One of the oldest motifs in detective-crime thrillers is the officer with a terrible history. Om Singh, played by Arjun Rampal, is one of London’s best, and he’s senior enough to be awarded exceptional cases. But there’s a weight on his shoulders. Is a dead girl with a brutally disfigured face the missing daughter of a man behind the anti-immigration law that has enraged individuals hoping to find a home and dignity in the United Kingdom?
The six-episode ‘London Files’ strikes a fast-paced tone right away. The emergence of anti-immigrant sentiment is a hot-button issue that gives the series a sense of urgency.
Add in a cast of individuals with more secrets than they’re willing to reveal and an odd locale, and you’ve got the makings of a compelling mystery.
For a while, the suspense is maintained. We see cheerful families gathered to celebrate a birthday in flashback shots and a school shoot-out that leaves everything dark. Purab Kohli, a media mogul, is seen as a fervent supporter of a contentious piece of legislation. These are desis who call London home and have origins there. Then we show a group fighting for the same rights, up against government officials who oppose them. But things start to go apart quickly.
The arrival of a robed figure (Gopal Datt) with magnetic control over his flock of followers throws the narrative into a never-never place. On the walls are written lines that appear to be profound. Strange markings have been discovered on people’s bodies. Believers arm themselves and go to the streets. Pushing for plausibility is one method to make us believe in strange situations, but that key component is absent.
The authored article is written by Sejal Wakkar and shared with Prittle Prattle News exclusively.
