Karmma Calling REVIEW: Raveena Tandon shines as 90s Bollywood Queen, the revenge drama offers a mediocre and predictable story

Film:
Karmma Calling

Director: Ruchi Narain

Star cast: Raveena Tandon, Namrata Sheth, Varun Sood, Vikramjeet Virk, Viraf Patel, Rohit Roy, Amy Aela, Waluscha D’Souza, Gaurav Sharma, Piyush Khati, Devangshi Sen, Rachit Singh,

Episodes: 7 episodes

Runtime: 35-40 mins per episode

Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Karmma Calling Review

Karma Calling starring Raveena Tandon and Namrata Sheth is based on the U.S. original series Revenge, which aired from 2011-2015. The revenge drama is directed by Ruchi Narain who tries to narrate an intense and riveting story of a young woman who seeks revenge. However, the show turns out to be a middling affair. To know more about Karmma Calling, continue reading the review…

Story

A young single woman named Karma Talwar becomes the enigmatic neighbour of Indrani Kothari, the most powerful woman in the cloistered enclave of the super-rich, Alibag. She is there to avenge her father who was framed for a crime that he didn’t commit. She meticulously plans to meet the kind of justice she thinks they deserve. Karma plans all her motives carefully before executing them and ensures to destroy them one by one. However, there’s something that came into her life unplanned and now, she is in a dilemma.

Highlights of the show

Raveena Tandon: Raveena indeed was a 90s Bollywood queen and Ruchi Narain did a fabulous job in showing her in all her glory. She perfectly fits the bill to play the role of Indrani Kothari. From being poise to looking mysterious, Raveena demands all the right attention. She looks spectacular in every frame and packs a solid performance in the series.

Glamour: Since it is a show about high-profile people and celebrities, Karmma Calling is quite glamorous. If you’re wondering why this is a highlight? Well, showcasing a rich family with utmost authenticity and dedication is an art. The costume department did a great job of raising the glamour quotient. Each and everyone’s costume needs to be bookmarked.

Drawbacks of the show

Poor performances: While some have given a strong performance, some failed to impress with their act. Stars like Namrata Sheth, Varun Sood, Amy Aela, Waluscha D’Souza, Piyush Khati, Devangshi Sen, Rachit Singh are not up to the mark. Yes, they are fresh faces and new talents but their performance fell short in this high revenge drama. Not letting them down but they need to be a little natural than actually acting in front of the camera.

Screenplay: It is a revenge drama and it should keep you hooked. However, that is not the case with Karmma Calling. The storyline gets a little confusing and makes you wonder how Karma is doing everything with so much ease. It seems like her plans are too easy to execute, hence, you won’t feel that connection. The first season leaves you unanswered but it doesn’t give you a driving force to come back for season 2.

Drama quotient: Yes, it is a revenge drama, it is well asserted but yet the show is overdramatic. You feel it’s tiring and boring at some point.

Lack of impact: As mentioned before, the series has no weightage and lacks impact on you. Karma is taking her father’s revenge and you will not feel her anger or her avenge. Everything falls flat.

Star Performances

Raveena Tandon who plays Indrani Kothari in Karmma Calling is a diva by all means. However, in some places, it feels like she is forcing herself to be a cruel person or to look like a mysterious woman. Nevertheless, Raveena is the heart of the series. Namrata Sheth seems like a weak link in the series, especially when she plays the titular role. Her expressions are stagnant and seem very forced when it comes to giving angry emotions.

Varun Sood is also similar to Namrata and delivers a decent performance. Rohit Roy as Satyajeet is seen as Karmma’s father who is seen in a limited screen time but excels in his part whereas Vikramjeet Virk as Sameer is strong and impactful. Viraf Patel as Zane Khan also does a fair job with his character and Gaurav Sharma who plays Kaushal Kothari showcases his versatile performance.

Supporting cast

Amy Aela, Waluscha D’Souza, Piyush Khati, Devangshi Sen and Rachit Singh contribute a lot to the story but not performance-wise. Everyone has given a mediocre act onscreen.

Conclusion

Concluding the review of Karmma Calling, Raveena Tandon is the star of the series as she gives a captivating performance. However, the series is not as engaging as one would expect it to be. With weak performances and a predictable story, Ruchi Narain’s directorial can be dull.

Watch Karma Calling trailer after the review

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