The landscape of Tamil streaming content is rapidly evolving, particularly due to the accelerated popularity of long-format narratives within the police procedural sub-genre. Prime Video has been at the forefront of this shift, producing gripping series such as “Suzhal: The Vortex” and “Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie.” Joining this echelon is the innovative 10-episode series “Inspector Rishi,” which introduces itself not as a mere tale of cops and robbers but rather as an enthralling combination of investigative horror.
This series arrives more than a decade after the critically acclaimed “Eeram,” the last significant entry into the Tamil investigative horror canon featuring a law enforcer as its protagonist. Tamil moviegoers have glimpsed horror elements with police characters in films like “Miruthan” and “Jackson Durai,” yet “Inspector Rishi” represents a breakthrough in genre-blending storytelling.
Nandhini JS, the series creator, has chosen to delve into this subgenre to appeal to an audience that is markedly fearless. Nandhini observes that today’s generation, equipped with a wealth of information and devoid of the dread of darkness, poses a greater challenge for creators of horror content who aim to stir a sense of fear. With the arcane secrets of magic available at one’s fingertips courtesy of the internet, the skepticism surrounding the supernatural is more pronounced than ever.
Nandhini, who has a background in horror graphic novels and comedy series with supernatural themes, elaborates on the narrative challenge: how can a story convince audiences when the central mystery involves a forest spirit as a murderer but such an explanation cannot be documented in a police report?
“Inspector Rishi” introduces a squad of policemen grappling with a string of homicides reportedly perpetrated by a ‘vanaratchi’ or forest spirit, prompting the question of why the series carries the name of the investigator instead of the mystical entity. The answer lies in the genesis of the story, penned by Nandhini in 2010, where the character of Rishi emerged prominently as the narrative’s backbone, destined to explore multiple cases across potential sequels, much like iconic literary detectives Sherlock Holmes or Sujatha’s Ganesh-Vasanth.
In the shoes of Rishi is actor Naveen Chandra, portraying a cool-headed officer undisturbed by spectral lores, his logic unwavering until the mystery is unraveled. Naveen speaks highly of the depth and intellect of the character, attributing the richness to the writing and viewing the opportunity to play such a role as a privilege.
Sunaina, as Kathy the forest guard, echoes the sentiment about the evolution of character writing on OTT platforms. Being an industry veteran, she appreciates the strides made in scripting more substantial roles for women. Sunaina credits writers and creators like Nandhini for recognizing the indispensability of women in storytelling.
Co-star Kanna Ravi, who brings to life the devout sub-inspector Ayyanar Moorthy, views the expansion of his portfolio as an active choice against typecasting. He shares how embracing varied roles and appearances, like in “Inspector Rishi,” fuels his passion for acting and offers him an opportunity to demonstrate versatility.
Kumaravel, playing Forest Officer Irfan, discusses the subtleties of portraying roles with professional specificity and how a well-written script can allow a character to transcend their archetypal boundaries. His experience in “Inspector Rishi” afforded him that creative liberty.
Sri Krishna Dayal enacts Forest Ranger Sathya with the finesse of seasoned theatre experience, which he considers beneficial in understanding and portraying on-screen characters. Meanwhile, Malini Jeevarathinam, a queer artivist and filmmaker, portrays Sub-Inspector Chitra Lokesh with spirited authenticity, reflecting on the personal and professional growth the opportunity presented.
“Inspector Rishi” reflects a broader shift within Tamil cinema, marking a departure from the mass masala cop towards a deeper exploration of characters and themes. It is a nod to an emerging storytelling paradigm where audiences are eager for a nuanced take on traditional genres, marrying the allure of the supernatural with the gravitas of police drama – a show that’s poised to redefine fear for a brave new generation.
