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Unbearably gruesome, ‘Abhay’ is best left unseen
By Subhash K. Jha
Web series: “Abhay”; Cast: Kunal Kemmu; Rating: **
ZEE5’s web series “Abhay” with Kunal Kemmu in the title role as an unsmiling cop from the Special Task Force who investigates impossibly complicated crime cases, is a thriller that throws away its potential by indulging in excessive gore. The makers almost seem to enjoy describing depravity in detail.
The first episode was a takeoff on the notorious Pandher case where a businessman and his househelp kidnapped scores of children, brutalised them and, hold on to your stomachs, cut them up and ate them.
This level of depravity is, according to me, not filmable. And the first episode where the cannibalistic criminal’s (played by Deepak Tijori) man Friday (Gopal Singh) sat chopping up the child’s corpse had me filled with revulsion, not so much at the savage act of violence as the screen delineation of it.
Producer B.P. Singh is a crime specialist of sorts on Indian television. His “CID”, said to be the longest-running show on Indian television, was avidly watched by families.
From the two episodes I’ve seen of Singh’s web series “Abhay” seems like a celebration of depravity. Little children being tortured and killed, a woman chained to a bed and tongue-licked like a cat by a maniac, parents getting their heads bashed with a pressure cooker by their son while a ‘Bhajan’ plays in the background (a better choice would have been the song “Tujhe suraj kahun ya chanda mera naam karega roshan”).
In addition, the protagonist Abhay who constantly scowls as though he ate something that didn’t agree with him in the morning, has his own demon (played by Iranian actress Elnaaz Norouzi) to deal with.
The second episode again based on a true-crime, has the talented Anshuman Jha as the above-mentioned ‘honhaar beta’ who batters his parents to death and holds a girl, befriended on social media, captive in the house.
Anshuman is chilling in his sociopath’s avatar. The evil glint in his eye serves as ample warning that something is not right here. Maybe he knows what we don’t.
Though the denouement in both the episodes was not convincing, and the marginal characters came and delivered their lines as though auditioning for episodes of “The X Files”, the overall presentation is tightly wound and engrossing.
But the violent content must be toned down, as it borders on brutal insensitivity.
While interrogative the cowering child abuser who says, “Main toh bachon ko pyar karta hoon”, Kunan blurts out, “Mader..rape karta hain bachchon ka”.
Watch out for the misuse of the freedom provided by the digital space. Freedom comes with great responsibility. Producer B.P. Singh, who now heads the FTII, should know that.
–IANS
skj/nn/ksk
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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