Mrigaya: The Hunt

Mrigaya is a high-octane, action-packed entertainer that thrives on spectacle, punchlines, and pulpy drama that doesn’t pretend to be anything else. The story begins with the gruesome murder of a Sonagachi sex worker, played poignantly by Priyanka Sarkar – whose body is discovered by her son on her birthday. From this moment of quiet horror, the film dives headlong into chaos & action.

Vikram Chatterjee plays the grim-faced hero – a lone-wolf cop from Beadon Street Police Station. reporting to Ritwik Chakraborty’s delightfully witty Officer-in-Charge. Vikram’s character borders on the superheroic, blessed with near-mystical instincts and razor-sharp observational skills, capable of unravelling clues by simply closing his eyes. While the logic may stretch at times, his screen presence adds weight to the role.

Saurav Das delivers a standout performance as the antagonist – a feral, caste politics-scarred leader of the Bhediya tribe, who loots, kills, and commands with chilling authority. His wicked screen presence truly sends chills down the spine.

Ritwik Chakraborty headlines the comic segments with faultless timing, ably supported by Anirban Chakrabarti, and together they keep the narrative from becoming too self-serious. Rezwan Rabbani Sheikh makes an appearance in the second half as Imran, a multilingual police officer, but his screen presence is largely overshadowed by Anirban’s effortless wit.

Priyanka Sarkar, despite limited screen time, blends seamlessly into her role and leaves a lasting impression. The action direction is slick, with stylised sequences that pack a visual punch. The music, while not disrupting the tone, sometimes feels misplaced and unnecessarily inserted. Newcomer Ananya Bhattacharya adds glamour, though her character is thinly written.

However, the item song featuring Susmita Chatterjee is a clear misfire. It is poorly choreographed and awkwardly inserted. She doesn’t command the screen, and instead of adding glamour, the song merely caters to the voyeuristic gaze of a certain section of the audience. It serves no real purpose in the narrative and stands as yet another example of tokenism in the name of entertainment, where the idea of an ‘item number’ is plugged in without thought or finesse.

Mrigaya is unapologetically commercial. It may not cater to the logic-loving viewer, but for those craving larger-than-life storytelling, it offers a wildly entertaining ride.

Should you watch it? If you’re looking to enjoy an action-packed cop drama that also tickles your funny bone from time to time