There are shows that come and go, and a few weeks later you can barely remember what you watched. And then there are shows that stay with you — in your mind, in your heart, and sometimes even in your conscience. Hunkkaar – The Roar is one of those shows.
The series opens with 17-year-old Meenu Rawat arriving at a police station with her parents to file a complaint against a powerful spiritual leader, Baapji, accusing him of sexual assault. Right from this opening sequence, the tension is palpable. The atmosphere inside the police station, the silences, the discomfort and the small details around Meenu's complaint immediately tell you that this is not going to be an easy watch.
This crime is not new in India; self-proclaimed Godmen like Asaram and Gurmit Ram Rahim have abused women in their ashram and they have been convicted by the court of law in India for crimes like rape.
One of the biggest strengths of Hunkkaar is the reminder of the fact of what some young girl in India go through. Directors Karan D. Kapadia, Heeraz Marfatia and Nitya Mehra understand how to build an atmosphere without constantly telling the audience what to feel. The tension comes from the situations, the performances and the way the scenes are constructed.
The story may feel disturbingly familiar. India has seen several cases where powerful spiritual leaders have been accused and convicted of exploiting women and their followers. Hunkkaar uses this uncomfortable reality to tell a story about the fear, pressure and trauma that women can face when they take on someone with power and influence.
Aneet Padda is terrific as Meenu. She brings the innocence, vulnerability and emotional strength the character needs. You feel her fear, but you also feel her determination.
Fatima Sana Shaikh, as ACP Jasleen Singh Soni, brings something completely different. She brings authority, credibility and a sense of trust to the character. In a story where the system itself is under scrutiny, her presence gives you someone to believe in. Her performance is controlled and powerful.
Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub brings dedication and impact, he is fighting this case with all his heart and might, while Arjun Mathur provides the support the story needs. Mathur plays a journalist who does the right thing and fights the challenges of his own industry. And then there is Raghubir Yadav as Baapji. He is a reminder that there is perhaps no better teacher in acting than experience. He doesn't need to constantly announce that his character is powerful or dangerous. His performance does the work.
Some of the show's most powerful moments come in the ashram, particularly when the police move in to arrest Baapji. The courtroom sequences are equally gripping. But the scenes that stayed with me the most are those inside the police station, where Meenu has to repeat her story again and again during interrogation. Watching a victim relive the same trauma repeatedly simply to be believed is infuriating.
Hunkkaar is not an easy watch. It makes you angry. It makes you sick at what the system can put women through. And there are moments that will simply break your heart. At the same time, it is also a reminder of why the justice system matters and why faith in that system still means so much to so many people.
The writing by Heeraz Marfatia and Ravinder Randhawa, with additional dialogue by Sourabh Ratnu and associate writer Chandra Goyal, keeps the story focused. And credit must go to the entire team, including producer Ashi Dua, Applause Entertainment, and Birla Studios for putting together a show that never treats its subject casually.
Hunkkaar is an acting workshop, a masterclass in storytelling and an eye-opener for an audience whose memory can sometimes be like a goldfish. These are stories we should never forget.
4.5 stars and a big recommendation from me. Binge-watch this one. It is absolutely worth your time.