Radhika Apte's new series 'Ghoul' is spooky of a different kind

New Delhi, Delhi, India

If the genre is horror, it has to play out in the dark. Director Patrick Graham ensures that his latest series 'Ghoul', is played out almost entirely in the dark. Not only does it create a suitable premise for his supernatural three-part series but it also tries to question the common perception of good vs evil. 

Set in a dystopian near-future India, 'Ghoul' has the incredible Radhika Apte playing Nida Rahim - an interrogating officer of a special cell in the Indian Military. Few weeks of being a graduate, she is summoned to Meghdoot 31 - an interrogation facility in a remote, obscure place- to join the force their as they prepare to interrogate their latest prisoner Ali Saeed (Mahesh Balraj). The facility is led by  Colonel Sunil da Cunha (Manav Kaul) who has immense faith in the topper Nida even though his lieutenant Laxmi Das questions Nida's religious identity, ever so eager to put her in a set bracket. 

A loyal, diligent Nida is an idealist. So much so that, years ago she had even turned her philosophy professor father to the police for his radical ideas and teaching his student things that are not part of the syllabus. 

The story is set on a single night. When the facility receives Ali Saeed, who is the leader of a terror group which has been responsible for all the recent killings. Colonel da Cunha's men (and women) have 24 hours to interrogate the dreaded terrorist and they know that he is a tough nut to crack. It's only when the interrogation starts and Saeed continues to be mum that Nida realises that things are not right and that Saeed is not who everyone thinks he is. Gul- an Arabic term for 'djinn' is out there to destroy those who have done wrong and since it does not have a face( it takes on the form of that person it last kills) everyone is a suspect. 

As the night progresses, things become gory, prisoners are let loose and insecurities of the officers come tumbling out making them turn against each other. And the darkness of the facility comes chasing at them. 

The thrills and scares are in abundance, especially in the first two episodes. The director plays with the darkness, makes you get used it even if with caution. You know something is lurking out there, you know the calmness can turn into havoc in a matter of seconds, you expect it but when it finally does you do skip a beat or two. 

Since the series is a Phantom films co-production- it boasts of solid actors. Apte, in her straight-faced, unfazed tough cop avatar is superb and a perfect fit for the character of Nida Rahim. You understand her ideals , you feel her pain even. And Apte owns every frame that she is in. One of the most formidable actors of our times, she slips into each of varied characters with much ease. There is also Manav Kaul who plays the troubled, wifebeater alcoholic colonel. There is a certain vulnerability to his character and Kaul doesn't disappoint.

The other actor who stands out is Mahesh Balraj who speaks volumes with his blank stony glares. His is the most spooky character of them all and Balraj literally owns the frame. His performance is of course propelled by a solid screenplay by the director himself.

The only flaw, if I have to point out one, is that a lot is borrowed from the western culture. Of course, the story is based in the near future so all of this is a possibility but somehow, for the sake drama, the makers heavily borrow from western thrillers. The entire set up does not look Indian at all. I also wish some of the action scenes were played out in a bit of light. 

The concept of 'Ghoul', as Graham admitted himself, was a product of a bad dream that he had seen one night. But 'Ghoul' ultimately is much more than a supernatural thriller. Not only does it deliver a strong message on how the future would look where intellectualism is considered a plague and you are either a nationalist or an anti-nationalist, but it also gives out a strong message about the society we live in. Where the minority is very easily bracketed, where the shades of grey or the middle ground seize to exist. It's fascinating how the lead protagonist transforms by the end of 'Ghoul'- because the society forces her to. 

'Ghoul' ultimately serves you both sides of the coin. It is ultimately up to the viewer which side he wants to see and perceive. The thrills and spook is just the bonus. 

'Ghoul' streams on Netflix from August 24th onwards.