Tooth Pari Review: Love Powers this Vampire Saga

Tooth Pari Review: Love Powers this Vampire Saga

Tooth Pari is a romantic fantasy thriller series set in present-day Kolkata, where blood-sucking undeads roam around. The familiarity of the writer-director, Pratim D Gupta, with the city and its ways plays a significant role in creating an assured yet intriguing world. Tooth Pari goes beyond the typical Kolkata locations, such as the Howrah Bridge and the Victoria Memorial monument, to showcase the dark alleys, nooks, and quaint bungalows of the city. This adds authenticity and texture to the show, which unfolds mostly after sunset.

Tooth Pari sets itself apart in the entertainment world, which has seen a surge in vampire stories for several years. The setting gives the show a charming local flavor and makes the drama relatable. The series follows the impossible love story between Roy (Shantanu Maheshwari), a human dentist, and Rumi (Tanya Maniktala), an enigmatic vampire. When Rumi breaks one of her "sharpies" (long canines) while hunting for blood, she lands up at Roy's clinic, a reluctant dentist who moonlights as an "anonymous chef" for his YouTube channel. As Rumi traverses the worlds "Uper" and "Neeche," where her clan of vampires reside, in spite of multiple warnings, a host of interesting characters, played by competent actors, become part of their love story and the obstacles they encounter.

The show's refreshing casting complements the vibe of the series, which takes it slow and lets the drama unfold gently. The show, in fact, hardly resorts to high-drama. Even the bite of vampires doesn't look dreadful. The lead pair, Maheshwari and Maniktala, steal the show as they lose their heart to each other. Revathy, with her riveting performance, goes on to prove that writers need to think out-of-the-box to bring out the yet unforeseen aspect of "senior" female actors. Shome is fabulous as an artiste who harbors romantic notions about life. But it is the chemistry between Maheshwari and Maniktala that shines through.

Tooth Pari upturns traditional notions and goes for subtle gender role reversal as well as prods the characters to follow their dream without sounding preachy. It is Rumi who assures Roy that she would protect him. The show also touches upon the "premium" attached to "virginity" and the stigma around physical intimacy. Tooth Pari also tries to humanize the monsters, who are often categorized as "bhoot-pisach," and underlines the need for humanity.

The script, written by Dasgupta, Sambit Mishra, and Nandini Gupta, pays attention to developing the arc of the prominent characters and adding details. The dialogues, mostly a mix of English, Hindi, and Bengali, work well. The series ends with enough hints that a second season is in the offing and its blood-guzzling characters will be back for more human encounters.

Overall, Tooth Pari is a delightful series that showcases Kolkata strikingly and differently. It makes use of the city's unique architecture and landscape, and the characters are relatable, making the drama engaging.

Overview

Tooth Pari is a vampire saga that follows the story of Pari, a young woman who is turned into a vampire after falling in love with a vampire. The story takes place in a world where vampires coexist with humans, but tensions between the two groups are high. Pari must navigate this new world while also dealing with her love for the vampire who turned her.

Genre - Comedy horror,Romantic thriller,Fantasy

Created by Pratim D. Gupta

Written by Pratim D. Gupta

Directed by Pratim D. Gupta

Starring - Shantanu Maheshwari,Tanya Maniktala,Tillotama Shome,Sikandar Kher,Saswata Chatterjee,Revathi,Adil Hussain

Composer - Neel Adhikari

Country of origin - India

Original language - HindiExecutive producers - Pratim D. Gupta,Mrinalini Khanna,Vishal Mehra,Harish Shah

Producers - Rishi Negi,Gaurav Gokhale,Mitul Mody,Abhishek Rege

Cinematography - Subhankar Bhar

Editor - Antara Lahiri

Production company - Endemol Shine IndiaOriginal network - Netflix

Picture format - HDTV

Audio format - Dolby Digital

Original release - April 20, 2023

Plot Summary

The movie opens with a young woman named Laila (Aahana Kumra) on a camping trip with her friends in the forest. One night, while exploring the woods, Laila stumbles upon a mysterious woman named Pari (Smita Tambe), who she soon discovers is a vampire. Despite the initial shock, Laila is drawn to Pari's alluring charm and the two strike up a friendship.

As their friendship grows, Pari confides in Laila about her curse of immortality and the loneliness that comes with it. However, when Laila falls in love with a mortal man named Karan (Jitin Gulati), Pari is torn between her desire for companionship and her fear of losing the only person who has ever truly understood her.

The movie culminates in a heart-wrenching decision for Pari, as she must choose between her love for Laila and her own immortality.

Characters

The characters in Tooth Pari are well-developed and multi-dimensional. Aahana Kumra delivers a standout performance as Laila, capturing the character's curiosity and sense of adventure. Smita Tambe is equally impressive as Pari, bringing depth and vulnerability to her portrayal of the immortal vampire struggling with her own loneliness and desires.

Jitin Gulati, who plays Karan, also delivers a strong performance as the mortal man caught in the middle of a supernatural love story.

Cinematography

The cinematography in Tooth Pari is stunning. The series takes place in a dark and moody world, and the cinematography reflects that. The use of light and shadow is particularly impressive, adding to the overall atmosphere of the series. The special effects used to create the vampire transformation are also well-done and add to the overall realism of the series.

Music

The music in Tooth Pari is hauntingly beautiful. The series uses a mix of original music and licensed tracks to create a unique sound. The music adds to the overall atmosphere of the series and enhances the emotional impact of key scenes.

Themes

At its core, Tooth Pari is a movie about the power of love and the lengths we'll go to be with the ones we love. It explores the idea of immortality and the loneliness that can come with it, as well as the idea of finding connection and companionship in unexpected places.

The movie also touches on themes of power and control, as Pari struggles with her own desires and the idea of having to give up her immortality for love.

Conclusion

Tooth Pari is a unique and captivating addition to the vampire genre, one that focuses more on the love story than the violence that often accompanies vampire movies. With strong performances, breathtaking cinematography, and a beautiful score, the movie is sure to leave audiences feeling both enchanted and moved.

If you're looking for a movie that's equal parts heartwarming and mystical, look no further than Tooth Pari.