A web series called Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web has been released on Netflix. It stars Emraan Hashmi and is created by our beloved Neeraj Pandey. And Neeraj Pandey is a big reason to watch this web series.
A Wednesday, Special 26, Baby, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Special Ops, Khakee: The Bihar Chapter – the direction Neeraj Pandey gave to such content is simply unparalleled. And most importantly, how was Taskaree made under his direction? Let’s spill some hot tea!
Neeraj Pandey’s Direction & Production Budget
Netflix called up Neeraj Pandey and said, ‘Pandey ji, we want something like Special Ops too. Pandey ji replied, ‘That’ll cost Rs 150.’ Netflix said, ‘Oh come on, Pandey ji. We made Stranger Things for $400 million. Not Rs 150… take Rs 200!
Visuals & Vibe: A Hollywood Touch?
The biggest positive aspect of Taskaree is its budget and the locations used. If you liked Special Ops, this feels like it’s part of the same universe – almost the same transitions, the same editing, an action scene in every episode, and the way the text animation appears gives off a Fast & Furious vibe. And everyone’s clothes look like they’ve been washed with a premium detergent – perfectly white and spotless.
In short, this web series gives you a bit of a Hollywood feel.
The Plot: Smuggling at Mumbai Airport
Smuggling is increasing at Mumbai airport. Therefore, three suspended officers are called back, one of whom is Emraan Hashmi, and these three are paragons of honesty. Don’t ask why. And these three are tasked with catching the biggest mafia smuggler, Sharad Kelkar, who is smuggling 30, 40, 50, 100, or even 500 gold biscuits a day. Sometimes he’s smuggling chips and other illegal items.
Unique Smuggling Tactics Highlights
Another big positive of the series is the way the smuggling methods are depicted. Gold is smuggled in thin layers inside laptops, and cocaine is smuggled in small patches swallowed and stored in the stomach.
Everything from gold biscuits to iPhones is being smuggled.
These methods keep you fully engaged in the first two episodes.
Where it Lags: Screenplay & Pacing
The problem starts after the third and fourth episodes, when each episode begins to feel 50 minutes long. How? The scenes move so slowly that you’ve already moved ahead of the story and are waiting for the story to catch up to you. Then, you’ll move forward together.
The story is very predictable; it’s been kept at an elementary level. There’s a complete lack of any twists that would suddenly shock or surprise you. But despite this, I wasn’t bored because every five minutes the scene shifts – sometimes to a foreign country, sometimes to the smuggler, and sometimes they reveal something minor.
But, my lord, everything unfolds at a very basic level.
Cast Performances & Final Breakdown
I didn’t find the series ending very impactful. Going into detail would be a spoiler. I recommend watching this series because it features Emraan Hashmi, Sharad Kelkar, and many other talented actors. They all act well. There are no superstars, so you’ll definitely get good acting.
Is it Too ‘Family Friendly’ for a Crime Thriller?
But listen carefully now. In an attempt to make it family-friendly, this series has compromised on many aspects.
About ten years ago, I watched web series based on smuggling and trafficking. They showed the extreme methods people use to move illegal stuff across borders. But this series is completely family-friendly. There’s no graphic content like that here. You might hear a few mild abuses, but there’s no adult nudity or anything explicit.
That’s why I’m giving it a 7/10 rating.
