Honeymoon Photographer is passable murder mystery

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There are quite a few absurdities if you think of it. And the viewer does not really have to go deep into the matter to find a few prominent suspensions of disbelief. To reveal them here would be spoilers for the plot, which just aims liberally at creating thrills and twists. And that is why I say that Honeymoon Photographer is passable rather than a gripping thriller and whodunit.

But if the series is passable, it is also partly due to the stunning locales of the Maldives that are filmed by Santosh Vasandi with so much passion. The cinematography gives the drama the much-needed contrast between dark theme and glitzy backdrop that enhances the intrigue and mood in the earlier portions of the series. When the story moves to Mumbai, there is a perceptible decline in our viewing pleasure, which is decidedly, if unfairly, caused by the absence of the charming locales!

Anyways, the series is about Ambika (Asha Negi), who is hired as a honeymoon photographer by the filthy rich Adhir (Sahil Salathia) to cover his post-matrimony trip to Maldives with Zoya (Apeksha Porwal). Adhir has a history of philandering and tries his luck with Ambika as well, while also stating that his union with Zoya is forced. However, the pretence of love continues, well after Ambika rescues Zoya from death by drowning one day. And the question is: does Zoya too really love Adhir?

Adhir’s father (Rituraj Singh) runs a pharmaceutical concern in Mumbai that has landed in controversy due to some drug deaths. At the honeymoon venue, Ambika befriends a young man, Rihen, who disappears without a trace when, one night, Adhir is found murdered on the beach.

The trouble is that Ambika has been out with Rihen that evening and cannot recall how she felt drowsy and found herself tucked in her bed the next morning with a bruise on her head. And as things proceed, we find Ambika billed as the chief suspect when the Indian police begin to investigate after an autopsy—the Maldives cops have ruled ‘Accidental Death’ for Adhir! In Mumbai and on the run, Ambika gets unexpected help from Elvin (Jason Tham), who is many things rolled-into-one, and whom she bumps into as an old college-mate.

The plot is ingenious at the core and better writing and execution (there are junctures where you ask yourself, “What! But How?”) could have made this thriller an engaging addition to web whodunits. The flaws needed to be ironed out and the only aspect that works is the crispness of each episode and the fact that the story is through in six episodes. Another needless angle is the domestic discord of the investigating officer (Samvedna Suwalka). How was that at all relevant?

Asha Negi does a neat Ambika, and Apeksha Porwal, who dazzled us as the tribal girl in Undekhi, does even better as the no-nonsense Zoya, another intense character. Rajeev Siddhartha does a believably rakish Zubin, Zoya’s brother, but Samvedna Suwalka is handicapped as Divya, the cop, by the writing. The late Rituraj Singh is effective as the pharma head honcho. Ashmita Jaggi has a fleeting part but is also impressive. Sahil Salathia is, however. not very convincing as Adhir.

Director Arjun Srivastava could have paid a lot more attention to Karmanya Ahuja’s script before plunging into this missed opportunity at making something somewhere near the great thrillers on the web. And since this story is billed as Season 1, I wonder whether a Season 2 will come. Because all the mysteries have been solved anyway, so I wonder what kind of drama they will brew up.

Rating: **1/2

Jio Cinema presents Green Light Productions’ Honeymoon Photographer  Produced by: Rishab Seth  Directed by: Arjun Srivastava  Written by: Karmanya Ahuja  Music: Shivam Sengupta & Anuj Danait  Starring: Asha Negi, Apeksha Porwal, Samvedna Suwalka, Rajeev Siddhartha, Sahil Salathia, Rituraj Singh, Ashmita Jaggi, Jason Tham, Raymon Kakkar, Saurabh Sharma, Simran Gangwani, Kunal Parwani, Kalyanii Joshi & others