Hawala Review: With Hyderabad’s Old City Charm, This Chase Is Easy Going Yet Detailed

Searching for a date on a matrimonial site… Are you that desperate?

…That’s how the latest ZEE5 Original, Hawala, begins. First-time-director Kowshik Bheemidi puts his heart, soul and a whole lot of research in this mini-series. In six episodes, none over 25 minutes, there is a lot for the viewers to take back. Nothing here is life-changing or value-adding. But it does what it promises to do – entertain! From the secretive Hawala dealings to little tricks of the cricket-betting world, this show is a refreshing break from the serious and/or stereotypical content available on OTT.

Watch the show here:

It’s 2019 and companionship is more important than legal certifications. The protagonists of Hawala, Karan and Vani find each other on a matrimonial site but marriage isn’t on cards. They simply are seeking companionship with someone “dependable”. And that is why you need money. Karan asks for three months and cashes in on a seven-digit figure to impress the girl whose pictures on social media won him. How he earns the seven-digit figure and what follows on after their second date is the story of Hawala.

Through the 1:38 minute trailer, we figure out that Karan’s money is stolen by Guna, who can never be caught. Through the six-episode series, we see how the chase between Karan and Guna expedites. Actor Gourish Yelati and Tarun Rohith play the lead protagonist and antagonist, respectively. Gourish as Karan looks, speaks and performs his part. Tarun, on the other hand, looks too soft and meek for his beasty part. However, he wraps it up with his grim expressions.

Karan’s love interest, Vani is an ethical hacker who uses her certificates and skills for unethical purposes. His smartness and her skills are the main reason for their chase to begun, rush and end. Guna’s love interest, Nisha is a baddie who gets things done in whatever way deemed necessary. They have an underlying love story but it falls flat when compared to the high ground given to their (im)morals and ethics.

Neither the chase nor the people included in this chase have a morality that one would encourage. But don’t judge them yet. The director does not have clean characters. Consciously, they are all twisted and hence, so interesting. The story moves… from the stolen Hawala note to the chip in the bag with money… from tracing the paths to finding the culprit… from seeking one’s own justice to doing more wrong thing… the story moves. Not once will you find yourself looking out or away from the screen. Because if you move, you miss.

Although a first-time filmmaker, the writer-director knows his way in and out of the story. The plot mostly moves in a linear fashion but takes a few chances to break the monotony. It’s fair to say, these chances qualify with flying colours. The editing, by Anil Kumar, is fashionable and intriguing. While the sepia tones in the old city might seem to be too much, the DI by Pradeep Roy, otherwise, is brilliant. Kudos to the DOP, Revanth Levaka, who really goes out into the streets, crowds, situations and emotions with his camera.

PS: While you can easily skip the intro, we suggest you hang in there. Because each episode has a different mood and there’s no way better than music to establish it. Music composer, Anand Sudeep Raj, uses different instruments and creates a different melody for each of the episodes. These compositions are interesting and definitely worth your time.

Have you watched the six-episode show yet? Let us know in the comments below. For your next binge-watch, check out the ground-breaking show, Gods of Dharmapuri on ZEE5.