Shaitan 2023 / When the law fails, violence, revenge, and coups take over

Shaitan is a Telugu crime thriller series that follows the story of a family caught in the crossfire between the police, the Naxal movement, and the political establishment. Through the eldest son, Baali, we see the struggles of poverty on the decisions forced upon them; crime often being the only option they can afford. The series is dark, violent, morally ambiguous, and not for the faint of heart. It is a dark exploration of the human capacity for violence, often calling attention to the mistreatment of the working class for capitalistic gain. While it is a main staple of the plot, it becomes laborious to engage with every episode. The show excels in its immersive reality but sells itself short on a more fulfilling narrative.