Disney+ Hotstar has released 1000 Babies, a seven-episode Malayalam crime-thriller with intense, unsettling visuals and psychological twists that promises to keep audiences on edge, exploring the dark secret of an old woman.
The series opens in 2010, with Sarah Ouseph (Neena Gupta), a dishevelled elderly woman, who lives in Kottayam's Mundakayam village with her son, Bibin Ouseph (Sanju Sivram), a brilliant man who, despite his intellect, was stuck working as a lab technician in a village clinic.
Sarah is an eccentric woman, spending her days scribbling on the walls with markers given by her son. Bibin cares for his mother profoundly and accepts her as she is. Her strange behaviour is not out-of-the-ordinary for him, yet the overall story twists into a gripping drama when she finally reveals a shocking secret. This revelation sets off a chain of events that propels the story forward, changing everything for Bibin and pulling in others who are tied to Sarah's mysterious past.
Fast forward to 2022, when Kalamassery Circle Inspector Aji Kurian (Rahman) is investigating the death of a well-known actress. As the case progresses, the cop realises that there's more to the case than meets the eye.
Sarah’s secret, which was also revealed to the Kottayam Circle Inspector and the District Magistrate back in 2010, had been kept under wraps for 12 years.
The plot is brilliant, backed by a decent script that stumbles occasionally with cliché dialogues and a whole lot of plot convenience. For example, just when Kurian hits a dead end in solving a case, a clue is handed to him quite literally.
The first three episodes were engaging, hooking the viewer with a story full of suspense. However, that is where the good part ends.
The show took a major fall in the next four episodes, with unnecessary diversions, long and dragged scenes. Director Najeem Koya seems to lose focus, introducing unnecessary subplots and drawn-out scenes that stretch the episodes to their 40-minute run times without adding much value.
The show could have easily been a limited series, had it not taken any detours, but it has somehow paved its way for a second season.
If there was one thing that stood out, it was Neena Gupta’s performance. She brings a layered complexity to Sarah, representing her not just as a "crazy old lady", but more so as a woman who is plagued by her past actions. The flashback sequences, which expose her life as a mother to Bibin and a nurse at a hospital in Alappuzha, showcases Gupta's versatility. Each flashback gives us a glimpse of a different side of Sarah, which Gupta nails.
Excellent job by Rahman, playing the headstrong lead investigator Kurian, who had to put up with the stereotypical police officer tropes, including stereotypes of dialogue that was painfully predictable.
Sanju Sivaram, just like Gupta, also takes on a multifaceted role, whose character development from a sweet, caring man shifts dramatically through the series.
Joy Mathew, Shaju Shreedar, Adil Abraham and Srikant Murali, although smaller roles, used their time on screen efficiently to move the plot forward.
The strongest element of 1000 Babies goes to the cinematography by Faiz Siddik, raising the quality of visuals that elevate the stories. His work particularly shines during the tense interrogation scenes and in the eerie atmosphere of Sarah and Bibin’s house.
This show marks an important step for the Malayalam web series, as it explores genres and territories not yet embarked upon by the web series industry. Overall, 1000 Babies is a good one-time watch, with many moments of brilliance but somehow falters to a point that, though it ends in a cliffhanger, one could manage without a Season 2.
Series: 1000 Babies
Director: Najeem Koya
Starring: Neena Gupta, Rahman, Sanju Sivram, Joy Mathew, Ashwin Kkumar, Adil Ibrahim, Shaju Sreedhar, Srikant Murali, Irshad Ali
Rating: 3/5
