Dahaad (2023– ) User Reviews

Good addition to watch for crime thriller fans

[JakDexxter · 8/10 · 12 June 2023]

Firstly, I am not the target audience here. I am a Telugu speaking person. I picked this web-series only because I am fan of crime / mystery/ thrillers.

I was a little skeptical if I should continue watching this show after the first episode. Glad, I decided to give it an other chance because the episodes 2 to 8 are intriguing. I wouldn't say the show is mind-boggling or out of the world but its definitely a good enough show especially if you are interested in this genre.

The plot is good (based on a real criminal) / actors suit the part (most of them slayed their performances) / locations are neat (very raw and realistic) / very rarely lagged - most of the episodes are crisp.

Other than good crime/ thriller / mystery / drama aspects, this show has some beautiful sub-plots showing all the bad stuff that's happening in our society.

The way we force our kids /especially women to get married as if there is nothing else for them to do in their life - The way we should support every individual / especially women to be independent in their life - The way we still discriminate people based on their caste but not their caliber - Normalizing having a freedom of seeing someone before getting married, especially of a women - How to subtly teach kids what is right and wrong when they do something bad in stead of beating / abusing them left right center - Treating male kid same as ones female kid - Normalizing having an attraction towards the colleagues at workplaces and the doesn't necessarily mean one should get into affairs which could affect an entire family / generation - Showing how a strong man can also be mentally affected and how we neglect it in our society.

There might be few other things I might have missed. However, on a final note, I liked my time watching this series. Will recommend.

I enjoyed it and you will too!!

[TreeFiddy53 · 8/10 · 17 May 2023]

Over the years, I've realized that that murder mysteries are usually either 1. Whodunnits: We, the audience, and the protagonist, together, find out who the bad guy is OR 2. Howcatchem (A term I didn't know existed): We know who the bad guy is from the very beginning, and HOW the protagonist finds out who it is in the ride we're on. #1 is tough, #2 is SO MUCH TOUGHER.

Most of the shows, especially the desi ones in the recent past, pick style #1 since it's relatively easier and overdo misleading the audience. Think Vadanthi, Aranyak, etc. I think it's very bold of a write to pick writing style #2, you've revealed who the 'bad guy' is, how do you keep the audience invested now? Think Dexter, Death Note, and dare I say, Drishyam?

Dahaad falls into the second category and (nitpicking aside) it is very well made suspense-thriller in comparison to recent content in this genre. All performances are top-notch, Sonakshi was trolled over the years but I'm glad she got a chance to play something she's not in the past. Vijay Varma and all the support cast - slow claps. I did hear that the Rajasthani accent was inconsistent throughout the show but I didn't catch it since the actual show was gripping.

In addition to the murder plot, there's a lot of social commentary on gender inequality, violence against women, casteism, and so on - without it getting preachy or in your face. Good cinematography; the intense sound design and music deserves a special mention.

We rarely get serial killer on the loose shows out of India and if we do, they're mostly backed by lackluster writing that assumes the audience is dumb. This...was different. GOOD different!

Interesting but a bit stretched !!

[Biswas_ · 8/10 · 13 May 2023]

The many low ratings you see here are the ones who haven't even seen the series and only giving 1 star because Sonakshi was there. IMDb should somehow bring a system where only verified veiwers can give their ratings .

Now talking about the series, it is not something new and unique. It's a simple cat and mouse chase between a serial killer and the cops. However , Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar know how to enhance the quality of such simple series . They make it interesting by placing a serial killer who is extremely tough to catch. He's smart and he knows how the police work. How the police , which include Sonakshi , Gulshan and Sohum manage to catch this killer is the main story of this series.

The killer is known from beginning but what makes the series interesting is how difficult he makes it for the cops to track him down . The first 6 episodes go into investigating who is committing the crimes and last ones go into the chase for the criminal .

What Reema has also added is a lot of social commentary on caste, class and marriages which never felt spoonfed or forced. It is very naturally mixed with the dialogues and screenplay and they show us how these social demons are being used by human demons to exploit women .

BGM is good especially the one that plays when the serial killer is in the frame . Sets are good as well.

Vijay Verma steals the show as the smart pyscho killer. What a talent he is !!! He literally dominates the whole show with his creepy nature . Even without lifting a hand on any woman , he manages to creep you out with his crimes. Gulshan as the senior cop and a broad minded father is amazing to watch . Sonakshi definitely does a much better job than what she has been doing so far. Sohum Shah displays a good range of his character from being a negative thinking guy to a positive minded person.

Negatives - from the 6th episode onwards i felt the series stretches a bit too much while trying to capture the killer. In doing so , they ruined the climax. They could have made a climax that was explosive because the pyscho killer was so difficult to get to but instead the makers realised the series is getting too long and decided to end it in a hurry .

Overall, definitely a must watch series. Don't go by negative ratings , watch it and then decide but don't expect anything unique or new .

Say no to naysayers

[koulaj · 8/10 · 13 May 2023]

I fail to understand the low ratings... it may not be technically proficient but content is amazing.. very nicely crafted.. achievement is that even knowing the culprit you are still glued to it... Acting is of highest order.. be it Sinha or Varma or / and all sundry characters.. Sinha in particular has excelled.. she actually looks the part.. Varma as always is comes across as a very genuine actor.. the expressions and nuances he brings to his role is simply mind blowing.. not to forget Gulshan and Sohum... beautifully restrained... direction is superb.. so guys pls watch it and don't believe the cynics and naysayers.

Well done Rima Kagti and Zoya Akhtar

[chitrangada_pal · 8/10 · 12 May 2023]

Usually it's always difficult to make a good serial killer story, but Dahaad is so beautifully written and directed that I coup help but binge watched the entire season in a day. And while telling a gruesome story of a psychopath the story points out to many flaws in our society, from gender biasness, caste system, and social pressure on girls to marry and of course the dowry system in India. But none of this social messages were nicely woven into the story and didn't appear as a propaganda. One of the best series in hindi in recent times. Very well written, edited, executed, acted and above all perfect casting. Good to see Sonakshi Sinha being utilised to her potential. All the characters are so well developed and performed by each actors. Vijay Verma's performance is so good, that no adjectives are enough for that. There are times seeing Vijay Verma's character will give you a skin crawling feeling. At times his subtle performance was so good that he reminded me of Irfan Khan.

Brilliant

[pooja-53606 · 10/10 · 12 May 2023]

Made beautifully and authentically. Every single character has acted wonderfully. The locations, the production, the direction. The storyline is a perfect 10 out of 10. Very well done. It's a good ensemble cast. And it's very captivating.it's hard to stop once you start. Well done entire cast & directors. I have not enjoyed a lot of Indian content online recently, but I highly recommend this one. This is probably Sonakshi Sinha's best work. And zodiac thought is always brilliant. Please don't mess this out. I saw the seven rating and didn't expect much from it. But it actually deserves a nine rating on IMDb.

Excellent writing, well-paced and perfect for our times

[vishy0302 · 9/10 · 13 May 2023]

I don't get why the series is getting bad reviews from mainstream media. It is an excellent series with good acting, a well-paced story and backed by a good score.

It's gripping and unsettling. The screenplay is realistic. The writing is actually my favourite thing about this series. It captures both the apathy and tenacity of police in India. Its subtle commentary on Indian society is accurate af. It captures, very perfectly, the struggle women face, especially in rural and semi-rural India. And it does so in a thriller, wherein the viewer already knows who the killer is... that is not an easy feat.

Binge worthy series.

A contemporary serial killer thriller

[a-sin_13 · 7/10 · 13 June 2023]

The story of Dahaad is based on Cyanide Mohan, a South Indian serial killer. Firstly, the series is well thought out and well constructed. The cinematography is top grade; the set design feels very authentic; scenes of Rajasthan are as fantastic as this land truly is. The dialogues are well written, and the actors' delivery sound very Rajasthani except for a few (you know who).

The integration of present-day communal and religious tension in the series is intelligent. It provides a different flavor compared to the usual Serial Killer Thrillers. But the social issues get too dragged in the show. Highlighting issues like casteism or misogyny is a good thought, but making it one of the main themes in a crime thriller has tediously lengthened the series.

Another point in question is that though the story is set in present-day Rajasthan, some scenes in Dahaad feel like scenes in some American crime series. The reason being the excess of typical American series elements directly borrowed and put into Indian settings. Such American elements feel artificial to Indian policing, which is at the centre of the show.

The climax and all the later episodes are very predictable, quite in contrast to the first 2-3 episodes that fully grip your attention.

P. S. - A shoutout to Gulshan Devaiah and Vijay Varma for their awesome performances.

Must watch

[Mawi00 · 10/10 · 14 May 2023]

Dahaad is an exceptional Hindi series that stands out among the numerous options available today. It's a masterful piece of work, with excellent writing, captivating performances, and an engrossing storyline that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

One of the most notable things about this series is that the audience knows who the killer is from the outset. However, this doesn't diminish the intrigue or suspense, as the screenplay is so brilliantly crafted that you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat throughout each episode, eager to see how the investigation unfolds and how the killer will ultimately be brought to justice.

The series is a tribute to the skillful storytelling that is rare to come across in modern entertainment. The show's creators have cleverly woven together the themes of Hinduism, Islam, and caste systems into the storyline, creating a truly nuanced and multifaceted tale that delves deep into the complexities of Indian society.

The acting is top-notch, with each actor delivering a pitch-perfect performance that complements the story's emotional intensity. It's worth noting that the show has received some negative reviews from viewers who might not have liked certain actors or actresses. However, it's essential to appreciate the brilliance of this series and avoid such biases.

Overall, Dahaad is a gripping, thought-provoking, and emotionally stirring series that deserves a perfect 10 out of 10 rating. Even if you don't speak Hindi, I highly recommend watching this series with subtitles as it's a must-watch for anyone who appreciates great storytelling and masterful performances.

It's a Vijay Varma show!

[SoumikBanerjee1996 · 6/10 · 7 August 2023]

A competent crime/investigative thriller marred by a horrendously supervised last episode! I mean, what was that? I have often witnessed shows starting with a poor episode, and from thereupon, improvements follow gradually, but in this case, the scenario is the opposite!

Episode 1-7 are well executed and has enough to shock and anticipate, but then comes the conclusive episode, which was meant to be a fitting conclusion, but ended up being an atrocity! Dreadful editing, it lacks cohesion, which was previously persistent, and above all, some events that transpire, raise more questions than they could provide answers.

Now If I try to keep this last episode on the side for a minute and judge this (which is difficult, considering how essential climactic portions of a series are), it's not a bad show! The story delineates and scrutinises prejudices and bigotry of our patriarchal society that are still relevant in parts of our nation.

Patriarchy, Misogyny, and Casteism; these have all been discussed and debated with utmost sincerity barring a handful of junctures when the underlying messaging suddenly abstains from subtlety and opts for an on-the-nose approach. And in those periodic instances, things could become a bit jarring, a bit inharmonious.

Now If I move on to the performances, the situation is much more controlled. Each character played their part with utmost conviction & commitment. Amongst the list, Vijay Varma happens to shine the brightest. Despite Sonakshi, Sohum and Gulshan, the trifecta giving their best efforts, it's Vijay Varma, who takes the cake!

The way in which he handled the complexities of his character and the ingrained duality of the individual was incredible, to say the least. I would go as far as to say if Vijay were not cast as Anand, and If it were given to anybody else, I would have had a very different set of opinions.

Real Deal

[AD-76451 · 9/10 · 12 May 2023]

Amongst many ordinary thriller web-series and movies with known star-casts, it is rare to get a true edge-of-the-seat thriller series that stands-out.

Dahaad is one of the rare good ones.

Surprised to see the low rating and reflects probably more on who all have watched thus far.

Whether casting, story, pace, dialogues or filming, all are top-notch and you will be pleasantly surprised when you finish the series. More importantly, it is not one of those stupid series which ends season 1 with many unanswered questions.

Good one for binge-watch and then feel satisfied that u did. Hope to see season 2 getting made and being in the similar league of Family Man.

Underwhelming ending!

[ankit-imsnoida · 6/10 · 13 May 2023]

1. The series overall is average. Watch it only if you have a lot of free time. You won't find anything different that you have not seen before

2. The ending is quite underwhelming. If you are showing a psychopath in a series, his or her past needs to be shown carefully and it needs to do justice to their current behaviour. Although, the reason that the psychopath gives in the end for killing women isn't disgetable. His past isn't shown well for us to believe in his psycho personality.

3. They had a great cast (Vijay Verma, Gulshan D) .. although, the screenplay couldn't extract the best out of them. Sonakshi Sinha has done a decent job compared to her previous performances.

4. Themes explored in the series (in the beginning) like Love Jihad, Caste based discrimination, Gender discrimination, etc will divide the audience as usual.. even though all of these are the realities of today's world.

NOT AS EXPECTED!

[shrivastav-rounak · 1/10 · 12 May 2023]

JAI BHEEM JAI MEEM! This is what it has, that's it.

I have a house in a small village in Bihar surrounded by lower caste (most of us, Sanatanis, don't believe it like Harivansh Rai Bachchan etc.). We, usually, celebrate festivals together, eat together (since 30-35 years)... Discriminations were present at that time but at few houses and, now, it's only at couple of houses. In this series, how come each and every individual (except one) of Hindu upper caste is victimizing Muslims and lower caste (in today's period in Mandawa, Rajasthan)?

Useless to share many other observations...pathetic.

Watched only episode 1...couldn't dared to watch other episodes.

A fantastic crime thriller, truly staggering in depth and complexity.

[tarekali-19909 · 9/10 · 12 June 2023]

A fantastic crime thriller, truly staggering in depth and complexity. This is perhaps the first time we have seen a serial killer who operates and thrives in developing nations' archaic, biased and unfair culture, especially in the rural areas of Rajasthan where caste and gender still dominate lives. I was amazed that this is based on a true story.

Sonakshi brilliantly plays Anjali, a lower caste up-and-coming police officer whose passion and ambition outdoes her society-allocated station in life. She shows dogged determination to crack the cases of mysterious disappearances and tragic suicides and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to duty.

The writers of this brilliant series take great pains to keep the viewer guessing, unable to predict the next move of the genius-level serial killer, as tangled webs are woven. The monster disguised as an angel is utterly effective in evading capture.

I also appreciated the fresh take on the personal lives of police officers, who are subject to the same domestic challenges as the rest of us. The harsh backdrop of the sand-blasted towns of Rajasthan is a unique setting for this game of cat and mouse. I hope they continue this series.

Excellent

[safrch · 10/10 · 13 May 2023]

Intense, awesome, cliffhanger, and nail-biter. Some real problems have been addressed in this series.

Apart from the criminal angle, we see how even the police have personal problems at home, and how they must balance professional and private life. How wives become insecure of their husbands. The love angles in the series are also brilliant. Everyone seems to be falling in love with the hot chick, yet no one seems to be saying so. But the criminal is truly brilliant.

How he manages to evade being captured again and again is truly fascinating. Could have watched another ten episodes without getting bored. Unlike some other series where I cannot even finish one episode.

Truly brilliant story, and brilliant acting. If we have more such quality content our life would become truly enjoyable. Thank you from my heart to all who were involved in this masterpiece.

This serious series will make you smile from time to time because indeed some serious flaws of society have been highlighted. The subject of marriage and settings its expectations right is also highlighted in this series.

A must watch

[yadavvikas-01384 · 10/10 · 13 May 2023]

It's a wonderful web series blended with full suspense and thrill. It will bind you from stating to end you will definitely enjoy each episode.congrats to Sonakshi for great acting in web series debew. All actors acting is very good. Engaging and full of entertainment. The story concept is new and open a new era of serial killing related movies and web series. Story is unique and make you think. Hats off for the director for perfect execution. This series also gives message for small town villages girls and their parents. This series also an eye opener for small villages in our country where casteism still present in this 21st century.

A MUST WATCH......

Not exactly Mindhunters but a unique solid Indian local flavor

[ashishks-iitr · 9/10 · 13 May 2023]

This is better than most of the garbage Indian series out there. Story is gripping with some very good actors . The depiction of the serial killer is unique and transcends the cliched bloody and gruesome maniac. The screenplay could have been better.

The depiction of the police work, Indian caste system and discrimination is well portrayed. Though many will try to ridicule it , this is still the sad reality of Indian society. The lower classes still have a hard time to get justice and so called "upper class" people try to influence the police .

This is definitely worth a watch. Just a good thriller series with the underlying message of the harsh societal reality still prevalent in many parts of India.

Okayish!

[vipsdrockstar · 6/10 · 18 May 2023]

This series is okay!

Great stuff by Vijay, Gulshan and the rishwat leta hua inspector.

Sonakshi has improved over the years. This series one improved version of her acting. But the only thing I missed in this series, if we could get more scenes of other actors too.

Direction is good. Story is not very new, serial killer and cop chase.

But i like how director/writer has tried to poke the ruling govt and continued the ideology of opposition by showing how society is divided. No solution to the problem though.

Pro govt. Will keep on making stuff on some forgotten reality and pro opposition will keep on highlighting society divide and some fake narrative run by govt.

People these days create content based on their political affiliation and spread respective agenda. Noone shows solution to the problem.

It's just okayish!

A great show for the time when there is nothing to watch.

[bariqwaniu · 8/10 · 13 May 2023]

I watched the show only for vijay verma. And he never disappoints. Sonakshi sinha could be better anyways. Watching Vijay verma in negative role is a dream come true. It's slightly slow series but will keep u in suspense and thrill. Many people are criticizing the accent of sonakshi, but i don't have any knowledge about the real Rajasthani accent so it was okok thing for me. But if you are more considerate about the accent. You will find it lacking too. Overall the show is fine and a little new, but predictable concept is there. So move your asses and watch it now. If you're a rajasthani you will relate more.

Great plot but...

[colind4 · 6/10 · 28 August 2023]

Sonakshi Sinha's acting is terrible and should've cast someone who was more likeable. I was routing for antagonist brought out the show and didn't want him to evade justice. Vijay Varma on the other hand was phenomenal! His actions was 10/10.

I thought the character development of the whole show was quite poor and they've could've done a whole lot better to add more details to the character for the viewer to route for the intended protagonist. At times I was confused who it was.

Overall the idea of the show was great, the storyline was also great and but could've been executed better because it always felt like something was lacking throughout the show.

Brilliantly executed!! One of the best web series of 2023 !!

[sanjubhat · 9/10 · 18 May 2023]

Web Series review: Dahaad streaming on Prime Video #Dahaad #sanjuzzreviews #PrimeVideo #sonakshisinha #GulshanDevaiah #SohumShah #primevideoindia

Anjali Bhaati ( Sonakshi Sinha) along with Gulshan Devaiah & Sohum Shah from Mandava police in Rajasthan investigate a series of deaths where women are found dead in public bathrooms. Prima facie, the deaths appear to be suicides, but as the investigation progresses, Bhaati realises that there's a serial killer on the loose.

There is no suspense here as we come to know the identity of the killer in the first episode itself. However it is the cat and mouse game between the killer and the police which makes this an extremely interesting watch.

Another aspect that will send a chill down your spine is the fact that the killer is a respectable family man, a sweet talker, handsome who blends in the society very easily and can effortlessly hide in plain sight. Somewhat like a Ted Bundy, Charles Shobhraj or a Hannibal Lector.

Vijay Verma as the antagonist is just brilliant... A cunning & ruthless killer hiding behind the garb of respectability is the highlight of this story.

Sonakshi, Deviah and Sohum Shah too have delivered exceptional performances . The rustic ambience of India's rural hinterland has been well captured. The pain and frustration of the investigation team and their personal struggles have also been very well showcased without interrupting the narrative in any way.

I enjoyed it... absolutely brilliant indeed!! A bit dark and can really get to you !! If you've liked Patal Lok then this series will be the one to go in for this weekend!!

Going with 4/5 for this .. Adios🙂!!

Brilliant but Sonakshi was misfit, ruined it.

[luckey7 · 6/10 · 12 July 2023]

Plot is gripping, the setup is apt as well - a state which has a historic skewed female ratio, girls are considered burden, because of demand of dowry, and above all, this is so much influenced by the caste factor. The only single blot and the miscast that jumps right out of screen is Sonakshi. Sonakshi isn't the actor she believes she is. She manages to carry just one single expression all along the series. Just one blank expression. I don't have any hate for her. But she utterly failed to grasp the whole character. She couldn't get into the role. She was still in that Akira girl mode, Whole story, screenplay and the rest of the cast were brilliant. Sonakshi wasn't the right choice. I'm sorry. You can give it a go for the rest of the good things.

Roller coasters ride with Bhati

[ynxdkcsk · 9/10 · 13 May 2023]

The show is one of the must watch!!! Brilliant acting by all actors!!! Nice way of telling story!!! If you are a crime/drama lover then you will defiantly enjoy it!!! Audience go with Bhati to Catch Swarnkaar!!! Can be more seasons as anthology series. The way of story telling keep you engaged through out the series. You also want to catch Swarnkar as much as Bhati wants to catch. Beside this Swarnkar play by Vijay Verma is also one of the best performances . No surprise if we see more Vijay Verma on screen in other projects.

Hope makers will make more seasons as continuing it as anthology series.

Outstanding series must watch

[hashimk-10196 · 10/10 · 12 May 2023]

This is a very good crime series, all the people have done a great job in it. Sonkhi Sinha is very good in the role of DABANGG LADY Inspector...Gulshan Devay has also done commendable work in the series which is commendable. Vijay verma set it on fire Seeing his acting, the eyes remain fixed on him Soham shah is brillian job. Apart from all these characters, everyone has done a great job. After a long time we are getting to see the crime web series Sonakshi Sinha has left no stone unturned in acting in a never seen before avatar. This series is based on kidnapping which is full of suspense and entertainment.

Superhit series

[kainatrc · 8/10 · 13 May 2023]

This series is about the famous hot and spicy topic"Intrrcaste marriage or so called love jihad",its also about the pain of socially low caste people it's also about any mother's worry for her daughter's marriage it's also about a girl's desire to become financially independent. But now the thing is that what's new and why to watch this series. Now this series is a crime thriller and its a treat to your eyes and brain together Beautifully presented and once you start it,you would definitely love the ride of this series. Totally a paisa wasool series. This series also is an eye opener for everyone which says any person around us may be a psychopath and we should think twice before trusting any stranger.