Search: The Naina Murder Case Web Series Review | Suchin Mehrotra | THR India

Suchin Mehrotra delivers a comprehensive analysis for The Hollywood Reporter India of JioHotstar's latest offering, "Search: The Naina Murder Case," directed by Rohan Sippy and starring Konkona Sen Sharma as ACP Sanyukta Das. The six-episode series, an Indian adaptation of the 2007 Danish series "Forbrydelsen" (also remade in the US as "The Killing"), follows the investigation into the murder of college student Naina Marathi, found dead in politician Tushar Sarve's campaign car, played by Shiv Panditt. Suchin praises Konkona's measured performance as the seasoned detective on her last day before transferring to Ahmedabad, and particularly highlights Surya Sharma's thunderously enjoyable turn as the brash ACP Jai Kanwal, noting their buddy cop chemistry as the show's strongest element. Notable supporting performances come from a scene-stealing Sagar Deshmukh as Naina's devastated father, alongside Shraddha Das, Dhruv Sehgal, Varun Thakur, and Mukul Chadda in various suspect roles.

While initially praising the series as "formula done well" with strong lead performances and atmospheric visuals, Suchin becomes increasingly critical of the show's execution, particularly its reliance on repetitive exposition and less engaging domestic subplot featuring Mukul as Sanyukta's insufferable husband. The writing from Shreya Karunakaran and Radhika Anand constructs adequate red herrings and misdirects, but Suchin's tone shifts dramatically when discussing the finale's cliffhanger ending that provides zero resolution to the central mystery. The decision to stretch the murder case across multiple seasons without revealing the killer transforms what began as a "breezy by the book murder mystery" into what Suchin calls "an entitled smug cash grab," comparing it unfavorably to being kicked out of a movie theater at intermission and questioning why makers believe this particular case warrants a second season.