Tooth Pari
Introduction
It is a Thursday but the new releases have started pouring in, already! With that, I finished watching the new Hindi series Tooth Pari which is now streaming on Netflix. The fantasy genre is that one genre which has been lesser tapped into in the Hindi market. The concept of a Vampire or a Dracula or even a Werewolf are delicious concepts with incredible character dynamics that can so easily be translated onscreen for a high-concept horror thriller. While the films from the west have tapped into it, the concept is still at a nascent stage back home.
It was in the 80s when the Ramsay brand of horror was at its peak. The pioneer of films featuring ghosts with creaking doors and windows like make for an entertaining watch then. But the horror genre has undergone much transition over the years. While it was Vikram Bhatt and his brand of horror that did rule in the 2000s, the concoction of horror with other genres did bring out fresher concepts onscreen. And while we have been privy to the horror comedy genre, the horror-romance genre is something that is slowly crawling its way in the market. With films like the Twilight franchise, the genre did gather some steam. Back home, we briefly got to witness a hint of the genre in the Hindi film Bhediya, although the core emotions could categorize it as a horror-comedy.
When the trailer of Tooth Pari dropped on Netflix, I did standup and take notice. Not only did I find the concept quirky but it did showcase a lot of potential to be a marquee series in India. I am all for fresher concepts being explored and would even lend out an encouraging hand in the review, if it is done well. That said, does Tooth Pari manage to impress, lets find out.
Story & Screenplay
Tooth Pari follows the story of a budding romance between a vampire and a dentist after the former visits the latter following a tooth problem. The story does have a delicious concept with two drastically different personalities meeting against the backdrop of two drastically different worlds. There are so many interesting permutations and combinations which is possible with this concept, but as an origin story, I quite liked the idea! Also, the setting of the story in the city of Kolkata did add so many layers to it. There is a mystical old world vibe to the city that does contribute well to the story. The screenplay standing at 8 episodes of roughly 40 odd minutes each does make for a compelling watch that just falters in bits and parts.
The drama is a slow burn and has a brilliant world building tagged to it. You are introduced to the protagonist, a ‘young’ female who is being ressurrected as a vampire and lives on the blood of humans. But there are rules which she has to follow. Guiding a fellow vampire in her first hunt, she does tell her only to suck enough blood for the person to stay alive. Any drop more might either kill him off or convert him into the other world. The world also brings with it, a fair share of its innovations and rules. So while the humans reside at the top, the vampires are buried deep inside an underground bunker. It did make for an interesting case instantly, of the two worlds colliding.
Amidst this, you are also introduced to the other protagonist, a timid dentist who still is quite protected and not quite privy to the big bad world. The proceedings here are interesting and engrossing particularly when the two worlds collide. And to add a little bit of texture to the drama, there are multiple stakeholders, including a secret society who is after the vampires. There is a lot going for the show here and I was quite impressed with its character dynamics and the character traits of different characters. The events are interesting with the budding romance unfolding against the backdrop of blood and gore which is used with ample amount of appetite here! Some of the subplots are interesting too and all of them are linked to the main plot in some sharp bit of writing.
The humour is quite quirky in its nature and presents itself in short bursts. However on the slight downside, the drama does get a tad repetitive in the middle. Probably some parts of the drama involving the discovery and coming to terms with the idea of being involved with a vampire did feel stretched and a little too convoluted for my liking. Also, the final act was too simplistic and it lacked that finishing touch at the end. The idea of a final showdown was good but too watered down that just did not create that impact. Yet, a small spin off at the end did set up things well for the second season thus summing up a screenplay which was quite well written despite the wobbly ending.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational and make for a pretty interesting watch. The music is quite good and it imbibes the whole setting of the city of Kolkata that is veiled in a cloud of mystery. The BGM is quite good too and blends well with the drama. The cinematography and the lighting give the drama a neo-noir look that does add to the overall intrigue of the drama. Director Pratim D. Gupta does a pretty impressive job with this winner of a concept on paper. His ability to churn out an interesting bunch of characters with an even more impressive world building does make for a compelling and intriguing watch. If I have to keep the final act aside, the direction is pretty good here.
Performances
The performances are reall good here by the ensemble cast. Barun Chanda as Haru, Anjan Dutt as Biren, Swaroopa Ghosh as Jaimini, Rajatabha Dutta as Dr. Bidyut, Chitrak Bandopadhyay as Badshah and Kharaj Mukherjee as Bishwabijoy, all have their moments to shine. Anindita Bose as Sreela is quite impressive despite a limited screen time. Keith Sequeira as Amar is first rate as well. Revathi as Luna Luka is outstanding with her demeanor and accent. I just wish she had a little more screen time here. Saswata Chatterjee as David is amazing to watch, almost sincere in the drama yet with fangs of comedy.
Tillotama Shome is such a fine actor and she is simply brilliant in a role that had a lot of grace with subtle elements of humour. Adil Hussain as AD is superb and he absolutely nails it with his mannerisms in what was a brilliant performance. Sikandar Kher as Kartik is an absolute pleasure to watch and witness onscreen. With his body language and demeanor with a tinge of dark humour, he is supremely impressive here in yet another outstanding act.
Shantanu Maheshwari as Roy has a quiet little charm to his character that does make him affable. He is really good to watch in another good performance after Gamgubai Kathiawadi. Tanya Maniktala as Rumi looks so beautiful and she does an incredible job her. She has a prolific screen presence and has so many emotions to play with, and she does a wonderful job with them.
Conclusion
The first season of Tooth Pari is a meaty concept that is flavourful in every bite. With good performances too, this one makes for a bloody good watch! Available on Netflix.