Latest news with #White&Gray:LoveKills
India Today
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Why Pushkar Mahabal's ‘Black, White & Gray' is a killer crime-thriller
Writer-director Pushkar Mahabal is on cloud nine these days, basking in the adulation for his debut series Black, White & Gray: Love Kills on SonyLIV. Taking an ingenious approach to a crime thriller—part documentary with talking heads, part fictional re-enactments with clever use of found footage—the series has gained currency through word-of-mouth publicity.'It's overwhelming,' says Mahabal. 'I was sure we won't get negative reviews because we knew it wasn't a bad show. What surprised me was how people have picked every single beat and minute detail.'advertisementTracing the bloody footprint of a serial killer, the show, through the course of six episodes, leaves viewers with multiple perspectives of the crimes. It does so by featuring voices of multiple individuals—the accused and his parents, the victims' friend and family, police officers, an assassin, to name a few. By the end of it, viewers are left to wonder who's telling the truth and what truly saas-bahu TV shows and a little-seen film to his credit, Mahabal had his share of struggles to find a taker for his series. SonyLIV came to his rescue. 'From the first meeting with SonyLIV we knew we were at the right place,' says Mahabal. 'Saugata Mukherjee, [head of content, SonyLIV,] felt it was well thought out. Rarely does it happen that a platform says we will give you feedback but you make the show you want to make.'advertisement It helped that Mahabal had gone with bound scripts for all six episodes rather than a traditional bible that outlines the story. It's a unique approach and a risky one too, but was worth it. 'Entering this field is gamble enough,' adds Mahabal. 'Why not go one step further and follow one's gut?'The opportunity also came at a time the streaming industry is going through a creative churn, with writers and creators finding it tough to get projects going with streaming platforms. 'It's a systemic problem, not one to pin on an individual. Everyone will have creative interpretations and clashes, back and forth will happen, and feedback will be taken negatively,' says Mahabal. 'I want to invest my time in writing a show that I believe in. I don't want to get into development phase with a network because that doesn't work.'Mahabal came to Mumbai from Nagpur, harbouring a passion for music. He started by composing for Marathi films. Six years on, he pivoted to direction, scoring his big break with the TV show Manmarziyaan. 'After that, I did a lot of regressive work; the more regressive it was the more money I made. I have done even close-ups of sindoor,' he says stint in TV helped forge many friendships and taught him many lessons. 'TV gave me an idea that I should only write things that I can produce should I not find a producer,' he wasn't long before Mahabal and his two friends, writer-producer Ankita Narang and cinematographer Saee Bhope, banded together and decided to get out of their comfort zone to make a film, investing their own savings and taking loans. The result was Welcome Home, which found home on SonyLIV. 'We launched ourselves because nobody else would give us the opportunity,' he says.A fan of true-crime documentaries and an ardent watcher of shows such as Forensic Files, Mahabal describes Black, White & Gray as a true-crime doc that he wanted to see. Having heard interviews of American serial killers such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer and seen Netflix docs Night Stalker and Don't F*** With Cats triggered the idea. 'I was envious because I felt I didn't have the patience or the resources or the skills to make a true-crime doc. I thought if I can't make a real one, let me just fake one,' he also felt the saturated market of OTT crime thrillers needed a fresh outlook. 'I was bored of watching the same things, sometimes shot badly or sometimes in a brilliant manner. No one was playing with non-linear screenplay. There was no experimentation in the genre,' he recalled a friend's brief misadventure in Goa where his girlfriend lost consciousness, briefly leaving him panicked if she was dead and how to contend with the situation. 'I thought it would be a funny dark comedy and did write it, but then left it midway,' he recounts. By 2022, he was revisiting the anecdote and giving it a new of Black, White & Gray's appeal is how Mahabal uses the talking heads to infuse his socio-cultural worldview on issues such as misogyny, class disparity, state of TV news, taboos around love, and so on. Even as viewers become aware of his narrative ploy, the Rashomon way of storytelling ensures one's following the story. That's largely due to the compelling faces casting directors Trishaan and Shubham find for the interviews and the way Mahabal directs More (of Kota Factory fame) is the most familiar face in the cast, but the scene-stealer here is Sanjay Kumar Sahu, who plays the accused. The FTII-trained actor and acting coach commands every scene, playing an ordinary man caught in the most extraordinary of circumstances and one whose moral compass is hard to the show is a breakthrough moment in his career, the filmmaker is not letting the attention get to him even as he contends with the expectation that comes his way. 'I have to be careful. I have been getting messages 'Tum uss jaise (filmmaker) mat ho jaana'. So, I am a bit scared also. I am doing a very small Hindi film right now. I just want to focus on it. I don't want to fall into a trap where everyone is like—do something big,' he to India Today Magazine
Economic Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
From Costao to Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs. Watch these new OTT releases on Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar
This week's OTT releases offer a diverse range of entertainment. SonyLIV's Black, White & Gray: Love Kills explores a journalist's dark investigation. Netflix's Unseen returns with Zenzi's fight against crime. JioHotstar's Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs unveils royal family secrets. ZEE5's Costao features Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a 90s Goa crime drama, while SonyLIV's Bromance delivers a comedic sibling adventure. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Black, White & Gray: Love Kills Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs Costao – ZEE5 Bromance – SonyLIV May is off to a fiery start for OTT lovers, with an exciting mix of thrillers, dramas, and comedies landing on your favorite streaming platforms this week. Whether you're into gritty true crime, royal family feuds, or quirky brotherly adventures, there's something fresh and binge-worthy waiting for you. From Nawazuddin Siddiqui's intense new role to a dark South African thriller's return, here's a rundown of what's new and noteworthy to stream starting May 2Get ready for a spine-chilling ride as *Black, White & Gray: Love Kills* lands on SonyLIV this week. This six-part docu-thriller centers around Daniel Gary, a relentless investigative journalist who finds himself entangled in a labyrinth of murders tied to a cryptic young man. What begins as a straightforward probe soon spirals into a psychological puzzle, challenging notions of morality, obsession, and justice. As the layers peel back, Gary is forced to confront how far the human mind can go when love turns deadly. Featuring compelling performances by Mayur More, Palak Jaiswal, Deven Bhojani, and Tigmanshu Dhulia, the show promises to keep viewers hooked with its gritty storytelling and moral 2Netflix's Unseen returns with a gripping new season, diving deeper into the perilous world of Zenzi Mwale. No longer just a house cleaner, Zenzi is now a woman on a relentless mission, navigating the underbelly of a criminal network in search of her missing husband. As the danger intensifies, so does her transformation—from an overlooked domestic worker to an unlikely warrior against a powerful crime syndicate. With Gail Mabalane leading the charge once again, joined by Waldemar Schultz and Dineo Langa, the new season promises more suspense, high-stakes drama, and emotional depth, proving that sometimes, the most invisible people can become the most 2JioHotstar's Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs unspools a gripping tale of legacy, betrayal, and buried secrets within a royal family teetering on the edge of collapse. When the domineering patriarch dies, it sets off a chain reaction—triggering power plays, emotional warfare, and the slow unraveling of the family's dark past. As the Raisingghs claw for control, old wounds resurface and loyalties shift, turning this opulent dynasty into a battlefield. With Nimrat Kaur, Ridhi Dogra, and Amol Parashar anchoring the drama, Kull promises a compelling mix of grandeur, dysfunction, and psychological Costao dives headfirst into the gritty underbelly of 1990s Goa, where glamour masks greed and lawlessness lurks behind sunlit shores. At its core is Nawazuddin Siddiqui, playing Costao Fernandes—a steely customs officer caught in a high-stakes war against an entrenched gold-smuggling empire. But this isn't just another crime saga. As Costao navigates a minefield of corruption, political pressure, and personal cost, the series evolves into a powerful meditation on integrity and the loneliness of doing what's right. With Siddiqui bringing his trademark intensity, Costao promises a raw, riveting portrait of duty under on SonyLIV brings a refreshing twist to the classic sibling tale, wrapped in humour and hijinks. The Malayalam comedy stars Mathew Thomas as Binto, a spirited content creator whose search for his missing brother, Shinto (Shyam Mohan), spirals into a chaotic escapade through Kochi and Coorg. But beneath the laughter lies a story brimming with emotional stakes, unexpected betrayals, and tangled family dynamics. With a quirky ensemble cast and a narrative that balances mischief with meaning, Bromance is more than just a fun ride—it's a heartfelt ode to brotherhood in all its messy glory.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From Costao to Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs. Watch these new OTT releases on Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar
May is off to a fiery start for OTT lovers, with an exciting mix of thrillers, dramas, and comedies landing on your favorite streaming platforms this week. Whether you're into gritty true crime, royal family feuds, or quirky brotherly adventures, there's something fresh and binge-worthy waiting for you. From Nawazuddin Siddiqui's intense new role to a dark South African thriller's return, here's a rundown of what's new and noteworthy to stream starting May 2. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Nuclear Power! How India and Pakistan's arsenals stack up Does America have a plan to capture Pakistan's nuclear weapons? Airspace blockade: India plots a flight path to skip Pakistan Black, White & Gray: Love Kills SonyLIV May 2 Get ready for a spine-chilling ride as *Black, White & Gray: Love Kills* lands on SonyLIV this week. This six-part docu-thriller centers around Daniel Gary, a relentless investigative journalist who finds himself entangled in a labyrinth of murders tied to a cryptic young man. What begins as a straightforward probe soon spirals into a psychological puzzle, challenging notions of morality, obsession, and justice. As the layers peel back, Gary is forced to confront how far the human mind can go when love turns deadly. Featuring compelling performances by Mayur More, Palak Jaiswal, Deven Bhojani, and Tigmanshu Dhulia, the show promises to keep viewers hooked with its gritty storytelling and moral ambiguity. Unseen Season 2 Netflix May 2 Netflix's Unseen returns with a gripping new season, diving deeper into the perilous world of Zenzi Mwale. No longer just a house cleaner, Zenzi is now a woman on a relentless mission, navigating the underbelly of a criminal network in search of her missing husband. As the danger intensifies, so does her transformation—from an overlooked domestic worker to an unlikely warrior against a powerful crime syndicate. With Gail Mabalane leading the charge once again, joined by Waldemar Schultz and Dineo Langa, the new season promises more suspense, high-stakes drama, and emotional depth, proving that sometimes, the most invisible people can become the most formidable. Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs JioHotstar May 2 JioHotstar's Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs unspools a gripping tale of legacy, betrayal, and buried secrets within a royal family teetering on the edge of collapse. When the domineering patriarch dies, it sets off a chain reaction—triggering power plays, emotional warfare, and the slow unraveling of the family's dark past. As the Raisingghs claw for control, old wounds resurface and loyalties shift, turning this opulent dynasty into a battlefield. With Nimrat Kaur, Ridhi Dogra, and Amol Parashar anchoring the drama, Kull promises a compelling mix of grandeur, dysfunction, and psychological intrigue. Costao – ZEE5 ZEE5 Streaming ZEE5's Costao dives headfirst into the gritty underbelly of 1990s Goa, where glamour masks greed and lawlessness lurks behind sunlit shores. At its core is Nawazuddin Siddiqui, playing Costao Fernandes—a steely customs officer caught in a high-stakes war against an entrenched gold-smuggling empire. But this isn't just another crime saga. As Costao navigates a minefield of corruption, political pressure, and personal cost, the series evolves into a powerful meditation on integrity and the loneliness of doing what's right. With Siddiqui bringing his trademark intensity, Costao promises a raw, riveting portrait of duty under fire. Bromance – SonyLIV SonyLIV Streaming Bromance on SonyLIV brings a refreshing twist to the classic sibling tale, wrapped in humour and hijinks. The Malayalam comedy stars Mathew Thomas as Binto, a spirited content creator whose search for his missing brother, Shinto (Shyam Mohan), spirals into a chaotic escapade through Kochi and Coorg. But beneath the laughter lies a story brimming with emotional stakes, unexpected betrayals, and tangled family dynamics. With a quirky ensemble cast and a narrative that balances mischief with meaning, Bromance is more than just a fun ride—it's a heartfelt ode to brotherhood in all its messy glory.
