Created by Neeraj Pandey 'Khakee: The Bihar Chapter' is based on IPS officer's Amit Lodha's book, 'Bihar Diaries - The true story of how Bihar's most dangerous criminal was caught.' and is set between the years 2000-2006. Inspired by true events, the series follows two journeys simultaneously - one, that of IPS officer Amit Lodha's (Karan Tacker) series of postings across Bihar and the other of Chandan Mahto's (Avinash Tiwary) rise from an unassuming truck driver to a dreaded gangster in the state.
Spread across 7 episodes, the series doles out a heady mix of crime, corruption, drama and action. Director Bhav Dhulia and writer Umashankar Singh ensure that each episode builds on the previous one, keeping a tight leash on the narrative.
Early in the series, when a newly married Amit Lodha along with his wife Tanu (Nikita Dutta) is on the train to his first posting in the Bihar cadre, a co-passenger advises him, "Bihar ka apna lay aur apna taal hai," . Words, he truly understands on his very first day, when the SSP Mukteshwar Choubey (Ashutosh Rana) sends him off to a nearby village to temper down angry villagers who have stopped a train to Delhi in its tracks, telling him to use brute force if necessary. Once there, Amit realizes it's a tight rope he has to balance on and intricately negotiates his way to resolve the situation. It's this ability to use his presence of mind without compromising on his ideals that holds him in good stead at various stages of his career. Amit, an IIT graduate chose to join the civil services and especially IPS because he wants to bring about social change.
As his next posting takes him to Patna a parallel track takes us 120 kms away from the city to Sheikhpura, where an impoverished Chandan Mahto (Avinash Tiwary) is hired as a truck driver and is soon transferring illicit alcohol for his employer in the trucks meant for cement. Looking to make a few extra bucks, Chandan surreptitiously uses the truck to help in a high-profile kidnapping of a child from school. Amit Lodha, now among the best in the Bihar police is appointed to rescue the child. While a nervous Chandan manages to escape this police raid where all the kidnappers are killed, this is his first brush with guns. And he realizes the power one yields by just holding it. A series of events then leads him to Abhyuday Singh (Ravi Kishan), a local goon which sets him off on his next course. Chandan Mahto joins Abhyuday Singh's gang and soon becomes one of his most trusted aides. Abhyuday Singh's brother Lohu Singh is a Member of Parliament and as the Bihar Assembly Elections draw close political violence takes the front seat in the state. And in a clash between rival political parties Abhyuday Singh's gang including Chandan Mahto end up killing five men from the Yadav community. It springs up a caste tussle and Amit Lodha is under immense pressure to jail Abhyuday Singh and his men. In fact at one point, his senior Mukteshwar Choubey, advises him to 'clear the status of his caste', so as to not seem partial towards any particular community.
Caste divisions form a strong undercurrent in 'Khakee' - The Bihar Chapter'. It is most apparent when Abhyuday Singh expects Chandan Mahto to take the blame for all the five murders committed by his gang. Feeling betrayed, Chandan finds a strong support in his new found friend, Chawanprash Sahu (Jatin Sarna) and his wife Meeta Devi (Aishwarya Sushmita) in the Nawada prison. And then there is no turning back for him. As Chandan's clout as a gangster grows so do his menacing deeds. But it is around the same time that Amit Lodha is shunted from his position owing to his upright ways where he refuses to lean towards any political party. It is only when Chandan Mahto's gang conducts a horrific massacre in Manikpur village in Sheikhpura, that Amit Lodha is asked to report back to duty and arrest Chandan Mahto at any cost. Coming out of a bleak period in his career it is a challenge Amit Lodha takes on reluctantly, unsure if he is being purposely set up for failure. But his biggest cheerleaders are his wife, Tanu and DIG Paswan (Anup Soni).
The narrative is told through the eyes of Ranjan Kumar (Abhimanyu Singh), SHO at Sheikhpura as he takes us through the build-up and a riveting final clash between the two. And also contextualising the political rivalries, caste wars, betrayals and violence which visually never get too gory or bloody but are enough to drive home the point. Akin to a cop drama there are well executed action packed scenes and nail biting chase sequences (Action director - Abbas Ali Moghul). Add to that a gripping, taut screenplay with crisp editing (Praveen Kathikuloth) and superb use of music (Advait Nemelkar) that keeps the viewer hooked all through. The cinematography (Hari Nair, ISC) does well to capture the lush green expanses of Bihar as the show traverses through its political and criminal landscape and retaining the very real and rustic feel.
Yet it's the ensemble cast that shines through - Kudos to the casting (Vicky Sidana), that not a character feels out of place. From Ravi Kishan to Anup Soni, Bharat Jha, Nikita Dutta, Abhimanyu Singh, Shraddha Das pull in commendable performances. Jiten Sarna and Aishwarya Sushmita are remarkable as the Chawanprash and Meeta Devi. Karan Tacker is crackling as IPS officer Amit Lodha, bringing the perfect blend of a level headed, action oriented cop. Ashutosh Rana is a delight to watch as the one carefully playing the balancing act. But it is Avinash Tiwary who steals the show with a searing performance and an arresting screen presence as Chandan Mahto. Transforming himself at every stage to show the progression of Mahto's character Tiwary is simply brilliant.
Khakee- The Bihar Chapter is a slickly made, riveting thriller which certainly could be your weekend binge - watch.
