Black,
White
&
Gray
–
Love
Kills
has
a
unique
take
on
the
standard
murder
mystery
that
may
not
be
perfect
but
is
very
entertaining
nonetheless,
discovers
Mayur
Sanap.
True
crime
stories
are
a
significant
source
of
entertainment
fodder
in
the
current
streaming
space.
Joining
this
already
crowded
genre
is
Black,
White
&
Gray
–
Love
Kills
that
presents
the
story
of
four
murders
and
the
alleged
murderer
who
is
on
the
run.
But
unlike
some
harrowing
crime
thrillers
that
we
have
seen
in
the
last
couple
of
years
like
Dancing
on
the
Grave,
Sector
36,
Indian
Predator:
Murder
in
a
Courtroom,
Manvat
Murders,
this
show
comes
with
a
twist.
We
see
the
dramatic
retelling
of
the
crime
and
the
interviews
of
half
a
dozen
people
central
to
the
case
but
that’s
just
a
façade
for
a
show
that
is
actually
a
mockumentary
telling
a
fictitious
tale.
It
is
a
bold
idea
that’s
sometimes
too
clever
for
its
own
good
but
this
narrative
tool
makes
for
a
unique
take
on
the
standard
murder
mystery
that
may
not
be
perfect
but
is
very
entertaining
nonetheless.
Written
and
directed
by
Pushkar
Sunil
Mahabal,
the
six-episode
show
is
strung
with
dual
perspectives
of
‘actual’
people
expressing
their
perspective
and
the
characters
enacting
those
events.
But
underneath
its
serious
exterior,
Black,
White
&
Gray
has
pulpy
sensibilities
going
for
it.
This
is
spelled
out
in
its
retro-style
title
card
which
is
a
throwback
to
the
1990s
Bollywood
posters
with
its
vibrant
colour
palette
and
swirling
graphic
design
that
evoke
the
era’s
pulpy
sensationalism.
The
plot
is
complex
enough
to
give
you
a
satisfying
kick
of
crime
and
suspense.
It
is
further
laced
with
a
touch
of
wicked
dark
humour,
which,
at
times,
feels
inspired
from
Director
Sriram
Raghavan’s
work.
The
story
follows
a
foreign
journalist
named
Daniel
Gray
who
is
trying
to
piece
together
the
facts
behind
a
shocking
murder
case
in
Nagpur.
The
accused
(Mayur
More)
is
an
unnamed
young
man
who
allegedly
killed
the
young
woman
he
was
in
love
with
(Palak
Jaiswal).
She
is
the
daughter
of
a
local
politician
(Anant
Jog)
and
he
is
the
son
of
the
politician’s
driver.
What
begins
as
a
tender
love
story
quickly
turns
into
a
chilling
murder
saga.
The
case
becomes
a
talking
point
in
the
media
and
is
topped
with
sensational
details.
Every
piece
of
evidence
points
with
complete
certainty
to
the
fact
that
this
boy
not
only
killed
the
girl
and
but
also
three
more
people
while
trying
to
hide
her
body.
The
other
victims
include
an
off-duty
policeman
(Tigmanshu
Dhulia),
a
cab
driver
(Hakkim
Shahjahan),
and
a
teenager.
The
boy,
who
has
gone
into
hiding,
pleads
innocent
and
decides
to
tell
his
‘truth’
to
journalist
Gray.
This
is
where
the
title
comes
alive
as
we
see
ideas
of
right
and
wrong
getting
blurred.
The
words
‘Love
Kills’
act
as
both
a
caution
for
the
characters
as
well
as
a
summation
of
this
story.
This
is
a
delicious
premise
and
the
layered
plot
adds
an
ample
of
mystery.
There
are
also
undercurrents
of
social
commentary
on
class,
caste
and
power
dynamics
nudging
the
viewers.
Despite
its
leisurely
spaced
out
episodes,
the
plot
seems
a
bit
dragged
out
especially
when
the
show
veers
off
into
anything
other
than
the
central
mystery.
This
is
felt
in
the
jarring
romantic
scenes
between
the
leads
and
a
woefully
over-the-top
portrayal
of
media.
Even
the
‘real-life’
characters,
who
are
providing
their
narrative,
have
a
dramatic
tone
to
their
acting
that
robs
off
the
show
of
its
much-needed
heft.
But
flaws
and
all,
Black,
White
&
Gray
mostly
remains
loyal
to
its
wacky
scheme
of
things,
and
while
at
it,
it
keeps
you
hooked
and
entertained.
That’s
a
biggest
plus
for
any
show
that
is
trying
to
be
experimental.
Black,
White
&
Gray
–
Love
Kills
streams
on
SonyLIV.
Black,
White
&
Gray
–
Love
Kills
Review
Rediff
Rating:
