Aashram Season 1 (MxPlayers) Story :-
Baba Nirmala (Bobby Deol) boasts a massive following of devout believers, particularly among disadvantaged communities, who are willing to go to great lengths for the self-proclaimed godman, including lavishing him with wealth.
What they don’t realize is that Baba is actually a conman deeply involved in a range of criminal activities, including rape, murder, drug trafficking, forced emasculation, and more.
Will the truth ever be revealed?
Aashram Season 1 (MxPlayers) Release Date, Trailor, Songs, Cast :-
| Release Date | 28 August 2020 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Episodes | 9 |
| Cast | Bobby Deol, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Aaditi Pohankar, Tushar Pandey, Darshan Kumar, Anupriya Goenka, Tridha Choudhury, Vikram Kochhar, Anil Rastogi, Sachin Shroff, Anurita Jha, Rajeev Siddhartha, Jahangir Khan, Adhyayan Suman, Keshav Pandit, Mala Sinha, Rupesh Kumar, Navdeep Tomar, Akhilesh Tripathi, Jigesh, Preeti Singh, Esha Gupta |
| Director | Surender Kumar, Prakash Jha |
| Writer | Habib Faisal |
| Cinematography | Chandan Kowli |
| Music | Advait Nemlekar |
| Producer | Prakash Jha |
| Production | Prakash Jha Productions |
| Certificate | 18+ |
Aashram Season 1 (MxPlayers) Review :-
In 2012, skeletal remains are discovered on a forest land recently seized by a corporate giant through illegal means. Meanwhile, in Kashipur, Baba Nirala (translated as “unique”) is plagued by guilt over his past crimes. The discovery of the body heightens his anxiety, prompting the top members of the Aashram to act quickly to prevent any links back to them and Baba himself.
Filmmaker Prakash Jha, renowned for addressing deep-seated social issues in his work, presents a nine-part exposé on a godman. Baba Ji is initially portrayed to instill fear and subsequently command respect, not only from his followers but also from viewers witnessing his reign of terror on television. In ‘Aashram,’ Jha explores various themes, including discrimination against Harijans and discontent over minority reservations, though these topics are introduced mainly to set the stage for the series. The mistreatment of Dalits is touched upon early on but is soon overshadowed.
Jha intertwines political corruption and religious fanaticism, depicting a clash between the influence of godmen and the power of politics, creating a compelling and engaging narrative.
After the initial episodes, the focus shifts to the egotistical Baba Nirala and his scheming accomplice Bhopa (Chandan Roy Sanyal). Both characters are calm and cunning, and it’s surprising to see Bobby Deol embody the role of a seasoned conman with such conviction. His portrayal of Baba Kashipur Wale, with a serene demeanor contrasting his larger-than-life persona, is captivating. In scenes where he delivers sermons with a bhajan-like background score, Deol convincingly plays the so-called Robin Hood figure. When the facade falls away, the transition to his monstrous, ruthless side is seamless and striking.
Aashram Season 1 (MxPlayers) Trailor :-
Chandan Roy Sanyal, playing Bhopa, performs the dirty work with the same menacing flair as Gabbar and Sambha of the crime world—a high compliment. Sub-Inspector Ujagar Singh (Darshan Kumaar) experiences a revelation with the arrival of forensic specialist Dr. Natasha Kataria (Anupriya Goel). Together, they form the team opposing Baba Kashipur Wale. Kumaar excels as the tough but often second-best character, while Goel impresses as the confident, only female forensic doctor in UP handling post-mortem reports. Additionally, Tushar Pandey, Vikram Kochhar, Anurita Jha, Aditi Sudhir Pohankar, and Rajeev Siddhartha deliver strong performances, each advancing the narrative with their intertwined plotlines.
Without a doubt, ‘Aashram’ demonstrates thorough research, with cinematographer Chandan Kowli and production manager Manoj Sharma showcasing meticulous attention to detail. This is evident in the life-sized portraits of the Godman, extensive volumes of his preachings, coffee mugs adorned with his image, and calendars featuring his hands in a humble gesture. Jha’s nuanced storytelling is deserving of praise.
The core of this social commentary is aptly captured by a memorable line from Darshan Kumaar: “Jahaan noton se hoti hai kanoon ki aiei ki taisi, usiko India main kehte hain democracy.” This line underscores the series’ critical view of the state of democracy.
