Series Name: Gyaarah Gyaarah
Cast: Kritika Kamra, Raghav Juyal, Dhairya Karwa
Director: Umesh Bist
Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller
Available on: Zee 5
The Hindi series directed by Umesh Bist is an adaptation of the Korean drama “Signal,” and unfortunately, it falls short of expectations. Produced by notable figures like Academy Award winner Guneet Monga and Bollywood’s Karan Johar, the series is set in Uttarakhand, a location eerily similar to the Korean setting in “Signal.” However, the similarities don’t stop at the scenery. The plot, characters, and storylines are a direct rip-off of the original, leaving much to be desired in terms of originality.
Rather than adapting the story to better suit the Indian context, making it more relevant and relatable to the audience, the director opted for a scene-by-scene recreation of the Korean series. This approach not only feels uninspired but also detracts from the overall quality of the show. In several instances, even the dialogues appear to be direct translations from Korean, which only highlights the lack of creativity in the adaptation.
Watching this series, I couldn’t help but think that Vishal Bhardwaj is perhaps the only one who reimagines a story for an Indian audience with the authenticity and originality it deserves. He has a unique ability to transform narratives, as he did with Shakespeare’s Hamlet, adapting it into the Kashmiri tale of Haider.
While the setting aims to be gloomy to match the tone of the series, it ends up feeling more melodramatic than truly suspenseful or intriguing. The three main characters also fail to deliver compelling performances, often making it tiring to watch them on screen. Their lacklustre acting further diminishes the potential impact of the story.
When you have a series like “Signal” to compare it with, the flaws in this Hindi adaptation become even more glaring. The problem isn’t just that it’s a copy, but that it’s an exact copy without any of the nuance or depth that made the original so compelling.
As a fan of the genre, I found this series to be a significant disappointment, especially given the involvement of such prominent producers. With a second season already planned, I can’t say I’m looking forward to it. This series simply doesn’t live up to its potential and is not what I expected from some of the biggest names in the industry.