The Freelancer is a web series that debuted on Disney+ Hotstar on September 1, 2023. It is based on the book A Ticket To Syria by Shirish Thorat, which recounts the genuine story of a previous Mumbai cop who went on a daring mission to safeguard a youthful Indian young lady from the grasp of ISIS in Syria. The web series is coordinated by Bhav Dhulia and delivered by Neeraj Pandey, who is known for his spine chillers like Special Operations, A Wednesday, and Baby. The series stars Mohit Raina as Avinash Kamat, the titular freelancer, Anupam Kher as Dr. Arif Khan, a previous RAW agent who helps Avinash, and Kashmira Pardeshi as Aliya Khan, the young lady who gets trapped in Syria.
Plot Summary
The series starts with Aliya, a splendid and merry young lady from Mumbai, who falls in affection with Mohsin, a charming and handsome person from Singapore. They get married and move to Singapore, where Aliya desires to seek after her dreams of turning into a fashion originator. Notwithstanding, her happiness is fleeting when she finds that Mohsin and his family are radicalized Muslims who have been brainwashed by Farhat Khala, a distant relative who lives in Turkey. They stunt Aliya into going to Istanbul and then, at that point, pirate her to Syria, where they join ISIS.
Meanwhile, Avinash Kamat, a previous cop who quit the power after a tragic occurrence, is currently filling an as high as possible gamble in as a mercenary assignments for cash. He is contacted by Dr. Arif Khan, a close buddy of Aliya’s father Inayat Khan, who was also Avinash’s colleague in the police. Dr. Khan illuminates Avinash that Aliya is in Syria and asks him to safeguard her. Avinash agrees to take up the mission, notwithstanding realizing the dangers implied.
The series follows Avinash’s excursion from India to Turkey to Syria, where he faces various obstacles and adversaries, including ISIS militants, Syrian radicals, Turkish mafia, and degenerate officials. He also meets Radha Baxi, a journalist who is investigating the human trafficking racket in Turkey and Syria. Along the way, he learns more about Aliya’s situation and her attempts to escape from ISIS. He also finds a few stunning privileged insights about Dr. Khan and his intentions.
Analysis
The Freelancer is a grasping and coarse thrill ride that keeps the watchers as eager and anxious as can be all through its seven episodes. The series has a realistic and authentic feel to it, as it showcases the harsh realities of war-torn Syria and the revulsions of ISIS. The series doesn’t avoid portraying the viciousness, brutality, and atrocities carried out by the fear based oppressors and their casualties. The series also investigates the subjects of radicalization, indoctrination, brainwashing, and fanaticism that drive individuals to join such gatherings.
The series boasts of a few stellar performances by its lead actors. Mohit Raina conveys a persuading and convincing performance as Avinash Kamat, the fearless and decided freelancer who puts his life in extreme danger to save Aliya. He portrays the character’s feelings, clashes, and vulnerabilities with artfulness. Anupam Kher is great as Dr. Arif Khan, the baffling and manipulative previous RAW agent who has his own agenda behind recruiting Avinash. He draws out the character’s charisma, insight, and savagery effortlessly. Kashmira Pardeshi is great as Aliya Khan, the honest and naive young lady who gets trapped in a nightmare. She portrays the character’s transformation from a happy-go-fortunate young lady to a panicked and traumatized casualty with conviction.
The series also has areas of strength for an actors who add value to the story. Sushant Singh as Inayat Khan, Aliya’s father and Avinash’s mentor; Manjari Phadnis as Mrunal Kamat, Avinash’s estranged spouse; Sarah Jane Dias as Radha Baxi, the journalist who helps Avinash; Balaji Gauri as Farhat Khala, the mastermind behind Aliya’s abduction; Navneet Malik as Mohsin Fazal, Aliya’s husband; Ayesha Raza Mishra as Sabeena Khan, Mohsin’s mom; Geeta Agrawal Sharma as Asar Fazal, Mohsin’s father; Edward Sonnenblick as Burt Raphael, an American mercenary; Mario Silva as Sheik Khaleel, an ISIS leader; Danny Clifford as Buzz Jones, an Australian mercenary; Sean Browne as Mark Ross,
an Irish mercenary; John Kokken as Raghavendra Sethu,
a previous RAW agent; Aakkash Dabhade as Wilson,
a hacker; Sairi Salma as Nadia, a Syrian young lady who gets to know Aliya; and Varun Pande as a Turkish agent are a portion of the notable actors who play their jobs well.
The series is very much coordinated by Bhav Dhulia, who creates a strained and dramatic atmosphere all through the series. He also handles the action groupings and the chase scenes with expertise and flair. The series is elegantly composed by Neeraj Pandey, Ritesh Shah, and Shirish Thorat, who adapt the book faithfully and add a few exciting bends in the road to keep the watchers engaged. The series is well-altered by Kathikuloth Praveen, who maintains a fast and smooth pace all through the series. The series is all around shot by Sudheer Palsane, who captures the grand and picturesque locations of India, Turkey, and Syria with his camera. The series is very much scored by Sanjoy Chowdhury, who creates an exhilarating and haunting background music for the series.
Conclusion
The Freelancer is a must-watch web series for its engaging plot, pressure filled atmosphere, and powerful storytelling, which captivate the watchers all through. The series also has a few strong performances, staggering visuals, and riveting music, which enhance the survey insight. The series is a commendable attempt to rejuvenate a genuine story on screen and to feature the issues of psychological warfare, human trafficking, and human privileges violations on the planet. The series is a commendable addition to the class of extraction thrill rides and to the repertoire of Neeraj Pandey and his team.