Janaawar – The Beast Within: Is it great?

Janaawar – The Beast Within (Season 1/India/2025) is a suspenseful crime drama series set in the state of Chhattisgarh. In fact, it is an engaging police procedural drama that does not hold back on the usual and familiar violent interrogation techniques used across the police stations across the length and breadth of India.

Furthermore, it takes an honest look at the burning issue of “Casteism” in an Indian society. There are far too many candid references to the people belonging to the privileged Upper Caste (Onnchee Jati/ऊंची जाति) and the slightly disadvantaged Lower Caste (Neechee Jati/नीची जाति) in this Hindi show that one cannot ignore.

Slow-Burning Crime Tale Exposes India’s Casteism

Spoiler Free Series Review: Janaawar – The Beast Within (S1/2025)

The synopsis

As SI Hemant Kumar (Bhuvan Arora) explores a missing person's case in the jungle town of Chhattisgarh, he is determined to solve it. Trouble follows when that leads to a string of bodies and a likely serial killer.

About the series title

Please note, the Hindi word in the show title Janaawar – The Beast Within. The Hindi word Janaawar (जनावर) or Jaanwar (जानवर) means the Animal or the Beast. So, it is quite clear that the makers of the show claim that actually every Human carry a beast within Him/Her. And its what the series conveys in an Indian context.

Also, it is worth noting that besides the Janawar (जनावर) word, the second most important word is Jati (जाति) in this Indian series. In fact, the title of one of the seven episodes is “Jaati, Kabhi Nahi Jaati (जाति, कभी नहीं जाती)”, which can be translated to mean the “Caste Never Goes Away” in India. And that is the brutal reality.

For understanding the 1000+ years old hierarchy-based social structure in Indian society, kindly read our recent write-up on the "Caste" system in India. In the FM Movie Review of Dhadak 2 (Hindi/2025) in our Focus Magazine, we attempted to explain the status of the "Dalit (दलित)" in an Indian society. 

Of late, it seems that the Indian filmmakers are increasingly focusing on the burning issues of caste and casteism in India. So, this socially conscious Hindi series talks about the very established and rigid hierarchy-based social structure, which has existed and thrived since the Ancient Indian period.

And it must be noted that the status of the so-called Lower Castes (Neechee Jati/नीची जाति) is much better in an Indian society, especially in comparison to the position of “Dalit (दलित)” in the said Indian social structure. The “Dalit” are considered untouchables. Anyway, let us get back to its story of this crime drama.

A few more spoiler free details about its storyline

Right in the opening scene of this show, we see a badly disfigured, dead body being dragged across the jungle. And it seems that the (serial) killer is trying to cut and slit one of the body parts. Just then, a police man stops near the murder site inside the jungle. Thereby, the policeman inadvertently interrupts the killer.

Later, in the show, the police find the body of the murder victim in the forest. So, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anirudh Pathak (Bhagwan Tiwari) instructs the protagonist Sub-Inspector (SI) Hemant Kumar (Bhuvan Arora) to lead the police investigation in this complicated murder case.

Thereby, it kick-starts the focused look into the (professional and personal) journey of the SI Hemant Kumar, who, it seems, belongs to the Lower Caste (Neechee Jati/नीची जाति) category. Casteism and the caste taunts are rampant, not only in the police force but also in the Indian society at large.

While trying to solve the murder case and look for the killer, the SI Hemant Kumar and his entire police team take a closer look at the all-pervading and unrestrained caste-discrimination practices in India. In fact, the police station is a perfect microcosm of the caste-based, biased social behaviour. And it covers almost the imaginable place, viz., the temple, the police station, the hospital, the family, and the society at large. Later on, when we learn about the identity of the (serial) killer in this show, we learn that he, too, comes from the Lower Caste (Neechee Jati/नीची जाति) category, or perhaps, an even lower category of the “Dalit”.

A few thoughts about the Beast within

So, both the Police Official and the Killer face a lot of bigotry, hatred, inequity, injustice, intolerance, prejudice, and unfairness in their respective lives. And, it was purely because of their respective caste (Jati/जाति) status. However, only one of them became a vengeful beast. Maybe he could not control his repressed anger.

Even though the apsara Manda (Niti Kaushik) is affiliated with the Lower Caste (Neechee Jati/नीची जाति) and/or Dalit category, the lustful people (from both Upper and Lower castes) try to exploit her physically. Maybe the issues of untouchability (अस्पृश्यता/छुआछूत) are not meant for the beautiful ladies of the lower castes.

In a way, it takes a closer look at the inhuman and vicious Human behaviour in India. That continues with the ruthless casteism.

Hence, this show title seems apt.

Who is the real beast?

Is it the casteist Indians?

A very good job by the writers, the director and the cinematographer

Well, kudos to the writers Sonali Gupta and Shreyes Anil Lowlekar. We really appreciate the wonderful writing of a multi-layered storyline that infuses the harsh social realities and violent crimes in India. We are sure that one will find many similar real-life stories across the length and breadth of India. Moreover, they manage to maintain a very good suspense and mystery in this show. Not until the final moments of the first season finale did we know about the kill count of the (serial) killer and the underlying reasons for the murders.

Also, the cinematographer Rahul Nayak gorgeously captured the raw natural beauty of the green forest cover of Chhattisgarh state using drones and other types of modern cameras. Furthermore, we also liked his immersive shots inside the police stations.

And, not to be outdone, the captain of the ship, Director and Editor Sachindra Vats, has done a commendable job.

Also, we liked the powerful performances of the Bhuvan Arora and Badrul Islam

Among the talented bunch of ensemble cast, both Bhuvan Arora (SI Hemant Kumar) and Badrul Islam (Kailash) take the lead in conveying the central theme of this Indian police procedural drama. Now, it will be difficult for us to choose, as to who was better. But, in the context of this show, both complemented each other brilliantly. Likewise, the rest of the ensemble cast, Bhagwan Tiwari (DSP Anirudh Pathak), Atul Kale (Inspector Dayanand Kosle), Vaibhav Yashvir (ASI Balwant Pandey), Eshika Dey (ASI Vimla Ekka), Vinod Suryavanshi (Head Constable Motilal Sharma), Amit Sharma (Constable Bichindra Thakur), Deekshha Sonalkar (Garima Hemant Kumar), Niti Kaushik (Manda), etc., played their parts well, too.

The conclusion

It is the first Hindi show set in the state of Chhattisgarh that we have watched. And its makers have done a good job of using the local Chhattisgarhi dialects as well as showcasing the distinct flavours of its society. If one can manage to look past its dialogues in the local dialect and the slow pace in the first half, then one will be richly rewarded in the final two episodes of this seven-part series. Now, it is time to answer the difficult question whether the Janaawar – The Beast Within: Is it great? To be honest, it is a very good Hindi series. Nowadays, a bunch of filmmakers are rightly focusing on the “Casteism” issue.

Even this show asks profound and uncomfortable questions about the caste-based social structure in India. It was a thought-provoking and socially relevant show, indeed. To conclude, we showed patience and empathy, binge-watched it, and we liked this suspenseful crime drama show.

Rating: Janaawar – The Beast Within (Season 1/India/2025) Show

Poster: Janaawar – The Beast Within (Season 1/India/2025) Show

Key Details: Janaawar – The Beast Within (Season 1/India/2025) Show

Trailer: Janaawar – The Beast Within (Season 1/India/2025) Show

Sub-Inspector Hemant Kumar (Bhuvan Arora), newly transferred to Chhand, lands himself two cases - a missing person and a dead body in the jungle. Amidst this chaos, what happens when the body's head goes missing? 

Also, check out the YouTube short video clip - Welcome To Chhand Ft. Bhuvan Arora | Janaawar - The Beast Within | ZEE5.

Spoiler Alert: Episodes Summaries

God and Punishment | (27 minutes)

One More Knot | (20 minutes)

Caste Never Goes Away | (23 minutes)

Past Sins | (24 minutes)

The Seductress | (22 minutes)

Who Else? | (32 minutes)

Bloody Animal | (33 minutes)

Poster & Featured Image of Janaawar – The Beast Within (Season 1/India/2025) Show | Pictures Credit: Zee5.