Search:The Naina Murder Case Review: Konkona Sen Sharma Shines In A Weak, Clickbait Murder Mystery That Wastes Her Talent
Rating: ⭐⭐✨ (2.5/5)
Platform: JioHotstar
Genre: Crime Thriller / Mystery Drama
Language: Hindi
Director: Rohan Sippy
Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Surya Sharma, Shiv Panditt, Shraddha Das, Iravati Harshe, Sagar Deshmukh
Episodes: 6 (Approx. 45 minutes each)
Intro: I Came For Konkona Sen Sharma, I Stayed For Her — But The End Left Me Frustrated!
Kya aapne kabhi koi show dekha hai jo shuruaat mein promising lage lekin end tak pahunchte-pahunchte bas thakaa hua lagne lage?
Well, “Search: The Naina Murder Case” is exactly that!
Hotstar ka yeh latest crime thriller ek gripping murder mystery banne ki koshish karta hai — ek young college girl Naina ke murder ke case ke around. Aur jab lead ho Konkona Sen Sharma, expectations automatically sky high ho jaati hain.
Lekin sadly, jitni expectation thi, utna thrill, intensity aur depth yeh show deliver nahi kar paata. It starts off like a serious, layered investigative drama but ends up becoming a confused, cliched whodunnit with a clickbait climax that leaves you annoyed more than shocked.
Story: A Murder, A Cop, & A Web Of Superficial Subplots
The story begins with ACP Sanyukta Das (Konkona Sen Sharma), ek honest police officer jo apni personal life aur professional life ke beech balance banane ki koshish kar rahi hai.
She relocates to a new city to fix her broken marriage — par uske aate hi ek high-profile murder case uske haath lagta hai: Naina, ek young college student, dead body found in a local politician’s car.
The setup is solid — ek politically sensitive murder, a woman cop, aur ek metro city ka dark underbelly. But unfortunately, after a good start, the story begins to lose focus.
Instead of focusing on tight investigation and emotional layers, the writing meanders into unnecessary subplots — marital issues, political drama, and random suspects.
Rohan Sippy tries to touch on multiple themes — parental pressure, social media toxicity, teenage rebellion, aur political corruption — lekin sab kuch sirf surface level pe reh jaata hai.
By episode 4, it becomes clear that the show’s focus is lost. Har episode me ek naya suspect, ek nayi angle, aur ek aur red herring milta hai — par real emotional impact missing hai.
Performances: Konkona Sen Sharma Is The Only Reason To Watch This Show
Konkona Sen Sharma as ACP Sanyukta Das
Let’s get one thing straight — Konkona Sen Sharma single-handedly saves this show.
Unki performance har scene me authenticity laati hai. She plays a cop who is confident on the field but broken inside. The layers she adds — exhaustion, guilt, determination — sab natural lagta hai.
She’s the kind of actor who can express a hundred emotions with just her eyes.
Chahe woh interrogation scenes ho ya unka emotional breakdown — she’s brilliant.
Honestly, if it wasn’t for Konkona, this show would be unwatchable.
Iravati Harshe as Naina’s Mother
Iravati brings quiet power and grief to her character. Her scenes are deeply emotional, especially when she questions the system and the media for exploiting her daughter’s death.
Her performance gives much-needed emotional grounding to an otherwise cold narrative.
Surya Sharma & Shiv Panditt
Surya Sharma (as Sanyukta’s junior officer) delivers a solid performance, but his banter scenes feel forced at times.
Shiv Panditt plays a predictable politician type — competent but forgettable.
The rest of the cast, including Shraddha Das and Sagar Deshmukh, do what’s asked of them, but none of them stand out due to weak writing.
Direction & Writing: Rohan Sippy Tries To Build Tension, But Fails To Deliver Payoff
Director Rohan Sippy (of Nautanki Saala fame) tries hard to give the show a dark, Scandinavian-style murder mystery tone — inspired from the Danish show The Killing.
But where the original was sharp, slow-burn, and emotionally heavy, the Indian version becomes unnecessarily loud and scattered.
The problem isn’t the idea — it’s the execution.
Instead of staying focused on the murder and its psychological consequences, the writing keeps diverting into melodramatic territory — marital issues, politics, corruption, and fake heroism.
By the time you reach Episode 5, you can literally predict the structure:
“New suspect → New twist → Red herring → Cliffhanger.”
Repeat this six times, and you get The Naina Murder Case.
Screenplay: A Puzzle That Tries Too Hard To Be Smart
Screenplay me kuch interesting moments zarur hain — jaise Naina ke last 24 hours ka recreation, aur some emotionally charged interrogation scenes.
But these good moments get buried under repetitive dialogues and stretched subplots.
The writing lacks emotional impact. Murder mystery me jitna “who did it” important hota hai, utna hi “why they did it” bhi.
Yahan “why” ka answer milta hi nahi — aur jab milta hai, toh lagta hai bas Season 2 ke liye cliffhanger bana diya gaya.
Music & Background Score: Too Loud For A Mystery Show
Background score is one of the weakest parts.
A good crime thriller needs subtle, haunting music — par yahan BGM kabhi kabhi itna loud ho jaata hai ke dialogues dab jaate hain.
Instead of building suspense, the music kills the tension.
The opening theme is okay, but it doesn’t create a memorable identity for the show.
Cinematography & Editing: Stylish But Inconsistent
The series tries to create a gritty, realistic look with muted color tones and night sequences.
Some frames — especially those showing Mumbai’s rain-soaked streets — look beautiful and atmospheric.
However, editing feels uneven. Certain scenes drag unnecessarily, while emotional scenes are cut abruptly.
The pacing issue is real — especially in the middle two episodes, where the story slows down too much.
What Works (Pros):
✅ Konkona Sen Sharma’s outstanding performance
✅ Some realistic emotional moments (especially between mother and cop)
✅ Visually decent and atmospheric tone
✅ Interesting premise inspired by an acclaimed original
✅ First few episodes create curiosity
What Doesn’t Work (Cons):
❌ Weak, inconsistent writing
❌ Predictable investigation and forced suspects
❌ Loud background score
❌ Marital subplot adds nothing to the story
❌ Abrupt, disappointing climax
❌ Clickbait ending made just to tease a Season 2
❌ Wastes Konkona’s immense talent
Best Lines & Moments:
“Main case close karne nahi, sach dhoondhne aayi hoon.” – ACP Sanyukta Das
“Kabhi kabhi sach itna kareeb hota hai ke hum usey dekh nahi paate.”
“Yeh murder sirf ek crime nahi, ek mirror hai hamare society ke double standards ka.”
These dialogues show glimpses of how good this show could have been if the writing matched Konkona’s intensity.
The Climax: Search The Real Murder Is The Ending Itself
Without giving spoilers — the final two episodes are where the show collapses.
Instead of giving closure or emotional payoff, it rushes into a lazy, open-ended climax that feels like a setup for a sequel nobody asked for.
The revelation is neither shocking nor satisfying.
You’re left with half-answered questions, open threads, and a weird feeling that you’ve been tricked into watching just a buildup — not a story.
Technical Report Card:
| Element | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Direction | Stylish but hollow |
| Writing | Weak and inconsistent |
| Acting | Konkona = Excellent; Others = Average |
| Music/BGM | Overused and loud |
| Cinematography | Visually appealing but inconsistent |
| Editing | Pacing issues |
| Emotional Impact | Low |
| Rewatch Value | Very low |
Symbolism & Themes (Attempted But Missed):
The show tries to explore:
- Women in power positions
- Parental expectations
- Political manipulation
- The cost of truth
But all these remain half-baked ideas.
Unlike shows like Delhi Crime (which handled realism and empathy beautifully), The Naina Murder Case fails to maintain authenticity or urgency.
Final Verdict: Watch It Only For Konkona Sen Sharma
If you’re a Konkona Sen Sharma fan, go ahead — she makes every frame worth watching.
Her presence adds depth to even the dullest scenes.
But if you’re looking for a tight, satisfying murder mystery, this one will leave you disappointed.
The writing lacks conviction, and the climax feels like a cheap trick.
In short:
“The Naina Murder Case” is like a beautifully wrapped gift box — jo kholte hi khali nikla.
You’ll love Konkona, but you’ll hate what they did with her talent.
Final Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
⭐ Best For: Konkona fans & those who love slow-paced investigative dramas.
⚠️ Skip If: You hate open-ended, unsatisfying finales.
