama by garnering their attention straight up. This technique was effectively used in Gangs Of Wasseypur wherein Sultan and his men attack the house of Faizal, thereby peaking the interests of the audience. This event(in Chamak) is also used as a foreshadow, frequently playing out at regular junctures throughout the screenplay that adds an emotional layer to the drama. Meanwhile, you are introduced to the protagonist who escapes to India from Canada only to stumble upon the mystery involving the death of his parents. Thus, he begins his journey through the underbelly of the Music Industry to unravel the truth.
The proceedings are gripping and engrossing particularly when you notice the events centered around the music industry. The writers, in the process of the drama, have provided a searing commentary on the functioning of the music industry which includes their dark side too, a life outside the glitz and glamour that is prevalent in the public eye. But I liked how the writers were able to balance the mystery element in the drama with the edgy commentary on the music industry, with both elements working in tandem beautifully. A couple of subplots involving a love angle and the LGBTQIA track work well too.
One of the highlights of the writing here is the characterization of various characters, along with the dynamics that they share with each other. Each of the characters concerned did seem to either know the truth or have some inclination in the murder, while the writers do well in not to reveal much given that the entire story unfolds through the gaze of the protagonist. As a result, you are heavily invested in his journey as he befriends multiple people along the way with a fixed agenda to get to the bottom of it. And his rise to the top of the food chain as an artist, is a journey in itself that is dark and edgy while dabbling with the psychological aspect of his character. The issue that I had with the drama was right at the end wherein the current track ought to have been concluded but it wasn’t. Instead just a little hint is provided on what lies forward, which kind of ends the drama abruptly. A little conclusion would have helped, but taking nothing away from the journey here which is captivating and engaging and explores some real dark concepts along the way.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are extremely well written and they go perfectly with the mood of the drama. Also, characters conversing in Punjabi with each other added a layer of authenticity in the drama. The music is the soul of the show here with songs effectively used throughout its runtime. And every song is so well composed and arranged while placed perfectly in the narrative, so much so that it heightens the drama at various junctures while highlighting the trauma of the characters in the frame. The finale song has the potential to send you in a trance! This album will perhaps be in my top 5 of the year, and I would be revisiting its soundtrack soon! The BGM also throws a variety of sounds that express the different moods of the drama brilliantly. The cinematography approaches the drama with a dark theme, yet the frames aren’t entirely engulfed with a dark filter. There is a hint of playfulness and madness in the drama that is captured perfectly through the frames. The editing is crisp and sharp without any lags, so much so that the heavy runtime did not quite bother me. Director Rohit Jugraj does a terrific job in balancing the drama with its two tracks of murder and music. He effectively creates situations while providing a searing commentary on the music industry, and how it impacts the psyche of the individuals involved. A special mention of the LGBTQIA track that is treated with empathy here. The direction is excellent here!
Performances
The performances are excellent by the ensemble cast. So many singers make a guest appearance here and they all add to the star value of the show! Fida Gill as Sonam, Kuljeet Singh as Gurpal, Kapil Redekar as Tidda, Jarnail Singh as Amritpal, Malkit Roni as Mahipal and Mahabir Bhullar as Satnam have their moments to shine and each of them standout despite a limited screen time . Grippy Grewal as Tara Singh adds a lot of star power to the drama. Sharan Kaur as Navpreet has a wonderful screen presence and she manages to leave a mark too despite a limited screen time. Navneet Nishan as Rocky aunty is impressive. Dhanveer Singh as Jai Deol is fiery and aggressive in a wonderful job done. Rakesh Bedi as Teja is pretty good and I think his character may have a bigger role to play in Season 2.
Siddharth Shaw as Vicky has an interesting shade to his character(diabolically different from his role in Do Gubbare) and he does a good job too. Suvinder Vicky as Jugal is wonderfully restrained and he has such a towering presence onscreen here that makes him an intimidating personality. He was a treat to watch! Rajdip Shoker as Roop is dependable in a good job done. Hobby Dhaliwal as Baldev is a layered character and his gestures and expressions were quite absorbing to witness(and again a character to watch out for in Season 2). Mukesh Chhabra as Dimpi is excellent and he balances his playful nature on the show with undercurrents of sensitivity.
Ankita Goraya as Naaz is a character chained under the influence of her father and I think she was quite good to witness. Akasa Singh as Lata has a pleasant personality onscreen and her character is used as a catalyst in some form here, and I think she was terrific here! Manoj Pahwa as Pratap is a revelation here right from his looks to his demeanor. I haven’t seen him in such a drastically different character and he was simply phenomenal to witness onscreen. Mohit Malik as Guru is understated and pulls off his character with utmost sensitivity. The amount of emotions that he brought in towards the end of the show was quite brilliant!
Isha Talwar as Jazz has a charming personality and is such a natural to the core here. Her character might seem easy going but the emotional streak of her character coupled with her vulnerabilities and insecurities was wonderful to witness. Prince Kanwaljit Singh as Jagga is a very interesting character with shades of grey who will keep you on tenterhooks. He will send a shiver down your spine yet impart certain life lessons in a character who is quite unassuming and expertly portrayed here!
Paramvir Singh Cheema as Kaala is phenomenal here and how. He had a very complex character to portray wherein he had to balance his anxiety while addressing his biggest vulnerability involving his parents, all of it with a little streak of madness and calmness. These were such conflicting emotions and he hit all the right notes in his character. There was a certain stillness in his character while also being calculative along the way in what was a brilliant performance of the highest order! Also, his eyes were so expressive and they spoke a thousand words at times!
Conclusion
The first season of Chamak is a gritty whodunnit exploring the underbelly of the Punjabi Music Industry along with powerful performances that makes for a wonderful watch. Available on SonyLiv from 7th December ’23 onwards!