Murder in Mahim, JioCinema's new original series based on Jerry Pinto's novel of the same name, is a crime thriller that tells the story of a brutal murder of a gay sex worker in a public toilet at a railway station of Mahim from Bombay. Starring popular characters Vijay Raaz and Ashutosh Rana, the series blends conventional crime thriller narrative with social commentary, putting their performances front and center in the unfolding investigation.
Over the course of eight episodes, Raaz's police inspector and Rana's former journalist, both now estranged friends, try to solve the terrible case in their own different ways. Throughout the investigation, we are taken to gay clubs, queer parties, demonstrations, and the forbidden neighborhoods of Mumbai, where the bleak and alarming world of gay prostitution exists after dark. The series delves into the lives of sex workers, depicting their plight and persistence with perceptible care.
Though Murder in Mahim seems a bit over the top and predictable with stale plots, familiar lacunae heavy-handed social commentary in the beginning, it soon turns into an unmissable piece of art with powerful performances. If you'll have some patience with the series, at least until the third episode, you'll be in for a cinematic treat that tackles complex themes effortlessly.
Shivaji Satam in a picture from Murder in Mahim
The show unfolds the different layers of homophobia and abuse, from offensive slurs and cruelty driven purely by prejudice to honey trap crimes where queer people, who are being blackmailed, have nowhere to turn for help, including the police. Murder in Mahim covers the impact of homophobia across classes; from penniless queers forced into prostitution to even those in powerful ranks, terrified of coming out, the series looks at the concerns of the LGBTQ community through a broad lens. The depiction of queer lives is also done in a natural tone and doesn't seem forced, over-dramatic or pompous.
There's a particular scene that shows two lesbian lovers panicking in the bedroom when their parents, who still don't know about their sexuality, drop in unannounced. The reaction of all the characters is thankfully measured and innocent and the scene normalizes queer lives.
However, Murder in Mahim also tries to play it safe at times, especially when Rana's Peter Fernandes and his wife are uncomfortable with the possibility of their son being gay. Not knowing what the “cure” for this “condition” might be, in some scenes the couple is presented as a fictional model of what could be wrong with a parent of a queer child, only to become what should of being an ideal father. like later
However, the show is not only about homosexuality. Murder in Mahim also subtly takes on the conflicts and complexities of a father-son relationship. What a beautiful portrait! It is so rare that the Indian film and television industry picks up this subject and does justice to it. Whether it's the strange relationship between Vijay Raaz's Shiva and his grumpy father, played by Shivaji Satam (of CID ACP Pradyuman fame) or Shiva and his teenage son, who are slowly drifting apart, the series manages dynamics with tenderness. I could find myself smiling at so many scenes in the second half of the show, some of which evoked the fun relationship between Amitabh Bachchan's grumpy father and Deepika Padukone's headstrong daughter in Piku.
There is one scene, which may stay with me for a long time, where a junior police officer finds his teenage son's dirty magazines. One might expect a warning to follow, but the otherwise comedic character handles the situation wisely without pushing her son into a pit of guilt and shame. It's a simple yet powerful scene that depicts the unspoken tenderness between a father and son.
Vijay Raaz and Shivani Raghuvanshi in a still from Murder in Mahim
Assassination of Mahim also takes a satirical stance against the sensationalist media and indifferent police officials, who conveniently distort the facts before chewing on 'shiny news' or 'official statements' without any reliable source of information, adding fuel to the fire that is already ravaged by homophobia. There is a scene where you see the press accusing an old man of being a pedophilic and homophobic monster on weak ground. As the media inquisition piles up, the character tries helplessly to keep the angry protesters away from his home. The fictional scene isn't too far from reality, underscoring several similar real-life incidents where journalists conveniently scrubbed the ethics of clicks and views.
Although Murder in Mahim has plenty of intense sequences that capture the smallest nuances of human psyche and emotions, the makers have struck a perfect balance with frequent comic relief to break the tension, which is often necessary for a film. film or show with a social message to appeal to the masses, who otherwise would not resort to or even have access to a select cinema approved by the critics. The creators have made a decent attempt to convey complex and important issues in an accessible and enjoyable way, without compromising the complexities of the subject at hand.
Murder in Mahim drags in the early episodes, but with its poignant story, powerful performances and brilliant cinematography, the series slowly but surely shines.
