Manoj Bajpayee makes a mark as ' The Family Man'

Raj & DK, the popular Indian- American writer-producer-director duo have given some quirky and interesting films to Hindi cinema. Their recent venture 'Stree', starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor released in August 2018 was a sleeper hit engaging the attention of horror genre films. Over a 15-year tenure in Mumbai moviedom, they have just six films to showcase their abilities, yet have had big names gracing their ventures whenever they announce them.

'The Family Man' is their maiden web series production released a week ago and has a topnotch star cast with Manoj Bajpayee and southern heroine, Priyamani taking up the lead roles. Over 10 episodes, the video narrative takes a deglamourised look at the life and times of the shadow men of Indian law and order establishment – the secret service agents. It zooms in closely into their personal lives, the pressures and the internecine turf wars which keep happening at their places of work, often to their detriment.

Taking up the chemical warfare theme, directly pinning the perpetrators on our neighbouring country, Pakistan, the web series production is evenly-paced and natural. Bajpayee as Srikant Tiwari, the lead analyst is hot on the trail of a possessed group of enemies, who operate under a shroud called ' Mission Zulfiqar'. He has a wavy relationship with his seniors, who resent his independent approach, yet keep him backed up as he is considered a master in his craft.

Moving the action across the border and well into Syria and Baluchistan, the episodes keep the viewers engrossed as the lead pair battle workspace frustrations, the forbidden attractions with colleagues and a demanding pair of children, one a nosy teenager and the other a tween who demands his pound of flesh to keep his father supported.

Based on news stories and real incidents which impacted Indian lives in the past decades, the interest levels of the viewers is sustained as the cat-and-mouse game between the terrorists and the secret service agents goes on as a see-saw battle. Keeping the ending open, as a sequel is likely to be released soon, 'The Family Man' is a must-watch for binge watchers.