When Prakash Jha’s Aashram dropped on MX Player, it was immediately labeled a gritty, unflinching look at the nexus between religion, power, and crime. But for many viewers, the series took a few episodes to find its rhythm. The first four episodes did the heavy lifting of world-building—introducing the glistening, fraudulent world of Baba Nirala, the blind faith of his followers, and the cynical police force looking the other way.
Notice the lighting. In Episode 1, the Ashram is bathed in golden, warm sunlight—meant to hypnotize. By Episode 5, the corridors of Baba’s compound are lit in cold, fluorescent blues and deep, shadowy blacks. There is a particular long take where Baba walks through his harem of "deviyas" (goddesses). The camera doesn’t move erratically; it glides. It mimics the eye of a predator.
Cinematographer Sachin Kumar Krishn uses extreme close-ups on needles, pills, and the glint of Baba’s watch. This episode feels claustrophobic. You feel the walls closing in on the characters. That technical precision makes than a standard crime thriller—it becomes a piece of art about entrapment. 4. Bobby Deol’s Silent Rage Bobby Deol received praise for the entire season, but Episode 5 is his ace. In earlier episodes, Baba Nirala is charming, a little sad, and paternal. In Episode 5, the mask slips permanently.
Catch it on MX Player. Keep your eyes on Udit’s hands. And listen to the silence before the storm.
