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‘Rudra’ Review: A Well-Crafted Thriller That Shows Ajay Devgn in a Fresh Avatar

'rudra: the edge of darkness' released on disney+ hotstar on 4 march., rudra: the edge of darkness.

A good old cop drama starring Ajay Devgn, seems a natural move for any OTT. The big screen’s favourite policeman is different here, no longer the hero of Rohit Shetty movies but a more humanised trope we see across Hollywood, a pained cop of tough exterior and soft interior, with a beautiful ex-wife and a dark past.

Ajay Devgn as Rudra in a still from  Rudra: The Edge of Darkness.

He is the man of all men, don’t we know these Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio types? Rudra is a darker Castle , as sanitised and clean perhaps leaning more towards Criminal Minds , where things do always end happily but the darkness lurks and each episode is a story of its own. Criminal UK like tension is created and the execution is equally good, crisp and high end.

For those who love classic cat mouse stories with lots of baggage from the past simmering just underneath the surface, this show is for you. It is no surprise that this show is inspired from the hit British show Luther.

The screenplay is very economic and the dialogues are performative, present and good fun. The dialoguebazi draws attention to itself but in the most positive way possible. The story itself is written keeping in mind well-known, well-loved tropes and archetypes and doesn’t experiment in that space but for those who are not very familiar with global productions of cop dramas, this maybe something fresher and it definitely is a fresher police avatar for Ajay Devgan, who hasn’t played something quite like this in a long time.

Ajay Devgn in a still from  Rudra.

(Photo Courtesy: YouTube)

The way the characters are introduced and the way they are established is a treat. In those scenes, there is so much to read between the lines and when a viewing demands you to do so, that is when things become more enjoyable. The story also is clearly educated and well crafted.

There is an obvious depth of research here because the Freudian theories at play, while hints of psychopathic, sociopathic, borderline personality disorder, depression and anxiety are also infused within the far from perfect ensemble of characters. There are also games of Russian roulette, the manic pixie syndrome, the aerial shots of cities like Mumbai (so reminiscent of Batman and the terror hiding behind those skyscrapers) and more.

Rudra tells the story of, well, DCP Rudra, a hardworking and the man for the job and his past and his present. With a team that is dedicated and unfairly even targeted, he is their saviour, he always knows which building will blow up and which murderer will be triggered and by what but Rudra has his own secrets.

He did a few things that hang over his head, a few lives lost he can’t account for and bring problematic women into his life and also, his marriage has fallen apart because as his ex-wife says, he is a man who understands love but not relationships.

Esha Deol in a still from  Rudra.

How will Rudra deal with and move past his own secrets and history all the while protecting a crime riddled Mumbai where things, murders, thieving, debauchery happen at the speed of light? Rudra is the kind of character who you wish was your friend, protector and maybe even personal bodyguard because in his presence you will feel safe.

Special mention for the direction, cinematography and editing of this show. The frames are conscious and well created, like carefully painted portraits. They are not lazy and by the way.

The lighting creates texture and atmosphere very well and the edit is seamless of course though, there are moments when the story seems convenient but that is the way this genre goes- things absolutely have to end at least halfway happily ever after so one can hold onto realism but also, let go of it just a little and enjoy what is fiction after all. In each episode, there is a pressing issue which is resolved at the end and there remain and loom larger questions and a larger story which stitches itself throughout the season.

Ajay Devgn and Raashi Khanna have impeccable chemistry and to see Esha Deol back on screen after years is still underwhelming though Atul Kulkarni and Ashwini Kalsekar as consistent and constant supporting cast members are as always good.

Ajay Devgn and Raashi Khanna in a still from  Rudra.

For those who are familiar with Luther, they already have a few spoilers and an idea of what is to come but for those who aren’t, be prepared for an atmospheric, Gotham city like crime drama which is deeply psychological and entertaining both.

Rudra is a breath of fresh air and yet, familiar and dramatic and makes me excited to see more of Ajay Devgn in web shows, challenging himself to do things outside his comfort zone.

A comedy next would be what I would love to see him in ( Golmaal is and will always be hilarious).

Keeping in mind the grim situation and reality of what Russia is doing to Ukraine, a show like this also feels heavier to watch than it should but at least here, you can step back and remember none of it is real and is nothing but a very convincing web show. A man like Rudra, we need him to step in and sort this mess out but alas, fiction remain fiction. I think I’m going to plant some sunflower seeds in my garden this week.

Rudra is produced by Applause Entertainment and is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

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Home » Review » Rudra: The Edge of Darkness review: Ajay Devgn is the ray of hope in this faltering but edgy thriller »

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness review: Ajay Devgn is the ray of hope in this faltering but edgy thriller

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a well-executed remake of the psychological crime thriller Luther , and everything from the casting to the gripping storytelling is spot-on. However, the series stumbles in execution due to an uneven pace and a focus on solving crimes quickly with little detail.

• Aishwarya Vasudevan

Last Updated: 09.35 AM, Mar 04, 2022

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a race-against-the-clock thriller set in Mumbai that delves into the minds of highly intelligent criminals and the detective who hunts them. Even as the overarching series arc continues, each episode in the series features a new threat, depicting the grave personal cost at which DCP Rudra Veer Singh pursues criminals and killers and the unlikely friendship that he forms with Aliyah, a genius sociopath. In the series, Mumbai is more than just a backdrop for our hero's vigilante actions; it serves as the stage for the battle between good and evil. Even amid darkness, Rudra believes in the existence of love in the world. Because, at the end of the day, humanity is all we have. And it is for this belief that Rudra gives up everything.

Over the years, we have seen Ajay Devgn in one or two cases in each of his cop roles. Now, just imagine getting him to solve cases throughout six episodes. Well, that's what Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is in a nutshell. The series is based on the hit British series Luther , which features Idris Elba in the titular role. Raashii Khanna is seen as Aliyah, a sociopath, originally played by Ruth Wilson.

In every episode, we see Devgn solving crimes, which get gorier and more gruesome as the series progresses. In the very first episode, it's established that Khanna is a criminal who befriends Devgn's character in an unrequited way. Although he is among the smartest cops, he fails to arrest her for her crimes, even though she keeps on repeating them the whole time.

But that lacks much convincing, knowing that he is a cop who was put on the job to wipe out criminals in the city. Yes, Luther has a similar plot, but it could have been a correction in a sense. Instead, we see Aliyah becoming Rudra's go-to person for catching other criminals.

Every episode is like a Crime Patrol episode, where we see the weirdest and most dangerous criminals going on killing sprees in the bylanes of Mumbai. Most of the episodes are set against the backdrop of night, as the title says, "Edge of darkness."

The first three episodes are thrilling enough to make the whole series gripping and intriguing. Every episode has a serial killer who is revealed in just a few minutes. Yes, the series is nowhere near the whodunit genre, and we don't have to scratch our heads to figure out who the killer is.

Although I have not watched Luther , I know that in the British series, the hunt for the killer stretches for more than an episode. While in Rudra , it's more about Devgn's character facing his inner demons and showcasing his suave while solving the case in a jiffy in just one episode. The tagline of the series has been repeated so many times that it just becomes a known dialogue when the makers are going to put it in the next time.

Rudra is backed by an exemplary supporting cast and interesting subplots, so to speak. But everything goes lost in translation when lifting Devgn up and above all. Knowing the actor's calibre for his work in movies from the past three decades, Rudra could have been a cakewalk. Instead, the makers make it more challenging to show the effortless actions of the talented star. Devgn is shown more as an emotional person and his action sequences get meddled with that, which is kind of a dealbreaker.

Not just that, the other supporting cast, including Atul Kulkarni, Ashwini Kalsekar, Tarun Gahlot, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Satyadeep Misra, has a great character graph. But barring Kulkarni, no one else gets to show their acting prowess or make any impact with their characters. As the head of the Special Crimes Unit, Kalsekar was her usual brilliant self. Her no-nonsense attitude is something she brings to every character she plays.

While Kulkarni matches up with Devgn as his colleague, his character trajectory becomes predictable by the time you reach the third episode. So does Khanna, in her seductive avatar. The actor, Aliyah, tries to induce sexual tension between Rudra and her. But, their chemistry is not as electrifying as it demands it to be. The actor, who also makes her OTT debut with Rudra , seamlessly gets forgotten and just bounces back and forth once or twice in each episode.

Another actor who has also made her way to OTT is Esha Deol Takhtani. With a heavy heart, I have to say that she is the most disappointing aspect of Rudra . Unfortunately, it feels like the actor didn't make enough efforts to create even a slight impact as her character, Shaila, the estranged wife of Rudra.

With Rudra, director Rajesh Mapuskar (like his previous works Ferrari Ki Sawaari and Marathi film Ventilator ) tried to make it heavy on emotions, which sadly doesn't work in favour of the series. The writing by Ishaan Trivedi, Abbas, and Hussain Dalal sticks to Neil Cross' creation but gives it a very modern Indian approach. However, the fast pace of solving crimes in each episode fails to create the punch that it aspires to be.

It's an out-and-out Ajay Devgn series, and the actor has made a fantastic OTT debut. However, there are a few emotional sequences that seem slightly uncomfortable for the actor, knowing that he is a huge action star. Nevertheless, the actor makes it up by letting his eyes do the talking, but there is less to converse about this time.

There's scope for the second season going by the story of the original series. But the end gives a little chance to look forward to the next instalment.

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a well-made remake of the psychological crime thriller Luther , and everything from the casting to the compelling storytelling is apt. However, the series falters in its execution with the uneven pace and getting crimes solved quickly with limited detailing.

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Rudra Review: Ajay Devgn's Performance Helps Paper Over The Rough Edges

Rudra review: those who haven't seen luther at all or have seen it but do not remember much of it will find enough in rudra: the edge of darkness to keep them hooked..

A still from the trailer. (Image courtesy: youtube )

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Esha Deol, Raashi Khanna, Atul Kulkarni, Ashwini Kalsekar, Tarun Gahlot, Ashish Vidyarthi, Rajiv Kachroo, Milind Gunaji, Luke Kenny, Vikram Singh Chauhan, K. C. Shankar, Satyadeep Misra, Saad Chaudhary and Rajesh Jais

Director: Rajesh Mapuskar

Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

Ajay Devgn suppresses his big-screen super-cop instincts to completely inhabit the troubled titular sleuth in Rudra: The Edge of Darkness , a slick but slavish remake of Luther, the British thriller series that, from 2011 to 2019, yielded 20 twisty episodes across five instalments.

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness brings together a bunch of tales of dark desires and desperate deeds that put a famed police investigator to the test. As the man goes about cracking the befuddling cases, he has to reckon with raging emotional demons that threaten to drive him off the rails.

Devgn's performance is among a handful of things that help the show paper over its rough edges. In his web debut, the Bollywood A-lister isn't a blustering, trigger-happy man in uniform who thrives on instilling the fear of God in law-lawbreakers. He plays Rudraveer Singh, a flawed but firm plainclothes detective who has solved more cases for his unit and got into more disciplinary flaps than any other officer.

On one level, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a somewhat unimaginative replication of the BBC Studios original, which benefitted no end from a full-bodied, loose-limbed star turn by Idris Elba, whose expressive face and mercurial demeanour created a lively canvas that conveyed a wide range of emotions and behavioural notes.

The Applause Entertainment production, too, depends wholly on the impact that the lead actor makes in the guise of a workaholic, sullen cop who is perpetually on a short fuse and struggling to come to terms with the decision of his wife Shaila (Esha Deol Takhtani) to leave him for another man (Satyadeep Misra).

Keeping his anger and agony in check is a big challenge as Rudra is drawn into tackling personal and professional issues without crossing the line. His failed marriage makes him emotionally volatile all right, but it does not rob him of his innate deductive acumen.

Rudra, as intriguing a policeman you will ever see in a Hindi web series, is filled with angst, prone to making impulsive decisions and in the habit of playing fast and loose with rules. No matter how tough things get for him, he remains focused on the job of bringing dangerous criminals to book while not always playing strictly by the book.

At stake are love, friendship and duty, but Rudra can take none of it at face value. As loyalties and realities, contexts and compulsions shift incessantly and both criminals and colleagues keep him on his toes, he must dodge a flurry of temptations and provocations.

Rudra is part of a crack investigation unit headed by joint commissioner of police Deepali Handa (Ashwini Kalsekar), who stands by him when other superiors are determined to let him cool his heels away from the action after he is suspended for using excessive force in pursuit of a paedophile.

On his return to work - his boss describes it as "an investment" when another senior police officer thinks of it as "a risk" - Rudra runs into Aliyah Choksi (Raashii Khanna), a young woman suspected of murdering her parents and dog. She is engaged in research on black holes and prides herself on being a genius. An odd relationship develops between Rudra and the cheeky girl - she is both an adversary and an ally.

In Luther, Ruth Wilson interpreted the character as an angsty yet cocky woman playing mind games with the male protagonist. Here, Raashii Khanna is a coquettish femme fatale who grins and grimaces her way through palpably vexed situations, undermining the innate efficacy of the role.

In the six episodes that constitute Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, the cop's work entails taking on criminal minds and wading through serious muck. An army commando on a murder spree, an artist with a grisly fetish, a cabbie-turned-serial killer and a ruthless mobster who wants to grab a few pieces of diamonds in the possession of a fine art dealer. Rudra is assisted by Prabal Thakur (Tarun Gahlot), a rookie who reveres him.

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness , with the exception of very minor tweaks necessitated by the change in backdrop, faithfully sticks to the Luther storyline. While that could be deemed a source of strength in some respects, one cannot help feeling that the writers of the show (Ishan Trivedi, Abbas Dalal and Hussain Dalal) could have done with a greater degree of localization.

The transference of the setting from London to Mumbai is a touch forced because the backdrop and real people of the cosmopolitan city do not become an integral part of the narrative. The Marathi ambience is conspicuous by its absence in the culture-agnostic Rudra: The Edge of Darkness . In fact, none of the major characters in the show either speaks even a smattering of the local language or answer to a name that could link them to the local ethos in any manner.

Those who haven't seen Luther at all or have seen it but do not remember much of it will find enough in Rudra: The Edge of Darkness to keep them hooked. This despite the fact that every episode begins by revealing the identity of the wrongdoer and the precise nature of the crime. It then follows Rudra and Prabal as they gather evidence against the culprit.

Atul Kulkarni plays the role of a police officer who has worked alongside Rudra for two decades and is his closest friend in the unit. The screenplay gives the fine actor little scope to display his wares until the fourth episode. In the last two parts of the show, Kulkarni springs to life and raises the game several notches. The series suddenly turns far more gripping.

The psychopaths that Rudra encounters are played by K.C. Shankar, Hemant Kher and Luke Kenny, but neither comes anywhere near upstaging the star of the show. But once Kulkarni comes into his own, he is more than a match for the lead actor. To Devgn's credit, he sticks to his guns and does not seek to get ahead of, or above, the script.

Ashwini Kalsekar and Tarun Gahlot are perfect as Rudra's boss and assistant respectively and do not enough not to let memories of Saskia Reeves and Warren Brown eclipse their performances, but Esha Deol Takhtani does not quite capture the verve that Indira Varma brought to the role in Luther.

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Rudra: The Edge of Darkness isn't a big-budget movie riding on mere star power. It is the script that holds the key. If only the early passages weren't as tepid as they are, this would have been a worthy Indian version of a very British thriller. As things stand, the series passes muster only because of a few of the performances and its sustained technical finesse.

If Rudra: The Edge of Darkness  does not leave you asking for more, it isn't a complete turnoff either.

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Rudra The Edge of Darkness Review: Welcome back, Ajay Devgn. We missed you

Ajay devgn forays into the ott space with rudra: the edge of darkness, a remake of idris elba's luther. set the original aside, watch with an open mind, and the singham star will not disappoint you. rudra is currently streaming on disney+ hotstar..

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"Pura desh jumlon pe chal raha hai, relationship kya cheez hai?" says Rudra, the bad-cop-with-a-good-heart to his female boss, giving us a peek into his personal life, whilst they discuss a case. Just another office, just another coffee-break talk, just one of the many one-liners Ajay Devgn's Rudraveer Singh deftly delivers.

Take a moment to let that purported jibe - and the fact that Ajay Devgn was the one delivering it - sink in, and keep watching Disney+ Hotstar's Rudra: The Edge of Darkness. The 6-part series is a remake of Idris Elba's BBC drama Luther. Let that be just an FYI, and then forget all about Luther. One must, in order to give Ajay's OTT debut a fair chance. For Ajay isn't stepping into Elba's shoes, per se. He has a shiny new one, and he seems quite at ease in them.

Much like Elba’s John Luther, Rudra's criminal bent of mind helps him crack cases that seem uncrackable. He even admits that there may be more competent cops in the department, but their minds are not as crooked as his. In that, Rajesh Mapuskar, director, stays faithful to the material. Remakes could very easily turn into jumlas. To dive into the depths of Deepika Padukone's Gehraiyaan only to realise it is Woody Allen's Matchpoint felt just that. But by rigidly sticking to the original, Mapuskar has ensured the audience doesn't feel cheated.

But the timelines of these two universes - Ajay's and Elba's - diverge when it comes to the man himself. Juxtaposed with Elba's volatile, almost violent Luther, Ajay's Rudra is quiet, mostly speaking softly through his clenched teeth, more Omkara than Gangajal or Singham. Yet, providing the audience with ample opportunity to whistle, even as they sit in the quietude of their homes, as opposed to the theatres. Those one-liners, that's where they come in handy.

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness also marks Esha Deol's OTT debut, as Rudra's estranged wife Shaila Addagatla (Zoe Luther, played by Indira Varma in the original). She and Rudra are separated. And while that is a great source of pain for him, great enough to punch a hole in a drywall in a scene where she tells him she's met someone else, Esha's placid expressions grab our attention. And the camera is not even on her. Aside from a little Yuva hangover where Ajay and Esha were cast opposite each other, her presence does little for us. And it's a shame, given the vitality of her character in the storyline.

Once you look away from Rashii Khanna's extra-dilated eyes and stark-red wig-ish hairdo, her Dr Aliyah Choksi (Alice Morgan, played by Ruth Wilson in the original), grows on you. A child prodigy, as it were, Rudra meets her just after she's murdered her parents and her dog so calculatedly that he's unable to pin her. She pops up into his personal and professional life every now and then, stalking him and Shaila at her will, insinuating he's into her one moment and holding a knife to his throat the other, and sometimes helping him decode a criminal mind. Together, Rudra and Aliyah make a deliciously nasty pair, feeding off each other's crazies.

The darkness the makers so loudly advertise in the title, though, was nowhere to be found. Or at least not in the first three episodes provided for review. One wonders, therefore, if branding something as 'dark' makes for a better sales pitch? As if to position yourself in the content jungle that OTTs have become, gritty is the way to go, and it's not enough to show the audience that, one must tell it to them, lest they miss it.

ALSO READ | Rudra trailer out now! Ajay Devgn's intense avatar in debut web series will leave you gripped Published By: Nairita Mukherjee Published On: Mar 4, 2022 --- ENDS ---

Rudra: The Edge Of Darkness Review – Ajay Devgn Makes Majestic Digital Debut, Raashi Khanna Steals Spotlight In The Show

By Ocean Rana

Ajay Devgn marks an impressive digital debut in Rudra: The Edge Of Darkness . The thriller show is an adaptation of the superhit British show, Luther .

Release: March 4

Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Director: Rajesh Mapuskar

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Raashi Khanna, Atul Kulkarni, Esha Deol and Ashwini Kalsekar

Actor Ajay Devgn marks a bad-ass digital debut playing the super-cop in the thriller drama, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness . As the city is engulfed in crime again, DCP Rudraveer Singh is back on board!

RUDRA: THE EDGE OF DARKNESS – PLOT, CAST, STORYLINE

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness , adapted from BBC’s Luther , strives to portray the story in the Indian feel for the local audience. Ajay Devgn’s masterpiece is a great addition to the shows catalogued under the crime thriller genre.

STORYLINE OF RUDRA: THE EDGE OF DARKNESS

The crime drama revolves around a cop, DCP Rudraveer Singh, who deals with highly intellectual criminal cases to save the town from the shadows of heinous crimes. Set over 6 long episodes, the story tracks Rudra’s turbulent life, involving his estranged wife having an affair with another man, while he chases evil criminals under the system’s radar despite being one of its best minds at work.

As the story moves forward, Alia, a psychopathic criminal, comes into the life of Rudra. The slow-burning chemistry between the super-cop and the mastermind criminal is the heart of the show.

Despite lengthy episodes, the show will keep you engaged until the end with unanticipated twists and turns. Jay Sheela Bhansal and Upen Chauhan made efforts to blend the show in the Indian feel as much as possible.

STAR CAST OF RUDRA: THE EDGE OF DARKNESS

The action-packed thriller drama involves outstanding performances by the stellar cast positioned by director Rajesh Mapuskar. Ajay Devgn, acclaimed for his prominent roles as a cop in Gangaajal and Singham , again smashes the character of the super-cop Rudra in his digital debut. Devgn’s intense look, dialogue delivery and discrete persona fire up the show.

Ashwini Kalsekar is seen as the most competent officer of the department, heading the Special Crimes Unit of Mumbai.

Atul Kulkarni , Tarun Gahlot, Ashish Vidyarthi plays the perfect professionals as Rudra’s colleagues. Esha Deol plays the character of Rudra’s wife. Satyadeep Mishra features the slightly soft, unproblematic boyfriend who always feels threatened by Rudra’s machismo.

Raashi Khanna steals the limelight in the show. The actress plays the psychopath criminal challenging Rudra at every single move of her game plan. The sizzling chemistry between the duo keeps the show engaging and interesting after each episode.

The gorgeous cinematography and arresting visuals are quite fascinating. The choice of the cast, execution and screenplay perfectly illustrates the thriller series and keep the audiences gripped until the end.

Overall, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a highly recommended show for all crime thriller lovers. Ajay Devgn’s fans must watch the series to feast their eyes with his super-cop fierce avatar as DCP Rudraveer Singh. The show is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

Research Scholar/ Content Writer; Assistant Professor at SAGE University, Indore

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Rudra Review: Ajay Devgn starrer is high on nail-biting suspense but lacks pace

Simran Khanna

• March 4, 2022
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Series : Rudra The Edge of Darkness

Director: Rajesh Mapuskar

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Esha Deol, Raashi Khanna, Atul Kulkarni, Ashwini Kalsekar

Bollywood Bubble Rating: 3.5

Ajay Devgn has made a smashing debut on OTT and how with Rudra: The Edge of Darkness. Apprehensions were quite evident when the news of a Luther remake was announced, but Ajay Devgn has just nailed the role to the T. Ajay Devgn stepped into the shoes of Edris Elba where he is seen as a badass urbanised version of his much loved role Singham. The series begins with a mysterious chase between Rudra and a criminal while his team tries to find the victim who is a young girl. We see Ajay in a fearless avatar lurking or better yet ‘searching’ for something in the dark shadows. Later, he is welcomed back by Commissioner Deepali Handa as DCP after his vacation. Deepali is a no nonsense cop who understands Rudra’s unusual ways of solving cases but also looks for a backing of hard facts. Further we witness a mysterious call from Aliyah Choksi (Raashi Khanna) to the police about her parents’ murder. Later it is unveiled that Rudra has got a clean chit after almost being suspended in a case. While he is considered an asset, most see him as a liability. Meanwhile, Aliyah is a child prodigy who is doing clinical research on a special mission.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Disney+ Hotstar (@disneyplushotstar)

Rudra is quite beautifully woven together when it comes to different plotlines. But they can be a bit of a drag. We also get to see a glimpse of Rudra and his wife Shaila’s (Esha Deol) relationship which seems to have broken to pieces. Shaila seems to be dragged into the dark world of Rudra’s profession in many ways than one and she was more than done with him as Shaila has found a new ‘someone special’. The scene where Shaila tells Rudra that she has met someone will break your heart seeing Rudra’s reaction. This is also where we see Ajay Devgn’s brilliant acting at it’s best as his minimal reaction screamed the big emotion of a heartbreak.

Rudra is backed by a strong knit team of Atul Kulkarni, Ashwini Kalsekar Ashish Vidyarthi, Tarun Gahlot and others. Atul Kulkarni plays the strong support of Rudra and is always reading in between the lines of what his DCP is actually trying to say. With a calm demeanor and a stern perspective, his character sure is gravitating.

The chemistry between Ajay and Raashii is palpalble. Their slow burn flirting sure is seen throughout the series and it sure does keep you on your toes. Rudra is more urabnised than Luther’s first season and it is a fresh take on your usual crime series. While the show is spread across only 6 episodes, sometimes your just left thinking when will things pickup pace but the suspense only makes the wait worth it. But, a special mention has to go to the baddies of Rudra, who really put the life in the series. KC Shankar, Hemant Kher, Luke Kenny sure were creepy but they sure did put up a stellar performance. While Luther was loud in the British series, Ajay as Rudra was seen calm and suave.

All in all, it is a more then brilliant debut for Ajay on OTT with Rudra. If you can overlook the pace; which was just a personal preferce for me, the show should make it to your must watch list.

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An uncomfortable show; Review on Rudra: The Edge of Darkness

First things first, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness doesn’t make for comfortable viewing. While there is an overdose of crime dramas and thrillers on various OTT channels, the dark side is touched upon only by a handful of these. The names that come to mind are Paatal Lok and Abhay. While the former still has a bit of humour in there, the latter stays dark, though in a filmy style.

However, Rudra takes a totally different turn. It is dark not just in terms of theme but also figuratively and literally. You don’t get to see much of a sunlight, the atmosphere created is purposefully claustrophobic, no one smiles, no once cracks a joke, and the mood is grim right through.

As a result, you hunt for some breathing space, as you feel stuffed amidst all the psychological killers who could well be straight out of Criminal Minds. Someone kills because she wants her genius to be proved, another abducts women because he wants to drink their blood, a crazy guy loves to sniff lady handbags, while another amputates women at will till he gets what he wants.

The world is indeed dark out there in this psychological thriller and our hero (Ajay Devgn) waits for them in the dark, more so as his own life is not rosy either, what with a wife (Esha Deol) who has moved on and an admirer (Raashi Khanna) whom he doesn’t want around him.

Director Rajesh Mapuskar takes a shift from making a feel-good film like Ferrari Ki Sawaari to something gritty like Rudra where you need a strong stomach to digest the ongoing proceedings. It takes time to get on with the mood of every episode that lasts close to an hour. Of course, presence of Ajay Devgn helps, though he is more in the mode of Govind Nihalani’s Thakshak than Rohit Shetty’s Singham. So in Rudra, cars don’t fly; instead it’s a click of a pen in the interrogation room that adds to the tension.

As a result, the first season may very well witness a polarised response from the viewers. Those who like even their crime tales to be solved in a fun way, Rudra may turn out to be way too dark. However, those who have been exposed to such kind of web series from the West—especially during the last few years of the pandemic when OTT offered way too many of these across various channels—then this Indian adaptation of BBC’s Luther would make for a good watch.

Take a pick!.

Rudra Director: Rajesh Mapuskar Genre: Crime Platform: Disney + Hotstar Language: Hindi Rating: 3/5

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Rudra The Edge of Darkness Trailer: Ajay Devgn’s Luther Remake Out March 4 on Disney+ Hotstar

Devgn and raashii khanna step into the shoes of idris elba and ruth wilson..

Photo Credit: Disney+ Hotstar

Raashii Khanna, Ajay Devgn in Rudra: The Edge of Darkness trailer

• Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a remake of a British series
• Trailer for Rudra doesn’t inspire confidence in its quality
• Rajesh Mapuskar is the director on Hotstar Specials Rudra

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness trailer and release date is here — the show is out March 4. On Monday as promised, Disney+ Hotstar unveiled a second trailer for its next Hotstar Specials original series led by Ajay Devgn. He plays DCP Rudra Veer Singh who has solved the most cases for SCU — we're never told what it is, but I'm guessing Special Crimes Unit? — in the past, before he returns to confront new problems. His marriage is falling apart, his wife (Esha Deol) is seeing someone else. Rudra is chasing a villain who has a particular dislike for the police. And in his greatest challenge yet, he's confronted by the mysterious Aliyah (Raashii Khanna) who wonders how Rudra catches the criminals who don't slip up.

If some of that sounded eerily similar to you, that's because Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is an official remake of the Idris Elba-led British crime drama series Luther — which ran for five short seasons on BBC One and is set to get a movie follow-up likely in 2022 — that has also been adapted in France, Russia, and South Korea previously. (An American version with Mahershala Ali and Rosario Dawson was in the works, but never materialised.) The Rudra: The Edge of Darkness trailer isn't quite promising though, with Devgn spouting generic dialogues and unable to channel Elba's grittiness. And Khanna is nowhere close to Ruth Wilson's charismatic performance from Luther .

“My character in Rudra: The Edge Of Darkness is possibly the greyest character you may have never witnessed before,” Devgn said in a prepared statement. “This has been both challenging and inspiring for me, and I am elated to share the magic of Rudra with my fans across the world. I hope they fall in love with the show as intensely as we have worked towards the making of it.”

Mapuskar added: “Rudra spins a darker and grimmer tale to the usual cop and crime drama. The psyche of criminal minds is explored unusually with a hero who is quite dark himself, all through his pursuit of the truth. It was absorbing and enthralling to make and I hope it feels like that in the viewing.”

In addition to Devgn as DCP Rudra Veer Singh, Khanna as Aliyah, and Deol as Mrs. Singh, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness also stars Atul Kulkarni as Singh's cop colleague. Ashwini Kalsekar, Ashish Vidyarthi, Milind Gunaji, and Luke Kenny have undisclosed roles. Rajesh Mapuskar — best known for the 2016 National Award-winning Marathi-language comedy-drama movie Ventilator — directs all episodes of the new Hotstar Specials series. Jay Sheela Bansal (Poison on Zee5) is the writer. Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a production of Applause Entertainment and BBC Studios India, with BBC India's Sameer Nair and Applause content chief Deepak Segal among the producers.

For Disney+ Hotstar , Rudra: The Edge of Darkness will be the third Hotstar Specials original series in 2022, following the Shefali Shah and Kirti Kulhari-led thriller Human in January, and the ‘murder mystery' drama The Great Indian Murder earlier in February, whose ensemble consisted of Richa Chadha, Pratik Gandhi, Ashutosh Rana, Raghubir Yadav, Sharib Hashmi, and Shashank Arora. Devgn, incidentally, was among the producers on The Great Indian Murder.

Here's the official synopsis for Rudra: The Edge of Darkness —

Set in Mumbai, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a race-against-the-clock thriller that delves into the psyche of highly intelligent criminals and the detective who hunts them. Each episode in the series features a new threat even as the overarching series arc continues, portraying the grave personal cost at which DCP Rudra Veer Singh pursues criminals and killers and the unlikely friendship that he forms with Aliyah, a genius sociopath. In the series, Mumbai, the metropolis goes beyond being a mere backdrop for our hero's vigilante actions but sets the very stage upon which the war between good and evil is waged. Even in this darkness, Rudra believes there is still love in the world. Because in the end, humanity is all we've got. And it is for this belief that Rudra sacrifices everything he has.

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is out March 4 on Disney+ Hotstar in India and elsewhere, and Hulu in the US.

Rudra: The Edge of Darkness

• Release Date 4 March 2022
• Genre Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Cast Ajay Devgn, Raashii Khanna, Esha Deol, Atul Kulkarni, Ashwini Kalsekar, Tarun Gahlot, Ashish Vidyarthi, Satyadeep Misra, Luke Kenny
• Director Rajesh Mapuskar
• Producer Sameer Nair

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Rudra: The Edge of Darkness Is A Cold And Uninspired Remake   

Director : Rajesh Mapuskar Writers : Upen Chauhan, Jay Sheela Bansal Cast : Ajay Devgn, Raashi Khanna, Atul Kulkarni, Esha Deol, Satyadeep Mishra, Ashwini Kalsekar

Streaming on : Disney+ Hotstar

There are two ways to look at Rudra: The Edge of Darkness , the new six-part web series starring Ajay Devgn in his long-form debut. First, as a standalone Indian crime thriller, made for those who haven't seen the original source material, Luther . The British Idris Elba -starring show is leaving Amazon Prime Video in less than two weeks, so the timing of Rudra 's release is uncanny. Directed by Rajesh Mapuskar ( Ferrari ki Sawaari, Ventilator ), Rudra follows the crime-per-episode template, centered on a super-cop named Rudraveer Singh who broods his way through the killer-infested streets of Mumbai. Like any self-respecting fictional detective, the man is tortured, revered within the police force, has an estranged wife and forms an unusual bond with a young female psychopath. Every episode presents a twisted new adversary: a child-stealing paedophile, a deranged Kasab-like shooter who only murders cops, an occult artist who drains the body of young mothers and paints in blood, a cuckolded serial killer who preys on single women, and so on. DSP Rudraveer goes about tracking down these culprits with predestined ease. His brilliance is the one-stop answer to riddles that the writing cannot unlock. When there is no explanation, he just blurts out the solution because he's Rudra. The villains are campy if not entirely compelling. In terms of suspense and detailing, the series is middling at best. Mapuskar paints a Gotham-like portrait of Mumbai, even opening with a shot straight out of The Dark Knight , with Rudra resembling a chain-smoking crusader without his cape. Devgn inverts the Singham template to reveal a more intellectual and simmering version of the Bollywood action cop, as though his Vanraj from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam were aiding a city instead of a heartbroken wife. Devgn is usually solid in these roles – as Gangubai Kathiawadi recently showed – but the problem with his Rudra turn is that he makes it impossible to tell inwardness from inertia. That dead tone stops feeling ponderous after the first episode. His violent bouts look woefully planted. Non-acting can often be confused as restrained acting, and naming the character after a Hindu deity of storms (Rudra=roarer) doesn't make the muted performance any smarter. Of the others, Esha Deol is the weakest link as Rudra's wife, Shaila; she struggles to speak, emote and generally exist amidst an otherwise-solid cast. A graying Atul Kulkarni deserves better than mediocre thrillers (after A Thursday and City of Dreams ). And of the many villains, Raashi Khanna is intriguing as the red-haired psychopath/genius who gets obsessed with Rudra (not sure why), Hemant Kher (from Scam 1992 ) is terrific as the cuckolded cab driver, and K.C. Shankar continues his streaming hot streak as the occult blood-drinking artist. 

The second way to look at Rudra , of course, is through its actual lens: as an Indian remake of a British series. Rudra , like several of its Disney+ Hotstar contemporaries ( Criminal Justice, Out of Love, The Office, Hostages, The Great Indian Murder – everything except Aarya ), profusely falters in this regard. The show is a moment-by-moment, character-by-character, line-by-line remake of Luther, right down to Ananya Birla's cosmetically bleak theme song. Which isn't a problem per se, but the lack of cultural translation – the lack of desire to "adapt" over copy+pasting – is frustrating. (A Hindi dub might have been just as rewarding). In other words, it traces the lines but refuses to fill them with colour. For those like myself who've watched and liked Luther , and therefore know all the twists and arcs, Rudra is bland in terms of narrative identity and texture. When you know what's going to happen, you start to notice other aspects of a show that's going through the motions. There seemed to be plenty of scope to craft a rooted urban noir thriller, breaking the clutter of convoluted small-town/hill-station whodunnits that have all but hijacked the Indian web landscape. 

Yet, Rudra remains steadfastly derivative in its vision. It shoots Mumbai, too, like a cold and gloomy London. The setting has no character or geography of its own. One can still handle the stylized indoor spaces – Shaila's designer cottage, psychopath Aaliyah's posh penthouse, the Arabian sea view from every other shady location. It's the outdoor portions that really got my goat, though. I've said it before, too: Crime has a different language in Western thrillers, where the population is sparse and nights are secluded. Stories there can make murders – or at least lurking shadows – look plausible. But Rudra insists on retaining the original set pieces, with miniscule to no changes. The streets of Mumbai are almost always empty in Rudra: whether it's a cop being gunned down at an eerily deserted Kala Ghoda circle, a taxi picking up women in areas where there is miraculously not a soul for miles, a prostitute screaming for help in a dense slum area, or even Rudra and Aaliyah meeting "discretely" near the Gateway of India. Most of these scenes unfurl in the very heart of the city, not in its outskirts where an abandoned factory or two can pass off as cover. The density of people in Mumbai and other Indian metropolitans plays a huge role in the way crimes are committed and laws are broken. Rudra rarely acknowledges this detail, going ahead with the most elaborately staged sequences, where places look designed and controlled to enable a fear of isolation. It doesn't have the chutzpah of a Sherlock – which premiered a few months after the milder but culturally significant Luther – to distract us from the physicality of the plot either. Rudra is a legend but he's no freaky genius, so his haunted personality is supposed to humanize the mystery of these crimes. As it turns out, Rudra is too generic for its form. The handful of times it does dare to deviate from Luther to add its own two bits are, incidentally, the worst scenes of the show. For instance, when Rudra tracks down one of the killers, the madman decides to injure himself to frame Rudra and win public sympathy. He breaks his own bones, smashes his own head into the walls, chuckles like a hyena and keeps provoking Rudra, who continues to passively smoke his cigarette. Rudra then points to a cellphone camera recording the whole thing, which is one of the laziest crime-resolving tricks in the book. A recorder does the same job in the finale. You'd think that people who go through the hassle of kidnapping and hiding bodies in the bustle of Mumbai would be wiser than such rookie mistakes. But Rudra needs its hero moments. As a result, it becomes the equivalent of a student copying its partner's exam paper and then adding fake strikeouts to make the answers look authentic and thought through. Or, keeping with the theme, a copycat killer who chops off an extra finger to personalize a conquest. Whether they get away depends on the supervisor – the audience – who must choose to approach this conflict as either a Rudra or a Luther. To paraphrase – or perhaps remake – an old saying: Fool us twice, shame on us.

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Kalki 2898 AD

A modern-day avatar of Vishnu, a Hindu god, who is believed to have descended to earth to protect the world from evil forces. A modern-day avatar of Vishnu, a Hindu god, who is believed to have descended to earth to protect the world from evil forces. A modern-day avatar of Vishnu, a Hindu god, who is believed to have descended to earth to protect the world from evil forces.

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• Soundtracks Bhairava Anthem (Telugu) Music by Santhosh Narayanan Lyrics by Ramjogayya Sastry Vocals by Deepak Blue & Diljit Dosanjh

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