Luckily, This one does not appear to be too literal and it does not compel you to make comparison between itself and the other myriad dooms day action films and Zombie Dramas that you may have seen or read in the past ; mainly, because it stands out, on its own ground .
The Context , the Characters and the Screen Play are individualistic, and though the narrative, restricts itself to a limited Geography; it still offers viewers a bunch of emotions, an eclectic cast, and an evocative cinematic experience.
This plot is a hyperlink- narrative made of Compelling Characters, Historical Themes , Sub-Plots, a Race against Time drama for a fight for survival ( Even , Darwin's theory of the Survival of the Fittest finds ample resonance here) . The story is set against the idyllic background of The Andaman & Nicobar Islands , and amidst the backdrop, of abundance of nature , azure seas , blue skies, and Indigenous tribes; Kaala Pani emerges out as a portentous tale of plague and epidemic ,driving people to desperation , engulfing and destroying everything: Lives, Lively hood & Nature, in its wake.
A Special Note dedicated to the cast was in the offing , which to my mind , is one of the biggest factors, which propels the story ahead with gusto. There are No Lead or Supporting Actors ; every one, whether He/ She is the hero/ leader of his own narrative and every character played here has depth and carries the burden of his/her own past .
To Me, Besides Mona Singh , Ashutosh Gowariker, and Chinmay Mandlekar , all the others are relatively new faces , but everyone , has played his/ her part, with so much heart and sincerity, that they fail to disappoint .
Amey Wagh , whom I had seen earlier seen in Marathi films ( like Faster Fene) , has surprised me, a great deal, with his versatility. His role in Kaala Pani is like the Sprinkling of essense , on the story, whenever it has gotten too Esoteric. His Character keeps the story grounded whenever hints on surrealism.
The musical score is good, it blends in with the crucial scene build up and used with equal effect to heighten the intensity and tensions of the characters .
This web-series may be divided in two seasons ( because I do not see it stretching any further) and the first season has ended, quite on a quizzical note, leaving lots to be desired, from the one to follow. I ended up watching Kalaa Pani in three sittings and I guess a fair rating for the first season would be a 4 stars, all things considered. The Second season, if it is anywhere as good as its first instalment, should be an interesting watch.