OTT’s Regional Shift 

It is welcome and heartening to see good regional content finally make their way into mainstream OTT platforms. Besides entertainment, they offer an alternate window to get a look-in of socio-cultural nuances that exist in this peculiar country, stereotypes aside.

Hari Shankar’s Journey

Despite a script that lacks bite and originality, Officer On Duty makes a decent watch as a police procedural. Set in Kerala and Bangalore, the protagonist Hari Shankar (Kunchacko Boban) is a no-nonsense cop dealing with psychological demons after a personal tragedy tears his life apart.

Back in duty after a double whammy of suspension and demotion, Hari gets involved in investigating a string of linked murders involving teenage girls. It is through the lens of this case that Hari embarks on a journey in alienating himself from his milieu and turning into a lonewolf to seek justice.

Prima facie, Hari's ballbuster approach often aggrieves people around him. His cold objectivity is rather easy and convenient to be perceived as one lacking empathy, more so if you are the kin of a victim. Despite reading soft and hard signals, Hari doesn't seem too bothered to invest in a course correction.

Command and Conflict

We see Hari's subordinates toeing the 'party line' and obey his orders out of fear and intimidation. Notwithstanding their unquestionable loyalty, some of them do bypass him and reach out to his boss, DySP Shahul Hameed (Vaisakh Shankar) with the case specifics, much to Hari's annoyance and disapproval.

Antagonists & Case Depth

Hari's adversary is a gang of 5 drug-addicted youths who are out to settle a score from their past. While not hardened criminals, their ruthlessness and diabolic precision in striking their victims makes them a handful for Hari to maneuver and negate. 

Under pressure from his higher ups to bow out of the case, Hari's doggedness and no-effs-given attitude surfaces more prominently as he goes deeper in his hunt. Hari's backstory is revealed over flashbacks, and we begin to understand his psyche and the harsh set of circumstances that led to him becoming what he is at present. 

Throughout the storyline, we witness Shahul bearing the brunt of Hari's misdirected anger, seemingly for no fault of his. A possible reason being Hari's lack of trust and faith in the place and people around him. Shahul stands with Hari as he battles challenges both in professional and personal life - kinda rare these days considering the actual reality. 

Fractured Family Ties

Hari also drifts away from his out-of-patience wife Geetha (Priyamani) who's mentally checked out of their marriage (Family Man S2 redux?). She accuses Hari of being an unfit parent to their kids and separates - a decision that Hari respects. However, what is striking is Hari's unwillingness to put in any effort to save his marriage, despite Shahul's nudges.

Themes and Takeaways

Besides drug addiction in youths, this movie manages to touch upon several sensitive topics including sextortion, exploitation of underage girls, custodial violence and death, custodial rape, judicial loopholes and PTSD (apologies for missing out on a few others). 

To summarise, OOD is a bit predictable in establishing a personal angle between Hari and the case. Also the climax feels a bit dated in today's world. Camerawork and supporting acts deserve a special mention - way superior than a few big budget movies that we see hitting theaters. 

All in all, OOD is a pretty well made movie if you are looking to watch something meaningful in regional cinema.