HASMUKH MOVIE REVIEW CLICK TO RATE THE MOVIE

In one scene of the new Netflix show Hasmukh, a politician accidentally shoots himself in the foot while laughing at a joke delivered by a standup comedian. On paper, the scene sounds wildly funny, but the same gets lost in translation and what we see on screen misses the mark due to middling execution, which is the case throughout this 10-episode series.

Co-created by Vir Das, Nikkhil Advani and Team Applause, Hasmukh also features Das as the titular small-town comedian who gets the ‘high’ to perform on stage, only after he kills people. He starts off by killing his mentor Gulati (played by Manoj Pahwa). As his gigs get even bigger, Hasmukh embarks on a killing spree by murdering villainous people (some of the victims include his abusive uncle and a local gangster). Accompanying Hasmukh is his manager Jimmy (Ranvir Shorey), who disposes of what Hasmukh finishes.

The internet leads Hasmukh to Mumbai, as he gets recruited by the showrunners of Comedy Baadshaaho, a show run by Alankar TV, a channel mired in a TRP crisis. The show starts on a very shaky note, with Vir Das hamming his way through the role. The first three episodes feel unconvincing, as we do not get a clear backstory or justification for Hasmukh’s killer instincts.

What’s even more unconvincing is Hasmukh’s ability to hide in plain sight, despite the fact that amidst the killing, his performance invites the attraction of the local police force. To fix this loophole, the show paints its cops as bumbling idiots whose sole purpose is to spout puns. Like the small-town inspector who has his own distinct way of speaking or the Mumbai cop who rhymes pension with tension for a countless number of times.

Adding to the woes are the shoehorning unnecessary subplots. One involves the Me Too movement, and the recurring presence of Gulati becomes a bit tiring. In an attempt to play safe, the writers also try to humanise Hasmukh by painting him as a vigilante, and not as a cold-blooded killer. These touches only lessen the novelty of the show’s concept.

The show has some solid moments, like the one where Hasmukh opens up about his crimes after a drinking session. In the course of the show, we even buy Vir Das’ performance and the chemistry between Hasmukh and Jimmy feels endearing. The duo delivers some really entertaining moments, like the scene where the two meet a dreaded gangster to mark him as their potential target, only to find out that he’s the opposite of what they thought.

But these silver linings are overshadowed by the glaring logical loopholes and the presence of too many characters/caricatures. Except Hasmukh and Jimmy, most of the characters are underwritten and stereotypical in nature.

One of the bigger problems of Hasmukh is the writers trying too hard to justify the protagonist’s motive, rather than showing him as a person who needs help. To do this, the show portrays most of its characters as evil who deserve to be strangled by the protagonist's belt. Overall, Hasmukh ends up as a forgettable fare that couldn't bank on its interesting core idea.