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Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kankhajura Season 1 Review: A slow-burn thriller with emotional depth
Story: After 14 years in prison, Ashu is freed under a deal with the police. Rejected by his powerful real estate tycoon brother Max, Ashu vows revenge on him and those who bullied and harmed him in the past. Review: After successfully adapting Your Honor and Fauda for Indian audiences, the makers now turn to the acclaimed Israeli series, Magpie, to deliver Kankhajura (Hindi for centipede) — a psychological thriller that explores the emotional wreckage of fractured families, betrayal, and the murky terrain between guilt and survival. Set against the deceptively tranquil backdrop of Goa, the series unfolds as a brooding character study more than an outright crime drama. The story revolves around Ashu (Roshan Mathew), a man released from prison after 14 years under the condition that he serves as a covert informant for the police. But Ashu's release is anything but liberating. Hoping to reconnect with his elder brother Max (Mohit Raina), a real estate baron with a polished exterior and murky allegiances, Ashu finds himself instead disowned and isolated. This rejection catalyses his downward spiral and sets the stage for a personal vendetta that drives much of the series' emotional core. Director Chandan Arora establishes a strong tone early on, using a measured pace and intimate direction to draw viewers into the psychological turmoil of the characters. The first few episodes are especially taut, rich in subtext and psychological nuance. Arora wisely leans into the show's emotional beats, allowing tension to simmer as past traumas, sibling rivalry, and unresolved guilt resurface. Roshan Mathew delivers a deeply committed performance as Ashu. His portrayal of a man haunted by his past and manipulated in the present is both subtle and stirring. Mohit Raina is compelling as Max, bringing layers of charm, ruthlessness, and internal conflict. The supporting cast is equally effective—Sarah Jane Dias is quietly impactful as Max's wife, Nisha, while Mahesh Shetty and Ninad Kamat convincingly portray Max's morally ambiguous allies, Shardul and Pedru. Trinetra Haldar and Usha Nadkarni provide depth and emotional grounding, while Heeba Shah's Inspector Leena adds a welcome edge to the police narrative. Cinematographer Rajeev Ravi captures Goa not as a sun-drenched paradise but as a place of shadows and secrets. The dusky palette and unhurried camerawork complement the show's reflective tone, turning the setting into an unspoken character. That said, Kankhajura isn't without its flaws. While the storytelling is atmospheric and intelligent, it occasionally loses momentum. Certain subplots meander and some character arcs lack resolution, suggesting the narrative may be more effective if streamlined. The show also doesn't quite deliver the urgency or cliffhangers typical of the thriller genre, opting instead for a slow burn—an approach that may not appeal to all viewers. Still, the show succeeds in capturing the fragility of human relationships and the difficulty of escaping one's past. Its themes of sibling rivalry, emotional repression, and moral compromise resonate, and its Indian adaptation lends a raw emotional texture to the original Israeli framework. Kankhajura may not be an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but it is a thoughtful, character-driven drama with enough intrigue and depth to keep you invested across its eight episodes. It's a decent blend of noir and psychological introspection—well worth a watch for those who prefer slow-burning narratives over shock-and-awe spectacle.
Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
WAVES 2025: Israeli actor-dancer Rona-Lee Shim'on on her India connection
Though Israeli actor-dancer Rona-Lee Shim'on is currently on maternity break and has taken time off from essaying the role of Velma Kelly in the stage production of Chicago, she was excited to visit India, one of her favourite travel destinations. Rona-Lee, known for playing Nurit in the acclaimed Israeli TV series Fauda, was one of the panelists at the session, 'Braving the Odds, Scripting a New Narrative', held during the recently-concluded World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025. When The Indian Express caught up with the 42-year-old actor, she spoke about travelling and performing across India nearly a decade ago, when she toured with a theatrical production. She described that as 'one of the most incredible experiences' of her life. Moved by the kindness of Indians, Rona-Lee admits feeling a deeper connection with the country, its people and its natural beauty. Her latest trip to India bears special significance since she is now seven months pregnant. 'This is the sixth time I am visiting India. I'm happy to have this experience with my baby,' says the actor, who announced her first pregnancy, and the fact that she would be a single mother, on social media some time ago. Amazed by the popularity of Fauda in India, which has also been remade in Hindi as Tanaav (2022-24) on SonyLIV, the actor believes that streaming services have made the world smaller today. 'When we first worked on Fauda, we did not know that it would be this big. But after its Netflix release, it has achieved a considerable following globally,' says the actor, who played the sole female member in a team of undercover operatives. She shares that she has been approached to be part of Indian projects in the past, and hopes 'to find an interesting project soon'. Referring to filmmaker Shekhar Kapur as one of her 'favourite directors', she said she has been 'manifesting (working in an Indian project) this for many, many years'. Speaking at WAVES, Rona-Lee highlighted that the summit provides a platform for storytellers to change narratives. She also underlined the importance of women uniting to create new opportunities in cinema. She believes that social media has played a key role by giving women the power to share their voices and stories. Much before Rona-Lee took up acting, she had been a professional dancer. She was three when she started her ballet lessons. By 12, she was part of a Tel Aviv-based dance troupe Bat-Dor. After finishing high school, she joined the Royal Ballet Academy in Amsterdam on a full scholarship. Subsequently, she became a contestant on the Israeli version of So You Think You Can Dance. In spite of finding success on the big screen , she has been a stage regular — she played Anita in West Side Story; and Sally Bowels in Cabaret. Once her maternity break is over, she plans to go back to playing Velma Kelly on stage. Although her recent visit to India was eventful, one of her wishes remained unfulfilled — she could not indulge in her favourite north Indian dishes. 'I love rajma-chawal. But, this time, I did not get to eat that,' the Israeli artiste shares.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
'Cruel' L.A. DA Should Be Removed From Menendez Brothers' Case, Family Demands; Aunt In ICU After Photos Of Shotgun Killed Father Displayed In Court
Ahead of an upcoming and much delayed resentencing hearing that could see the Menendez brothers out of prison after decades, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman is being blamed for an octogenarian relative being in critical condition in hospital after photos of the siblings' father mutilated dead body were shown in court last week. Fighting efforts by the DA kicked off in March to stop any change in Erik and Lyle Menendez's life without parole status for the brutal 1989 shotgun killing of their parents, members of the Menendez family now want Hochman and his team off the case ASAP. More from Deadline Mélanie Laurent Signs Up For 'Fauda' Season 5 Finn Wolfhard Was "Satisfied" But "Confused" With His 'Stranger Things' Ending: "None Of It Felt Real" Menendez Brothers' Resentencing Hearing Can Proceed, Judge Rules 'We will not let what happened on Friday stand,' family members said in a statement Sunday after 85-year-old Terry Baralt, sister to the brothers' record executive father José Menendez, was admitted to hospital on the morning of April 13. 'We are taking formal action and demanding that the District Attorney's Office be removed from this case. They have shown again and again that they are incapable of handling this process with the fairness, care, or neutrality required by law.' 'This wasn't just cruel,' the family goes on say. 'It was a clear violation of our rights under Marsy's Law, which guarantees victims the right 'to be treated with fairness and respect for their privacy and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse throughout the criminal justice process,' they continued in a longer statement that can be read in full below. 'What happened was the opposite. The display was retraumatizing, completely avoidable, and we believe it was intentional. 'The District Attorney's Office knew what the law required and deliberately chose to ignore it. We are holding them fully responsible for the profound pain we are suffering right now. The shock and heartbreak we feel cannot be put into words.' Convicted in a second trial and sentenced in 1996 in their early 20s to spend the rest of the lives behind bars for the admittedly premeditated murders of their father and their mother Kitty Menendez the now middle aged siblings reentered the spotlight in recent years thanks to Ryan Murphy and Netflix's hit series Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story and several documentaries reexamining their cases. The brutal photos of José Menendez, who has been accused of repeatedly sexually abusing his sons and others, were suddenly put on display on April 11 during an unsuccessful presentation before LA Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic by Deputy DA Habib Balian. It should be noted, the crime scene photo of the maimed and murdered José Menendez was not new to public view. The same photo shown in court last week was used in the 2024 Netflix documentary The Menendez Brothers as well as other films. Still, keeping the April 17 starting proceedings on the court calendar, Judge Jesic rejected moves by Hochman's office to withdraw a motion to reconsider the brothers' lifetime incarceration. 'As counsel for the victim's family members. I was appalled that without so much as a warning to allow them the option to avoid further distress, the DA callously decided to re-traumatize the family by needlessly showing insensitive photos on screen in their court presentation,' lawyer Bryan Freedman told Deadline Sunday. 'This despicable action was a clear violation of Marcy's law which requires absolute empathy toward victims. The DA flashing of the crime scene photos is directly responsible for Aunt Terry being rushed to the ICU. We are all praying for her recovery, she did not deserve this. Shame on those who knowingly engaged in this egregious conduct.' As DA Hochman attended a National Crime Victims week event in San Pedro on Sunday, his office responded to the attacks by the Menendez family and attorney Freedman. 'We never intend to cause distress or pain to individuals who attend a court hearing,' the LA DA's office said today of the accusations by the family and Terry Baralt's condition. 'We understand the nature of the evidence of these heinous double murders was deeply emotional. However, by design, these hearings are intended to be a place where the truth, no matter how painful, is brought to light. That truth starts with the abject brutality and premeditation of the murders themselves.' With Hochman himself giving a press conference Sunday where he reiterated his critique of any resentencing of the brothers, his office added: 'To the extent that the photographic depiction of this conduct upset any of the Menendez family members present in court, we apologize for not giving prior warning that the conduct would be described in detail not only in words but also through a crime scene photo.' The DA's office did not address the family's call for them to step aside. Graphic photos aside and with the Menendez brothers attending virtually, the April 11 court hearing that both Hochman and his office mentioned today already saw the DA at the end of a judicial scolding. 'There's no new information,' LASC Judge Jesic told the court last Friday, dismissing the current DA's contention that the still high profile brothers have not fully accepted responsibility for their deeds and that resentencing was initiated by previous DA George Gascón for purely political purposes. 'None of this is really new. They've stuck with their story. It goes to whether they've been rehabilitated.' At the same time as resentencing hearings are in progress, Gov. Gavin Newsom will ultimately be making the final decision on all this after early last month ordering a risk assessment of the brothers to inform the clemency request on his desk since late 2024. The Menendez brothers are set to appear individually before the parole board on June 13. After getting recommendations from the board, who would have to oversee any potential resentencing and pass that on to Newsom, the governor will announce his judgement. In the meantime, and ahead of the April 17 and April 18 resentencing hearing, read the full statement released today by the family-led Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition here: We are devastated to share that Terry Baralt – who is a mother, an aunt to many of us, and José Menendez's sister – has been hospitalized and is in critical condition following the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office's cruel and careless conduct in court. Without notice, prosecutors chose to show a graphic, unredacted image of José's dead body directly in front of us, his surviving family. No one prepared us. There was no warning, no humanity – just shock and pain inflicted on people who have already endured decades of grief. Terry, who is battling cancer, came to court to support her family. No physical pain has ever kept her from being there for her nephews. But the display put on by the DA's office pushed her past the brink. By early this morning, she was rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition. This wasn't just cruel. It was a clear violation of our rights under Marsy's Law, which guarantees victims the right 'to be treated with fairness and respect for their privacy and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse throughout the criminal justice process.' What happened was the opposite. The display was retraumatizing, completely avoidable, and we believe it was intentional. The District Attorney's Office knew what the law required and deliberately chose to ignore it. We are holding them fully responsible for the profound pain we are suffering right now. The shock and heartbreak we feel cannot be put into words. Mark Geragos objected to their cruelty and clear violation of Marsy's law to protect us in real time. In response, Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian didn't apologize. He didn't show an ounce of concern. Instead, he smirked and said, 'Are you done, Mr. Geragos?' The level of disrespect was staggering. But it's part of a disturbing pattern we've come to expect, especially from DA Hochman, who has repeatedly spoken to us with aggression and disdain and we will be holding him accountable. We have tried to engage in good faith. We asked for a different contact in the DA's victim services division after learning that Kathy Cady had been appointed as the Director of the division. Our objection stemmed from Kathy Cady having previously represented the only family member who opposed Erik and Lyle's release, while she actively campaigned and endorsed DA Hochman during the election. Our concerns were viewed as an annoyance. No one was reassigned to us. And time and again, the message from this office has been clear: because we believe in mercy and rehabilitation, our pain doesn't matter. The District Attorney seems to only care about victims' rights when they align with his point of view. Now, let us be crystal clear: our forgiveness for Erik and Lyle does not erase our grief. It does not mean we don't mourn José and Kitty. It means we believe that people can grow. That trauma begets trauma. That cycles of abuse can and must be broken. It is not contradictory to hold love for those who were harmed and for those who caused harm, it is human. And yet this District Attorney's Office seems determined to punish us for that humanity. We will not let what happened on Friday stand. We are taking formal action and demanding that the District Attorney's Office be removed from this case. They have shown again and again that they are incapable of handling this process with the fairness, care, or neutrality required by law. Instead, they have been determined to make this personal, and they have. Our family is hurting. Terry may not recover from what was done to her – and to all of us – in that courtroom. We deserve better. We firmly believe that if the DA's office had shown even an announce of consideration for us, as victims, we would not be hoping for one more day with Terry right now. Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media 'Hacks' Season 4 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
