‘Bhaag Arjun’ is a famous line from the 1995 cult classic ‘Karan Arjun’. In the first episode of ‘Bad Cop’, Karan, played by Gulshan Devaiah, says this line to his brother Arjun, who was played by Gulshan Devaiah during the shootout. This scene made me wonder why the dialogue of Karan Arjun is still so much liked by the audience, whereas when I heard this dialogue in the crime thriller web series ‘Bad Cop’, it felt very strange. Watching this series, you will get lost in the flashback of the 90s.
This series focuses on why many films and series in India are getting backlash or flopping badly because producers often repeat some old hit formulas. Thinking that things that have worked before can work again. Be it the remixes of the songs, action sequences, storylines or dialogues, Bollywood repeats the story of every hit film and starts expecting the movie to be a hit in the same way. At the same time, a glimpse of the 90s has been seen in the story of ‘Bad Cop’. It seems that this is the story of the police and robbers of the 90s, in which the blast of the 90s and the tadka of 2024 have been added, but according to the characters of this series and today’s time, it is quite disappointing.
‘Bad Cop’ begins with Arjun and his girlfriend setting a honey trap to rob a man in a hotel room. Amidst all this, many comedy scenes are also seen. Arjun tries to escape, but becomes a witness to the murder of a journalist. In an attempt to save the man, he gets covered in blood and leaves his DNA at the same place where the murder took place. The next shot introduces Karan who is a police officer. While he is interrogating a local goon, his wife Devika appears and interrupts him. A series of events lead Karan and Arjun into a shootout with Kazbe’s henchmen, due to which both of them get shot and fall into the river. After this, a new twist is seen in the film. Arjun somehow takes Karan’s place. He adopts his identity and no one comes to know about his change. The rest of the story will be shown on Arjun.
Disney + Hotstar’s new series ‘Bad Cop’ shows a fun cop and robber story that keeps us glued to the screen. Starring Gulshan Devaiah and Anurag Kashyap, the series features great action sequences and talented actors in strong roles. However, amid all this, there is a truth hidden in the story which is full of cliches. Let us tell you that the review of the crime thriller web series ‘Bad Cop’ is based on the first 6 episodes out of 8.
‘Bad Cop’ tries to present the blurred lines between good and evil well. For example, in one moment an elephant is beheaded and in the next moment Ganpati puja is shown. While the story of the show tries to take the audience deeper, every scene is full of suspense, due to which the audience wants to watch this series till the end. The action sequences in the series are well choreographed and pump up the adrenaline. The cinematography is superb which captures the bustling streets and dense forests of Mumbai. At the same time, people working in the Kajbe are also seen. The background score further increases the suspense.
However, ‘Bad Cop’ is nothing special when it comes to the story. Despite the strong performances of Gulshan Devaiah and Anurag Kashyap, the characters have a glimpse of the same old films. Talking about the life of the series character, Karan is not happy with his wife Devika, both are upset with each other. Though the action scenes are strong and make the series a little special, the filmmakers fail to add depth to the story. The twist of the twin brothers, though initially interesting, the story loses its strength due to the reunion.
Gulshan Devaiah has given a commendable performance, who effortlessly breaks up the fight between the brothers. This is the second time Gulshan Devaiah is playing a villain on screen, he had earlier played this role in the 2018 action-comedy ‘Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota’. Devaiah is seen doing a great job in the scenes where Arjun is trying to mingle with Karan. His performance clearly presents the discomfort of living someone else’s life and handling a dual identity. Saurabh Sachdeva, as CBI Inspector Arif Khan, who is investigating the murder of his journalist friend, attracts attention with his strong screen presence, although his role is largely limited to shouting at subordinates in frustration. Harleen Sethi, who plays the fiery cop-wife has given a wonderful performance but her character is not as well-done as many others. Aishwarya Sushmita, who plays Arjun’s girlfriend and a thug has got limited screen time and a small role.
‘Bad Cop’ is based on Bollywood stories. It has twin brothers, a goon who is considered the most dangerous, a law-abiding police inspector and a CBI officer who is determined to solve a murder case.
