MUMBAI: One of Bollywood’s finest actors Arshad Warsi has impressed the audience in films such as the Munnabhai, Golmaal, and Dhamaal series. The actor is known not only for his comic timing but also for his intense and serious roles in movies like Isqiya and Zilla Ghaziabad.

Arshad has gotten another chance to show his intensity and seriousness in his digital debut Asur, which streams on Voot.

Set in the backdrop of the mystical city of Varanasi, Asur follows Nikhil Nair, a forensic-expert-turned-teacher, who returns to his roots at the CBI. Subsequently, along with his former mentor Dhananjay Rajpoot, he finds himself caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a brutal serial killer who kills in the name of his religious beliefs. 

Asur touches upon several themes deeply rooted within Indian mythologies by delving into the different ways they can be interpreted and understood. Common perceptions of asuras (demons), devas (gods), the social structure and conflict between them, virtues and vices, justice and injustice, moral flexibilities, karma, etc., are all put under scrutiny.

The performances are strong and credible. As a CBI official who has to face his worst fears when the past comes knocking yet continue to remain steadfast while solving the case at hand, Arshad's portrayal of Dhananjay Rajpoot is raw and convincing. Barun Sobti, on the other hand, shines as Nikhil Nair, the leading forensic-expert-turned-teacher, who is unable to find happiness in his new life and finds himself forced to return to the CBI in Delhi in the wake of strangely connected serial killings.

The two dominant ladies, Ridhi Dogra as Nusrat, another CBI official and Nikhil’s old flame, and Anupriya Goenka as Nikhil’s wife Naina, deliver strong performances in the limited spaces provided to them. The tension evident in Naina and Nikhil’s marriage is depicted well.

The storyline keeps you hooked. It’ll have you on the edge of your seat from the first episode itself, with twists that you may not foresee. It’s dark, gruesome, and presents a fascinating blend of forensic science and mythology – albeit only in the sense of being creative with its murders. While it’s difficult for a common viewer to judge the veracity of the science in the show, the plot becomes intriguing as it flirts with mythological themes.

Other than science and religion, the show also touches upon love, marriage, motivations, consequences of actions, guilt, and psychology, with hints towards religion-based movements and influence of beliefs.

While the show flows well initially, the storyline does feel a bit scattered later. It starts off on a high note, but you begin to require a greater suspension of disbelief as it moves on. The coffin trap scene is a tragically hilarious attempt at a twist, reminding us of the typical fantasy dramas on television.

The pace of the narrative oscillates quite frequently, as it switches from a fast-paced crime thriller to a slow-burn inverted detective mystery and then to a story that is trying to grapple at too many thematic straws, before switching back. The supporting characters, especially Ridhi Dogra’s Nusrat, deserved more depth in terms of development, story, and characterization. However, despite its pacing issues, underutilized cast, unanswered questions, and the like, it still manages to retain its position as a watchable thriller.

Team TellyChakkar goes with 3 stars for Asur.