Scoop web series review: Hansal Mehta brings alive yet another real-life story

Scoop, the latest Netflix series of Hansal Mehta, is based on the real-life account of journalist Jigna Vora.

Starting from the year 2010, Hansal Mehta has become a filmmaker who is synonymous with making real-life stories.

Irrespective of their commercial success, these films have left a huge impact on the audience’s mind. His latest web show Scoop is another noteworthy addition to this.

Synopsis

Jagruti Pathak (Karishma Tanna) is a senior crime journalist working as deputy bureau chief in the newspaper “Eastern Age”. Since Jagruti has a solid network, she excels in her job.

She shares a good rapport with police officer Harshvardhan Shroff (Harman Baweja) who often tips her about several crimes. She also has the support of her editor-in-chief Imran (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub).

Here, it has to be mentioned that the characters in Scoop of Imran and Jagruthi are based on real-life persons.

Imran is none other than the well-known investigative journalist Hussain Zaidi. He was the mentor of Jigna Vora on whom Jagruti’s role is based.

Family is the unwritten byline in this journalist’s story of resilience and triumph. #ScoopOnNetflix pic.twitter.com/epDbaKfKtZ

— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) June 5, 2023

The murder of a journalist

There is another investigative journalist in Scoop who gets killed mysteriously. He is Jaideb Sen, played by Prosenjit Chatterjee. He works for the newspaper “News Day”.

One day, Sen is found dead in the middle of the road. Gangster Chhota Rajan is suspected to have a hand in this murder.

Meanwhile, things take a tragic turn for Jagruti. She is arrested based on a phone conversation which makes the police think that Jagruti instigated Chhota Rajan to kill him.

The rest of the story is about what happens to Jagruti and who the real culprits are in this murder case.

Would things have been different if Jagruti didn’t ignore Sen’s warning? @mehtahansal’s #Scoop now streaming only on Netflix!#ScoopOnNetflix@KARISHMAK_TANNA @NetflixIndia pic.twitter.com/5SC5Ejjb4S

— Prosenjit Chatterjee (@prosenjitbumba) June 4, 2023

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Strong points

Scoop scores full marks in depicting the work of investigative journalists and what effect it has on their lives. The show also dwells on the prejudices that female professionals face.

The makers of Scoop should also be appreciated for fearlessly exposing the nexus between Dawood Ibrahim and the police, without any fear of backlash.

Another major reason why Scoop is interesting to watch is because of the way the characters are written.

Hansal Mehta, along with writers Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul and Mirat Trivedi, sketches the characters that stay for a long time in the viewers’ minds.

The best example of this is Karishma Tanna’s Jagruti.

Jagruti goes from a confident journalist to a dejected woman. Her scenes with the jail inmates are particularly disturbing to watch.

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Performances

Karishma Tanna easily delivers her career-best performance. Her performance in Scoop should open new doors for the actress.

Another character who deserves a mention is Harman Baweja’s, Harshvardhan Shroff.

Harshvardhan has a lot of fondness for Jagruti. But, at the same time, he is in a situation where he has to save the skin of both his department and himself.

Harman Baweja springs a pleasant surprise with his acting.

Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub as the editor-in-chief plays a character that is very similar to his real-life ideology. He makes Imran immensely watchable.

Prosenjit Chatterjee as Jaideb has a small part, but the actor is impressive every time he appears on the screen.

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Technical aspects

Pratham Mehta’s cinematography blends in with the realistic look of the series — whether it is the newsroom, editorial meetings, or even the shady bars and cafes where the reporters meet their sources.

Achint Thakkar’s music and background score uplift the drama in many places.

Pratham Mehta and Achint Thakkar deserve full appreciation for a job well done.

Weak points

Scoop has its share of shortcomings as well. For example, the extended cameo of Shikha Talsania as the Godwoman isn’t well defined in any way and creates a halt in the proceedings.

Similarly, some of the jail portions could have been trimmed. However, these are minor aberrations.

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Final Take

Scoop should be high on your watchlist if you are a sucker for stories centred on investigative journalism.

(Views expressed are personal.)