Director: Jai Mehta
Cast: Vivek Gomber, Rajat Kapoor, Martial Batchamen, Gaurav Sharma, Athenkosi Mfamela, Amruta Khanvilkar, Chirag Vohra, Harry Parmar, Gaurav Paswala, Preetika Chawla, Aamir Ali, Alino Katombe, Chandan Roy Sanyal
Platform - Disney+ Hotstar
 
"Lootere" emerges as a riveting and ambitious series that expertly navigates the treacherous waters of high-stakes drama. Directed by the father-son duo Jai Mehta and Hansal Mehta, the show is a potent blend of marine thriller and financial drama, drawing inspiration from real-life events and cinematic influences.
 
Set against the backdrop of a hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship off the coast of Somalia, "Lootere" plunges viewers into a world of chaos, desperation, and conflicting motivations. The series centers around Vikrant, a Somalia-born Indian businessman played with captivating intensity by Vivek Gomber. Vikrant's precarious position as both a victim and a manipulator adds layers of complexity to the narrative, echoing the themes of power and corruption explored in "Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story."
 
What sets "Lootere" apart is its meticulous attention to detail and richly drawn characters. From the shifty businessman Vikrant to the volatile pirate leader Barkhad (played by Martial Batchamen), each character is fleshed out with depth and nuance. The series deftly explores their motivations, fears, and moral dilemmas, blurring the lines between hero and villain.
 
The show's ensemble cast delivers standout performances, with Gomber's Vikrant anchoring the story with his magnetic presence. Supporting actors like Chirag Vohra as Gupta and Amruta Khanvilkar as Avika add further depth to the narrative, infusing it with emotion and intrigue.
 
Visually, "Lootere" is a feast for the eyes, with stunning cinematography that captures the stark beauty of the open sea and the tension-filled moments aboard the hijacked ship. The series' action sequences are expertly choreographed, heightening the sense of danger and suspense.
 
Despite its sprawling narrative and occasional pacing issues, "Lootere" remains a compelling watch from start to finish. Its exploration of themes such as power, survival, and moral ambiguity resonates long after the credits roll. In a landscape saturated with formulaic dramas, "Lootere" stands out as a bold and refreshingly original series that demands to be seen.