MUMBAI: Apharan Sabka Katega is the latest offering from ALTBalaji. Almost overnight, it generated enough curiosity through its marketing and promotions. The show is based in the town of Banaras in Uttar Pradesh, and the story deals with the kidnappings that happen in that area.

The promo itself had generated a lot of hype and interest with its 70s’ look and feel and above all the music, and the show more than lives up to audience expectations. Although it is a simple cat-and-mouse chase, it grips you right from the first episode. The story is full of twists and turns, and the screenplay brilliantly takes you from one scene to another with more than ample OMG moments. Just when you think it’s all figured out, you are again taken by surprise. The hit-and-miss moments are plenty. But the big plus for the show are the brilliant dialogues by Varun Badola. He has not just captured the nuances but also given distinct dialogues to each character, making them seem real and lifting the screenplay.

The cast is very well put together, from the outstanding performances of Arunoday Singh, who plays Inspector Rudra Shrivastav, and Mahie Gill, who plays Malini, to Varun Badola as the head of security company, Dubey the factory owner played by Saanand Verma, Anu played by Monica Chaudary, and wife Ranjana played by Nidhi Singh. Every character has a distinct shade and an important role to play. Each one has played their part exceedingly well, and the entire cast ensemble makes the show complete.

The 70s’ music used in Apharan not just lifts the show but is also one of its strong points. The underlay adds to the scenes, and the use of old film songs transports you back to that era. Music directors Shivam Sengupta and Anuj Danait have done an outstanding job.

The treatment and production values exquisitely capture the locations, and we see some excellent camera work and shot taking. The Ghats of Banaras are brilliantly captured. Yes, one could have some more detailing in the production design. But overall, Siddharth Sengupta with his direction has a great show on his hands.

Don’t miss this one. It is truly an experience. This show is like reading a book that you cannot keep down until you finish the last page. Apharan is an addiction and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last scene.

I give it a rating of 4 out of 5.

★★★★★ Masterpiece

★★★★½ Remarkable

★★★★ Great

★★★½ Very Good

★★★ Good

★★½ Average

★★ Soulless

★½ Bummer

★ Snooze fest

½ Failure