“Asur: Welcome to Your Dark Side” is currently only available to stream via Voot in India.
A team of CBI officers are kept on their toes by a string of random, ritualistic killings at seemingly-random locations across the country. When one of their own is captured, they must think quick on their feet or risk losing more innocent lives at the hands of the mysterious killer.
“Asur: Welcome to Your Dark Side” has everything going for it: it has a unique concept, a gripping background score, not a single moment of boredom, and a demonic sociopathic kid destined to be the villain. Sadly, it’s the demonic sociopathic kid who ultimately brings about “Asur’s” pitfalls as a thriller. This is because the writers introduce his character too early and give away his backstory early on.
Once you have the clues, it’s hard not to begin drawing painfully obvious comparisons between this particular character’s behaviour and another character; the latter bears eery resemblance in his behavioural pattern, even though they differ in age. I won’t give away too much now; but that’s how easy it was to figure out the culprit by the fourth episode.
I also have a bit of a bone to pick with the writers due to the cliché portrayal of the CBI, who are shown as some sort of superhero organisation while the local officers are shown as incompetent throughout. I know a series can subvert this trope since the web series “Special Ops” did an exceptional job of the same. They showcase Vinay Pathak’s character as a competent local cop who assists the RAW agents on their case in that show. Also how great is the CBI if I can crack the case before they could? (shots were fired, take cover).
Ridi Dogra, Arshad Wars, and Sharib Hashmi in “Asur.” Photo: Voot Select, 2020.
Now you might think there’s no point in watching the show now that I’ve ruined some of its major twists. Well…I haven’t exactly done that, because more than one villain makes up its content. In fact, a majority of its characters are demons (Asurs) in their own way who unknowingly enable a murderer throughout. This show isn’t a thriller at all; rather it serves as a dissection of a human morals. We see the extent to which they will go to uphold these morals or abandon them to protect their own. “Asur” takes you aback by how easily even the most strong willed CBI are sway into giving in to their dark side, breaking rules and joining forces with evil in “Asur.”
The series also has some heartbreaking moments towards the end. I won’t talk about much here; but these moments of tragedy help salvage the thin writing. Additionally, they often will leave you more shocked then the unmasking of the villain itself.
Since the plot becomes predictable quickly, I’ll divert much of my praise towards series’ strong cast. I felt that everybody from Barun Sobhti to Arshad Warsi (in his OTT debut) and Ridhi Doghra reeled me in and captivated me with their phenomenal performances as Nikhil Nair, Dhananjay Rajpoot, and Nusrat Saaeed respectively. The scenes where Nikhil breaks down in anguish while held hostage show brilliant acting by Sobhti.
A scene from “Asur: Welcome to Your Darkside.” Photo: Voot Select, 2020.
Vishesh Bansal is an exceptional child actor and he is effortlessly creepy as the aforementioned demonic sociopathic child. Sharib Hashmi as Lolark provides for some light-hearted chuckles especially when the show becomes a bit too intense; however, he also fares well in the dramatic portions. The show certainly isn’t for the faint of heart though; there are quite a few gory and graphic scenes, beginning with the first murder itself. Yup, I’ll definitely be fighting off nightmares about the grotesque visuals in this show.
So, while “Asur” isn’t the kind of thriller that will hold you in suspense for long in the way the Tamil thriller “Vikram Vedha” did, nor subvert your expectations with its red herrings in the manner that the cult classic “The Stoneman Murders” managed, I feel that it’s still worth a watch for the themes of good, evil, morality, mental anguish, etc. that it addresses via its characters and their actions. Hopefully, the show’s writers will prove me wrong with a better storyline in the second season. Season 1 is a good entry, and I still have high hopes for what’s coming next.
