Mithya: A Stretched-Out Web Series That Should Have Been a Tight Mystery Film

The web series #Mithya, directed by #RohanSippy and streaming on ZEE5 , would have been better suited as a film. It should have been a concise and intriguing 90-minute mystery, but instead, it stretches on, making it feel unnecessarily long. The series is an adaptation of the 2019 British miniseries "Cheat" and has been written by #AnvitaDutt and #AltheaKaushal.

One of the key elements in building a mystery is to employ various techniques to obscure obvious truths. However, when executed poorly, this approach can result in a bloated narrative, where even viewers with minimal intelligence can perceive that the writers are merely stretching the story to meet a contractual runtime.

"Mithya" vs "Aranyak": Contrasting Narratives and Themes in Hill-Station Mysteries

Set in Darjeeling, the series revolves around a hill-station mystery, similar to Netflix 's #Aranyak," which also features #ParambrataChatterjee. However, "Aranyak" has a broader scope, combining local legends, a murder mystery, politicians, the drug trade, domestic drama, and a wide range of characters.

In comparison, "Mithya" is more contained. It follows Juhi (#HumaQureshi), a Hindi professor with a chip on her shoulder, seeking to prove that her accomplishments are not simply a result of her lineage as the daughter of renowned writer Anand (#RajitKapur). She shares similarities with her student Rhea (#AvantikaDassani), the daughter of a powerful businessman (#SamirSoni) who serves as a trustee at the college where Juhi teaches.

In a different kind of screenplay, Juhi and Rhea may have been drawn to each other. Juhi, who has been struggling to become a mother with her husband Neil (#Parambrata), might be in need of an escape, which she finds in an affair with her colleague. Meanwhile, Rhea, who lost her mother at a young age, seeks someone to look up to.

However, trouble arises early on when Juhi suspects Rhea of plagiarizing her well-written essay. The reasoning behind Juhi's suspicion remains unclear, and the script is filled with other baffling writing decisions. Perhaps Juhi harbors some grudge against Rhea, or maybe she dislikes her choice of boots and chokers. It's difficult to comprehend. Rhea, an intense and tempestuous young woman, refuses to let Juhi's accusation go unanswered. She sets out to ruin Juhi's life, drawing Neil and both of Juhi's parents into chaos. Naturally, a murder occurs, prompting an investigation led by a pair of detectives. The senior detective is inept, while his deputy, a young woman, displays more competence. These are standard genre tropes, offering nothing new or innovative.

Missed Opportunities: Shallow Exploration and Directional Challenges in "Mithya"

The disappointing aspect of "Mithya" is that it had the potential to explore interesting themes such as teacher-student relationships, parent-child dynamics, and infidelity. However, the writing fails to deliver any meaningful insights on these topics. Moments of brilliance are scarce and widely spaced throughout the series. In the midst of all this, the series must also handle a pulpy mystery, which proves to be a daunting task.

Rohan Sippy's direction in "Mithya" is excessive and reminiscent of his weakest work since his directorial debut with "Kuch Naa Kaho" in 2003. Sippy's strength lies in directing clever material like "Bluffmaster!" or "Dum Maaro Dum," but when it comes to emotional weight, it seems to weigh him down.