Set against a father-son rivalry, Khalbali Records is JioCinema’s latest musical-drama series that explores the dynamics between indie and commercial music and the thrilling consequences of taking talent for granted. The series discusses many different interesting topics, including a man’s wish to fulfil his friend’s dream and, in turn, take revenge for his murder. The series has 8 episodes, each with a runtime of around 35 minutes.

Khalbali Records Review

We have been getting a ton of shows these days that focus on artists getting the short end of the stick, especially at the hands of their recording labels. Khalbali Records, as the name suggests, is about a new recording studio that comes up after a much-loved rapper Mauj is murdered in cold blood at one of his concerts. Of course, there is more beneath the surface that we slowly get to learn about the different characters and their motivations that make us take note of their dreams, ambitions and aspirations and the core drive to do something different and stand up to authority.

The series is an emotional journey through the ups and downs of the emotions of artists as they navigate the difficult situations that arise during while trying to follow their dreams as well as go against a system that is only interested in exploiting them. The series, although having quite an expected outcome, gets its emotions right and is what makes us watch the series with ease and eagerness. There are moments in the series that are profound and emotional, to the point that you relate to the characters and understand where they are coming from.

Rapper Prabh Deep plays Mauj with much passion, so much so that even though he comes up mostly in flashbacks, you can’t help but get behind his vision – to have a record label that puts artists first and doesn’t take advantage of them in any way. Actors who come from music or other backgrounds usually don’t play these characters well but Prabh Deep is surprisingly good in his role and makes us believe in him from the first minute.

The series also focuses on issues surrounding sibling rivalry and not being able to get out of parents’ shadows. The relationship between MRS, Raghav and Ananya is interesting and their push and pull dynamic is a relatable watch. I found it interesting to watch them one-up each other but there are bursts of love in between that one cannot ignore. The series creates realistic and understandable situations that do a good job of bringing these emotions forward in a way that is impactful in every way.

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Of course, one thing that makes this dynamic work are the performances. Ram Kapoor is an actor who never disappoints (expect in Humshakals but we are all allowed to make mistakes) and there are bursts of paternal love in his portrayal of MRS that makes him stand out. Saloni Batra, as Ananya, is stuck between a rock and a hard place and she portrays her character with much care and confusion along with a lot of ambition. Thed dynamic among the three, seeping with the trauma of their childhood, provides an interesting addition to the complicated situation.

Moving on from that, we have the record label to think about and I think Skand Thakur does a great job of being the vulnerable but determined Raghav, whose love for his chosen family far outweighs the loyalty that he feels towards his own flesh and blood. The relationship that he shares with Lekha, Fatafat, Rudra, Ninja, Hamza and Phantom is thoroughly sweet and makes you root for him and everyone else in Khalbali. However, their conflicts also add an extra layer of relaism and makes you believe in them as a group. Then there is Mauj’s words and songs that bind them together and sells them to us.

The series also showcases, through these various bigger plot points, some more interesting and smaller points that makes you take note of the storyline as something more realistic. Although, as I mentioned previously, the series isn’t anything very new and you can mostly understand what’s about to happen, but the way it arranges these different plots and brings forth the different emotions is enjoyable and relatable, making it an entertaining and engaging watch.

Final Thoughts

Khalbali Records comes at a time when a ton of shows are trying to bring forth the problems in showbiz. But what sets it apart from these other shows is that its emotions are in the right place and you can’t help but relate to these different characters as they try to figure out a way to find their own footing and voice in a place that only wants to exploit them. This JioCinema series is thoroughly entertaining and gets all of its storypoints right.

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