The Freelancer REVIEW: Mohit Raina delivers a powerful performance, the gripping thriller is a must-watch

Film:
The Freelancer series

Director: Bhav Dhulia

Creator: Neeraj Pandey

Star cast: Mohit Raina, Anupam Kher, Kashmira Pardeshi, Ayesha Raza Mishra, John Kokken, Sushant Singh, Navneet Malik, Manjiri Faddnis, Sarah Jane Dias and Gauri Balaji

Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

The Freelancer Review

Ahead of my review, Mohit Raina starrer The Freelancer is actually based on the book ‘A Ticket To Syria’. The Freelancer Season 1 consists of 4 episodes and by the end of it, you will get to know the makers are planning to get the second part as well. The first part of the series establishes the characters and gives the viewers the main gift of the story. Since it is an extraction story, the first part of season one focuses on the mission; however, it is the second part that promises to be thrilling and engaging. The first part ends on a cliffhanger note and you will intrigued to see more.

When I saw the series, it made me wonder how easily people get influenced and brainwashed before giving it any thought. How people work in a certain way or get away with anything in lieu of religion. Every religion is beautiful. It’s values, traditions, importance, significance, everything about one’s religion is pure. However, living in a delusion world and without freedom will only lead to devastation. Nothing good will happen when people start fighting over religion and caste. We all are one and humanity is what matters at the end of the day.

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Story:

Avinash Kamath who is an ex-cop turned mercenary takes up the daunting task of rescuing his best friend Inayat Khan’s daughter Aliya. She is a newly married girl who is tricked by her husband Mohsin. He takes her to Istanbul on the pretext of a honeymoon and traps her in war-torn Syria against the backdrop of growing ISIS terrorism. Completely unaware of the situation, Aliya gets to know her husband’s intention. She realises that her in-laws and her husband have joined the terrorist group and have completely submerged themselves in the Muslim religion. From learning Arabic to wearing a Burqa, Aliya’s freedom is snatched after coming to Syria. She then tries to contact his parents to get herself extracted from the hellhole. Will Avinash succeed in extracting Aliya? Will he eradicate the terrorist group?

Highlights of The Freelancer

The performances: From Mohit to Anupam, they have delivered an intense performance with their characters and that makes you feel like watching it.

The pace: Bhav Dhulia maintains the pace of the show without making it feel dragged or something and I liked that the most. It is nicely edited which doesn’t make the viewer tired but they feel to invest more in the show.

Storyline: Neeraj Pandey once again brings an interesting thriller drama with The Freelancer. The narration of the story is intense and gritty. Even though I know less about the Syrian war, I like how they directly came to the point rather than adding extra scenes to the story. Even when it comes to the characters’ backstories, Bhav Dhulia ensures to make it crisp but at the same, the message is conveyed to the viewers.

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Drawbacks of The Freelancer

Information pattern: Too much information was bombarded at the same time and I was having a bit hard time coping with it. I feel that would have been easier to understand if certain things were simplified like the situation of ISIS and its functions. It gets a little confusing during the show.

The break: The Freelancer series is broken into two parts and I really don’t understand the logic. I understand the season concept but definitely not the breakage of one season. It actually affects the flow after investing in 4 episodes and then there’s a break in it, showing it after months. I would definitely not say it is a great marketing move.

Star performance:

Mohit Raina essays the role of the police officer Avinash Kamath who turns himself into a mercenary named The Freelancer. He is a ghost on all the platforms and only works on a secret mission for money. However, after he learns about Aliya’s situation, he jets off towards the mission without being hesitant. Talking about his performance, Mohit is terrific with his performance and shines throughout the series. There’s a dual personality in him and Mohit plays with great finesse. From being a tough cop to being a mellow uncle, Mohit Raina is the heart of the series.

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Anupam Kher looks powerful and delivers a strong performance as a doctor who helps Avinash with his mission. Anupam does justice to his calm and composed character. Whereas Kashmira Pardeshi and Navneet Malik who play Aliya and Mohsin respectively give a decent performance. Ayesha Raza Mishra is beautiful in her performance. The vulnerability of a mother and wife is shown with utmost grace. Sushant Singh and Manjiri Faddnis have limited screen space and did a fair job with their parts. On the other hand, Sarah Jane Dia comes in the 3rd episode and does a fine job. I feel there’s more to her character which might be explored in the second part.

Conclusion:

Concluding my review, The Freelancer is raw and gritty but is not as engaging as one expects it to be. Given that it is created by Neeraj Pandey, The Freelancer is an interesting watch but it also comes with its own share of flaws. The good part of the series is that it has the driving force to watch the second part which will be engaging and intense. Since the first 4 episodes focus on the mission and the characters, the second part will have a full-blown extraction mission and that will be thrilling. This will make the viewers come back to this series.

Watch The Freelancer after the review

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