“Khakee: The Bengal Chapter” Review — A Gripping Game of Power, Crime, and Loyalty

“It’s not justice they fear. It’s a man in uniform who doesn’t play by the rules.”

Neeraj Pandey returns with another gritty installment in the Khakee universe, this time plunging viewers into Bengal’s murky political-criminal nexus — with sharp performances, layered characters, and unrelenting tension.

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With Khakee: The Bengal Chapter, Neeraj Pandey once again proves that when it comes to crime thrillers, few can craft slow-burn intensity the way he does. While Pandey takes a step back as creator and writer, and not director, the show still bears his unmistakable creative stamp—edge-of-the-seat chase sequences, morally conflicted characters, and a sprawling narrative laced with political intrigue.

Set in the early 2000s, this fictional tale dives deep into Bengal’s dark corridors of power, where crime and politics are tangled in a toxic embrace. At the heart of it lies Barun Roy (Prosenjit Chatterjee), a smooth-talking “philanthropist” who’s more kingmaker than public servant. Pulling the strings behind the ruling party, he controls both the Chief Minister and Bengal’s most feared gangster, Bagha (Saswata Chatterjee).

Opposing this machinery is a fictional women-led party fronted by Nibedita Basak (Chitrangada Singh), though her motivations are far from saintly.

Things spiral when Bagha’s trusted aides—Sagor Talukdar (Ritwik Bhowmik) and Ranjit Thakur (Aadil Zafar Khan)—go rogue, setting into motion a power shift that draws the attention of IPS officer Arjun Moitra (Jeet). With a ‘shoot-first, talk-later’ approach, Moitra becomes the system’s only hope—or its most dangerous wildcard.

Directed by first-time duo Debatma Mandal and Tushar Kanti Ray, the series has all the trappings of a classic Pandey production—grainy tones, fast-paced cuts, a taut script, and a sinister score. While the first episode is exposition-heavy, it builds a strong foundation for what becomes a tightly woven political-crime thriller.

But the real star here is the cast.

Prosenjit Chatterjee, ever the screen charmer, brings calculated menace to Barun Roy but is used sparingly, making his appearances all the more impactful. His cat-and-mouse rivalry with Jeet’s Arjun Moitra becomes the show’s driving force. Jeet, in arguably his most intense performance yet, commands the screen with sheer presence. His portrayal of a righteous yet unorthodox cop elevates the series and makes a strong case for his inclusion in bigger pan-India projects.

However, the biggest surprise lies in Ritwik Bhowmik and Aadil Zafar Khan. Ritwik sheds his boy-next-door persona with chilling efficiency, turning into a layered, unpredictable gangster. Aadil nails the local Khidirpore dialect and delivers a volatile, emotionally charged performance that anchors several high-stakes moments.

Saswata Chatterjee and Parambrata Chattopadhyay add star weight, though their screen time is limited. Mimoh Chakraborty and Aakanksha Singh perform earnestly, while Chitrangada Singh feels slightly underwhelming in parts, a rare blip in an otherwise stellar ensemble.

The show’s biggest letdown? An occasionally jarring background score that feels overbearing, particularly during Ranjit’s scenes. But those are minor distractions in a series that largely gets its beats right.

Khakee: The Bengal Chapter is a gritty, gripping watch that blends politics, crime, and personal ambition into an explosive cocktail. It doesn’t just entertain—it immerses. And once you’re in, there’s no looking away.

Streaming now on Netflix, this one’s a must-watch for fans of the genre and of Bengal’s cinematic powerhouses.