Kankhajura Review: Roshan Mathew Crawls Into Your Mind in This Twisted Tale of Manipulation and Madness
Kankhajura Review: What Creeps Beneath the Surface
Streaming now on Sony LIV, Kankhajura (Hindi adaptation of the Israeli series Magpie) slithers into your psyche with its unsettling atmosphere, gritty realism, and one dangerously unforgettable protagonist—Ashu, played with eerie finesse by Roshan Mathew. Directed by Chandan Arora, the 8-episode series (runtime: approx. 40 minutes per episode) also stars Mohit Raina, Ninad Kamat, Mahesh Shetty, Sarah Jane Dias, Trinetra Haldar, and others in a twisted story about familial betrayal, identity, and vengeance.
Ashu returns to society after serving a 14-year sentence for a murder he claims he didn’t commit. Quiet, calculating, and emotionally fragile, he reenters the lives of his elder brother Max (Mohit Raina) and their childhood friends, who once tormented him. But Ashu isn’t just seeking closure—he’s seeking control. As the episodes progress, we see the rise of a master manipulator—a human cockroach, thriving where no one else can.
The plot unravels through Ashu’s slow, parasitic infiltration back into Max’s life, all while using those around him as pawns. His need for validation and love from Max turns toxic, becoming the driving force behind his unpredictable actions.
Roshan Mathew is the soul—and venom—of Kankhajura. His transformation from vulnerable younger sibling to a cold, cerebral sociopath is subtle, unnerving, and captivating. Without needing loud proclamations or theatrical flair, he commands attention with just a glance or a minor twitch of the eyebrow. His portrayal of Ashu is so real, so intimate, that it feels like he’s slowly crawling under your skin.
Mohit Raina, as the emotionally conflicted elder brother Max, holds his ground and delivers a strong performance as the moral counterweight to Ashu. Ninad Kamat and Mahesh Shetty lend believable muscle to Max’s clique, though their characters suffer from underwritten arcs. The ensemble—Trinetra Haldar, Sarah Jane Dias, and Usha Nadkarni—deliver where needed, but none are given the narrative space to leave a lasting imprint.
Written by Chandan Arora, Sandeep Jain, and Upendra Sidhaye, the series excels in its psychological exploration of Ashu’s character. The metaphor of the cockroach—resilient, manipulative, parasitic—runs deep throughout the show, both thematically and narratively. The first half grips you with rich atmosphere and a strong foundation. Unfortunately, the second half begins to crack under the weight of too many subplots and backstories that lack payoff.
Flashbacks detailing Ashu’s conviction and emotional trauma offer insight, but not resolution. The writing builds a complex central character but forgets to flesh out the world around him.
I began Kankhajura skeptical, convinced I wouldn’t binge another morally ambiguous character-driven thriller. But then Ashu started whispering. Roshan Mathew doesn’t just play a role—he infects your thoughts. By the end, I was not just watching Kankhajura—I was inhabited by it.
This isn’t a show about a psychopath. It’s a show about how darkness can wear the face of vulnerability and how love denied can turn into manipulation mastered.
Like the cockroach, Ashu may repulse you—but you’ll find yourself rooting for his survival. And that, right there, is where Kankhajura wins.
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