Jio Cinema is here with a gritty thriller that will leave anyone shocked and scared. The 8-episode series, each with a runtime of around 35-50 minutes might just leave everyone shocked. This marks Riteish Deshmukh’s debut web series. Created by Raj Kumar Gupta, the series is written by Raj Kumar Gupta, Parveez Shaikh, Jaideep Yadav and Anagh Mukherjee.
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Pill Cast
Riteish Deshmukh, Pawan Malhotra, Akshat Chauhan, Anshul Chauhan
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Pill Series Directors
Raj Kumar Gupta, Jaideep Yadav, Mahim Joshie
The beauty of Pill is that it is so relatable that even in its lighter moments it feels thrilling to watch. Following Prakash Chauhan who works at the Medicine Authority of India, the series showcases his (and many like him) fight for justice against a pharmaceutical company for introducing drugs into the market without completing proper clinical trials. The series, giving us hope that not everyone in our country is corrupt, showcases a few brave individual’s fight to do the right thing and this showcase of morality is what wins in the end.
Shows like these are almost always a hit because you love to follow the underdog’s struggle to help the masses. And with where we are standing socially and politically in India, this doesn’t seem to be much of a far-fetched reality (or already a reality, who knows). Deshmukh’s Prakash is as much like all of us as he is aspirational. While others might bow down to the pressure, he marches on against the current. However, he is not alone, with Noor, Gursimrit and Akshay’s help, he is able to get the truth across in the end.
The thing about series such as Pill is that it coasts on the protagonist’s ability to put their emotions into the story and Deshmukh is a great protagonist, indeed. He looks like any other normal guy that you’ll see in your neighbourhood but has a fire that differentiates him from others. The series banks on his ability to showcase strong emotions and he bats it out of the park everytime – thus, regardless of whether or not he is happy, sad, annoyed or angry you feel every emotion Prakash is feeling in every frame. In that regard, too, his impassioned speeches work wonders and you care about the fight that he is fighting.
Other than him, antagonist Brahma Gill, played by Pawan Malhotra, is fantastic as well. His bombastic breakdowns make for a mercurial character whose backstory adds some depth to his story. Although I think a little more would’ve made for a more rounded character, I think Malhotra makes up for that with his performances. Akshat Chauhan and Anshul Chauhan, playing Noor and Gursimrit respective, are also both great and I especially liked the former’s humorous quips – they were quite entertaining.
The storyline, too, as mentioned earlier is one that people can relate to. It’s fast-paced and doesn’t sit around waiting with its card on its chest. The series continues to bring out new twists and turns in every scene, keeping viewers engaged with the fight and Prakash’s unbending spirit of resilience. The storyline makes sense as well and in spite of a few questions, I found it to be infectious and exciting. There’s some much-needed humour in its midst as well that is understated and relatable and it lightens the mood thoroughly, letting us take a breather before watching greed murder millions slowly.
Pill Review: Final Thoughts
Pill is an effective thriller whose grim subject matter feels close to the chest. The series does a great job of showcasing that grim reality effectively and the way the story flows keeps things interesting. There’s humour and heartbreak and a few moments of drama that add flair to this heartbreaking tale. Performances, including Riteish Deshmukh and Pawan Malhotra, are fantastic and leave nothing to be desired. All in all, this one is a very arresting watch, despite some weak moments, for everyone craving something serious this weekend.
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