Murder In Mahim is a crime mystery set in Mumbai. So, this realistic drama takes us to the rarely seen underbelly of life in Mahim, a suburb in the heart of the said metropolitan city.
Notably, the Murder In Mahim show is based on the author Jerry Pinto’s 2018 novel of the same title. Interestingly, this contemporary murder crime (s) mystery takes us into the less-explored world of LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual) in the commercial city of India.
“Murder In Mahim” Is A Riveting Tale Focusing On LGBTQI Issues In India
Trailer: Murder In Mahim (S1/2024) Series
Synopsis: Murder In Mahim (S1/2024) Series
Police officer Shivajirao Jende (Vijay Raaz) and his friend, Retired journalist Peter Fernandes (Ashutosh Rana) plunge into a murder investigation in Mumbai’s underbelly. In a thrilling tale adapted from Jerry Pinto’s critically acclaimed book, they uncover secrets of desire, greed, and despair; and also confront the shadows of their long-lost friendship.
Spoiler Free Review: Murder In Mahim (S1/2024) Series
The storyline/plotline
Circa 2013. Mahim, Mumbai. A young man is found dead in the toilet of Mahim (Local Train) Station, his stomach ripped open. Then a retired journalist Peter D’Souza (Ashutosh Rana), accompanied by his friend Inspector Shivajirao Jende (Vijay Raaz), becomes entangled in an investigation that exposes a clandestine world of hidden desires, blackmail, and unexpressed love—a world he fears his son Sunil (Rohan Verma) may be involved in.
Furthermore, driven by a mixture of fear, empathy, and curiosity towards men who seek companionship with other men, Peter endeavours to track down the killer, aided by the flamboyant Leslie Siqueira (Rajesh Khattar), his acquaintance. Meanwhile, Shivajirao Jende (Vijay Raaz) is assisted by his junior colleague Firdaus Rabbani (Shivani Raghuvanshi) of Mumbai Police. With time running out, they work as an unlikely team to catch the killer.
We liked the layered LGBTQI murder mystery set in Mahim, Mumbai
It is worth reiterating that the story is set in 2013, India. At that time, the British Colonial-era law (Article 377) continued to haunt the LGBTQI community. Some greedy and corrupt people took advantage of such a law.
There is no doubt that, in the last decade or so, society in contemporary India has undergone a sea change. On the one hand, some of the changes are good. However, on the other hand, a few other developments are not good for Indian society. But one of the positives is the fact that LGBTQI issues have gained understanding in India, at least by the Honourable courts of India. Has the society accepted these changes? We are not sure.
Set against such a backdrop, the story is a good social commentary as well as a murder mystery. Moreover, in the series, we see the unglamorous side of Mumbai. The local train station, the shady nightlife, the over-crowded beaches, the prostitution, the LGBTQI scene, the crime, the slums, etc. Even the grim social/political realities of the LGBTQI have been commented upon. So, the underbelly of Mumbai has been vividly portrayed. So, it makes one think about the freedom of choice available to common citizens in democratic India.
We are not sharing further details about its story here, as it might adversely affect your viewing pleasure. But, in the spoilers, we have shared the summary of its eight episodes and other details below.
We also liked the captivating acting by the ensemble cast
While watching this enigmatic series, we expected good performances from Vijay Raaz (Shivajirao Jende), Ashutosh Rana (Peter Fernandes), and Shivaji Satam (Dhular). These three were as usual a treat to watch, especially when they were on the screen. The on-screen interactions between Vijay Raaz and Ashutosh Rana were the highlights. However, the complex love-and-hate relationship between Shivaji Satam (Dhular- father) and Vijay Raaz (Shivajirao Jende – son) has been explored beautifully.
We also liked the acting performances by Shivani Raghuvanshi (Firdaus Rabbani) and Rajesh Khattar (Leslie Siqueira), who played complex characters, which are not usually seen in Indian series. The love stories of Firdaus and Leslie depict the harsh realities of Indian society. The other members of its ensemble cast did well too. Most of them embraced the local flavour of Mumbai culture and portrayed their respective characters well.
The conclusion
The writers Mustafa Neemuchwala and Udai Singh Pawar have done well to adapt the screen adaptation of Jerry Pinto’s novel. In addition, the director Raj Acharya has recreated the Mahim (Mumbai) society admirably. Although, it is a slow-burning murder mystery; perhaps, this kind of story-telling was needed to highlight the complex issues of LGBTQI in India. All in all, it is a compelling show that mixes crime and social (and personal) issues wonderfully and portrays an important contemporary social matter.
Rating:
| FM Rating | 3.85/5 |
Key Details:
| Genre | Crime, Mystery |
| Original language | Hindi (A bit of Marathi & English) language |
| Season | One (1) Season |
| Episodes | Eight (8) Episodes |
| Writers | Mustafa Neemuchwala & Udai Singh Pawar |
| Director | Raj Acharya |
| Cast | Vijay Raaz (Shivajirao Jende), Ashutosh Rana (Peter Fernandes), Shivani Raghuvanshi (Firdaus Rabbani), Shivaji Satam (Dhular), Divya Jagdale (Millie), Rohan Verma (Sunil Fernandes), etc. |
| Network | Jio Cinema |
Poster:
Spoilers Alert: Episodes Summary of the Series
Summary of the Eight (8) Episodes
Bhookha Shehar (S1, E1)
Two estranged friends, Jende, a cop, and Peter, a journalist, are shaken by the murder of a gay sex worker at Mahim toilet. Jende and his assistant Rabbani dive into the investigation, while Peter faces home troubles.
Bhookha Shehar means Hungry City.
Hisaab Barabar (S1, E2)
Another murder rattles the town. Jende confronts Peter, suspecting Sunil’s involvement; Sunil’s disappearance deepens the mystery. Peter takes matters into his own hands, investigating to exonerate his son.
Hisaab Barabar means Settled the Accounts.
Baap Bada Ya Beta (S1, E3)
As a serial killer targets a cop, stress mounts at work for Jende. His conflict with his father strains family ties. Peter investigates the Mahim toilet murders but faces unexpected trouble.
Baap Bada Ya Beta means (Is) Father elder or Son.
Do Se Dosti (S1, E4)
Sunil returns, proving his innocence to Jende. Peter and Jende’s worlds collide, reopening old wounds yet resolving differences. They rekindle their past friendship, but a dangerous future looms ahead for both.
Do Se Dosti means Friendship with two.
Pappu Ka Bhoot (S1, E5)
Amid doom looming over the police, two cops from Jende’s team meet tragic ends. Pressure mounts, leading Jende to suspect Peter’s involvement in the murders. Meanwhile, Peter’s investigation challenges his views on the LGBTQ community.
Pappu Ka Bhoot means Pappu's ghost.
Honey trapping (S1, E6)
As Jende and Peter get a whiff of the ‘honey trapping’ racket run by the police, the chase to find the culprit gets even tougher. While Rabbani’s reality is revealed to her family, Peter and Jende are also hit hard by a truth bomb.
Jhootha Sach (S1, E7)
Peter’s clash with Sunil escalates as he delves into his personal life. Meanwhile, Rabbani is shaken by her partner’s suicide. A glimmer of hope emerges as Peter and Jende uncover the murderer, but he narrowly escapes capture.
Jhootha Sach means Lies Truth.
Barabari Ki Baari (S1, E8)
Sunil shares a heartfelt moment with his family. Peter stands by his son, while Jende supports Rabbani against their superior’s injustices. Together, Peter and Jende crack the case, marking the start of a new chapter.
Barabari Ki Baari means (It is) Time for Equality.
Note:- Article 377 (India) and the 2018 verdict of the Supreme Court of India
Article 377
Article 377, a British colonial law, outlawed all sexual acts deemed “against the order of nature”. This legislation was employed to bring charges against individuals who engaged in oral and anal sex, as well as homosexual activities, in India.
So, Article 377 stated, “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with [imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
Verdict by Supreme Court of India
On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of India, in a landmark judgement, unanimously struck down part of Section 377 which criminalized gay sex, stating that it violated the constitutional right to equality and dignity. After years of grassroots activism, the Indian Supreme Court declared the application of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to private consensual sex between men as unconstitutional in 2018, effectively decriminalizing homosexual activity.
The LGBTQI community in India has been granted the right to equal citizenship by the Supreme Court, as it upheld their rights. Consequently, Section 377 has been modified to exclude consensual sexual relationships between adults, regardless of whether they involve same-sex individuals or not. In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has affirmed the equal citizenship rights of the LGBTQI community.
Poster and Featured Image of the Murder In Mahim (S1/2024) Series are courtesy of Jio Cinema.