SERIES REVIEW - SEARCH: THE NAINA MURDER CASE

REVIEW

BY

SUYASH PACHAURI

[GLOBAL BOLLYWOOD]

&

[DIRECTOR'S DAILY CLAPBOARD]

ONE-LINER:

"Your Naina will not get bored or bother to watch.  Search: The Naina Murder Case''

Introduction

In the crowded landscape of Indian crime dramas, Search: The Naina Murder Case arrives with the gravitas of a Nordic noir adaptation and the promise of a compelling murder mystery. Loosely based on the acclaimed Danish series Forbrydelsen (The Killing), this six-episode series streaming on JioHotstar is directed by Rohan Sippy and stars the ever-reliable Konkona Sen Sharma in the lead role. The story follows ACP Sanyukta Das, a tenacious Mumbai crime cell officer, as she’s pulled into the murder investigation of a young college student, Naina Marathe, on what is supposed to be her last day before transferring to a quieter desk job in Ahmedabad.

Balancing the tension of a high-profile murder case with the complexities of modern womanhood, parenting, politics, and institutional rot, the show promises intrigue. But does it deliver? Let’s break it down across all facets.

Screenplay & Script Sense

The writing, helmed by Shreya Karunakaran and Shreya Anand, shows glimmers of promise but ultimately feels caught between the demands of procedural drama and the aspirations of meaningful commentary. The story begins in media res with Naina running for her life in a dark jungle and sets a gripping tone. However, that urgency doesn’t always translate into the pacing of the script.

The screenplay relies heavily on familiar tropes: the brooding veteran cop, the brash male newcomer, a politically entangled murder, red herrings, and a splash of personal turmoil. What sets it apart is its ambition to touch on themes like cybercrime, deepfake culture, misogyny, youth politics, and digital parenting. However, these elements remain surface-level, often introduced to fill runtime or create a false sense of depth rather than being fully explored.

The dialogue is utilitarian functional in conveying plot but rarely insightful or memorable. While ACP Jai’s conjectures and Sanyukta’s retorts are meant to add texture, they sometimes come off as clichéd.

Direction

Rohan Sippy brings a degree of polish and professionalism to the show, but also a frustrating lack of daring. The direction is clean, the tone consistent, but the emotional heft that The Killing carried is largely missing.

Sippy’s signature style, seen previously in Bluffmaster and Kuch Na Kaho, lends an accessible, almost breezy feel to parts of the show, which sometimes works against the grim nature of the plot. While he handles the procedural beats well, the moments of moral and emotional complexity, particularly those around the victim’s family or Sanyukta’s daughter, lack sufficient depth.

That said, the restraint in not over-stylizing the drama is commendable. It’s not noir for the sake of noir. But it also doesn’t capitalize on opportunities to make a greater emotional or philosophical impact.

Acting

Konkona Sen Sharma as ACP Sanyukta Das

As expected, Konkona carries the show. She brings calm intensity, credibility, and lived-in realism to her role. Whether it's interrogating suspects, dealing with bureaucratic interference, or struggling to connect with her teenage daughter, she never overplays her hand. Her portrayal is nuanced quiet strength, visible fatigue, and unspoken guilt all simmering under the surface.

Surya Sharma as ACP Jai Kanwal

Surya Sharma manages to inject life into the classic “rookie with attitude” trope. His portrayal of Jai Kanwal, the brash Haryanvi officer with a chip on his shoulder, adds a necessary counterpoint to Sanyukta’s calm efficiency. Their dynamic evolves from sparring to mutual respect, and Sharma navigates this arc with restraint.

Supporting Cast

• Shiv Panditt as Tushar Surve adds mystery and political shade but remains underused.

• Dhruv Sehgal offers a subdued performance in an unconventional role.

• Iravati Harshe and Sagar Deshmukh as Naina’s grieving parents provide moments of depth, though their screen time is limited.

• Chandsi Kataria as Naina, seen in flashbacks, leaves a lasting impression even with minimal dialogue.

Cinematography

Murzy Pagdiwala’s cinematography deserves praise for avoiding visual clichés. The Mumbai monsoon is not used as a tired metaphor for gloom. Instead, the visuals are pragmatic, with urban spaces used effectively to convey unease; dorm rooms, digital labs, empty campaign offices, and family homes are all treated with care.

Notably, some shots of the submerged car in which Naina’s body is found are particularly well-composed, adding a layer of visual storytelling that compensates for the occasionally flat narrative.

Music & Background Score

Composer Pranaay keeps the background score subtle and mostly effective. There are no overbearing crescendos or jarring sound design choices. The music stays in service to the story, enhancing tension where needed.

However, the score sometimes falls into generic territory. The lack of a distinct audio identity keeps the atmosphere from feeling fully immersive. A more experimental or moody score could have elevated the narrative tension considerably.

Editing

Abhishek Seth’s editing choices are largely solid, especially in transitions between interrogation scenes and personal moments. The pacing is brisk in the initial episodes but falters midway, especially in episodes three and four, where the show feels like it's going through motions.

The 45-minute opener gives way to shorter 30-minute episodes, which is a smart structural move, preventing narrative fatigue. But the show could have benefitted from tighter editing in the final episode to avoid the sense of abruptness it leaves behind.

Episode-Wise Breakdown

Episode 1: "The Last Day" Sanyukta prepares to leave Mumbai. The discovery of Naina’s body puts her plans on hold. The setup is effective and intriguing.

Episode 2: "A New Partner" Jai Kanwal is introduced. Clashes between old-school and new-school policing are explored. Suspects begin to surface. The pace remains strong.

Episode 3: "Deeper Waters" Naina’s relationships and digital secrets emerge. Focus shifts to the college fest, her ex-boyfriend, and best friend. Slower pacing begins.

Episode 4: "The Mentor" A suspicious teacher is put under scrutiny. Subplots involving politics and cybercrime expand. Some threads feel arbitrary.

Episode 5: "Threads and Lies" The investigation begins to unravel. Red herrings abound. The political candidate’s involvement deepens. Emotional stakes increase.

Episode 6: "Unfinished Business" Just when answers seem close, the show pivots to set up a second season. Emotional resolutions are sidelined, and the mystery remains unresolved.

Final Verdict

Search: The Naina Murder Case is a competently made, moderately engaging murder mystery that succeeds more as a binge-watchable procedural than a lasting emotional experience. Its social commentary is sincere but scattered, and its characters are well-cast but sometimes underwritten.

Konkona Sen Sharma gives it depth, Surya Sharma brings energy, and the direction maintains a steady hand throughout. However, a frustratingly vague ending and an overreliance on genre clichés keep it from greatness.

Despite these flaws, it remains watchable, especially for fans of slow-burn mysteries and character-driven dramas. Whether or not you return for a second season will depend entirely on how much ambiguity you’re willing to tolerate.

On the Plus Side:

• Konkona Sen Sharma’s performance anchors the entire show.

• A grounded portrayal of procedural work, without sensationalism.

• Sensitive handling of issues like teenage identity, online safety, and parental anxiety.

• Strong cinematography and well-paced editing in the early episodes.

• Tense, layered character dynamics between Sanyukta and Jai.

On the Minus Side:

• The mystery lacks payoff; an unresolved ending frustrates viewers.

• Political and cyber subplots feel underdeveloped.

• The writing avoids emotional depth in favor of narrative convenience.

• Characters like Naina’s family and key suspects are underexplored.

• No clear visual or tonal identity separates it from dozens of other crime procedurals.

Conclusion

Search: The Naina Murder Case tries hard to adapt an internationally lauded crime drama into the Indian context, and in many ways, it succeeds, particularly in tone, character work, and intention. But it falls short in delivering the deep emotional resonance or high-stakes urgency expected of a story dealing with such a tragic and politically charged crime.

It is a worthy attempt, and for those willing to overlook its cliffhanger and narrative dips, it's still a solid weekend watch.

One-liner:

Your Naina will not get bored or bother to watch  Search: The Naina Murder Case.

REVIEW BY

SUYASH PACHAURI

[GLOBAL BOLLYWOOD] & [DIRECTOR'S DAILY CLAPBOARD]