SonyLIV’s Kankhajura, directed by Chandan Arora, slithers into the crime thriller space with a fresh, unsettling energy. Starring Roshan Mathew and Mohit Raina in lead roles, the series is a tense, slow-burning tale of deception and control, where every character has something to hide and nothing is as it seems. What sets Kankhajura apart is not just its intricate plotting, but the magnetic performance by Roshan Mathew, whose portrayal adds depth and intrigue to an already gripping narrative. It's a thriller that doesn’t just shock—it manipulates, drawing you deeper into its web with every episode.

Set in Goa, Kankhajura begins with Ashu (Roshan) freshly out of serving a jail term of 14 years for a murder. Upon his release, his elder brother, Max (Mohit) comes to receive him, and takes him back home where Ashu meets Max’s old friend Pedro (Ninad Kamat) and Shardul (Mahesh Shetty), and his wife Nisha (Sarah Jane Dias). Max, a realtor, is working on developing one of the most elitist villa township in Goa, but has one hurdle his way - Deshmukh Bai (Usha Nadkarni), a powerful lady and resident of Shanti Nagar, where Max’s realty project is coming up.

Meanwhile, Ashu—haunted by his deep-rooted need for his elder brother Max’s attention and approval—sets out to help him, but chooses to do so in secret. Having spent his life in Max’s shadow, Ashu has endured not only neglect but also bullying from Max and his friends, especially due to his stammer. As the story unfolds, Ashu reconnects with Amy (Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju), a trans woman and his once-close childhood friend, who has since undergone gender affirmation surgery. Their reunion adds emotional complexity to Ashu’s journey. The narrative then delves into Ashu’s evolving relationships—with Max, his gang of friends, Nisha, Amy, and Inspector Leena (Heeba Shah), a figure from Ashu’s past during his time in jail, where he served as her trusted informant.

Chandan teams up with Upendra Sidhaye to deliver a plot that’s as complex as it is cunning, laced with manipulation and criminal undertones at every turn. Just as it’s plot, the screenplay is also tight. Even if it may get a little predictable at some point, it still doesn’t take away your attention from the series.

While the writing is uptight, what remains it’s biggest strength is its casting. The makers have brought in an exceptional team of actors, yet there is one who has overshadowed every single actor’s performance. Roshan is the absolute star of the series. Credit here goes equally to the writing team and to Roshan for crafting and embodying a character as complex as Ashu. Deceptive yet vulnerable, manipulative yet oddly innocent—Ashu is the kind of character who unsettles you, makes you want to distrust him, yet draws your sympathy in unexpected moments. While the script lays the foundation with nuance and depth, it’s Roshan who truly breathes life into Ashu, delivering a performance that is both chilling and heartbreakingly human.

Moving forward, Rajeev Ravi and Vinod Illampally’s cinematography is also top notch. Their camera angles, light preferences add to uplifting the mood of the scenes. However, a scene that truly stands out is when Ashu's world implodes as he reflects on his brother's betrayal - the chaos is palpable. But then, in an instant, silence descends, and it's as if the storm has passed, revealing Ashu's twisted clarity. This masterful moment showcases the psychotic turmoil brewing in Ashu's mind.

Overall, everything from the script to the dialogues, performances, music score, etc have worked well for the eight-part series. It will be interesting to note if the makers will return with a sequel to the series, given the sort-of open ending it has.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5