36 Days (TV series)

36 Days also known as 36 Days: Secrets are injurious to health is an Indian Hindi-language crime-thriller streaming television series created for SonyLIV, by Vishal Furia and produced by Applause Entertainment and BBC Studios. The series features Neha Sharma, Purab Kohli, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Sharib Hashmi, Amruta Khanvilkar, Shruti Seth and Sushant Divgikar in the pivotal roles. Set in a serene suburban housing estate in Goa, this Indian thriller, an official adaptation by Anahata Menon of the British series 35 Days, explores a story of deceit, love, and suspense. When a mysterious woman arrives, she disrupts the neighborhood, leading to unexpected events, including a shocking murder, which intertwines the lives of the residents in a captivating tale of mystery and suspense.

The series was officially announced by the streaming network in April 2023. Principal photography primarily took place in Goa, with key scenes shot in Vasco Da Gama and a few scenes shot in Mumbai. Quaais Waseeq served as the cinematographer, and Abhijeet Deshpande edited the series. The musical duo Clinton Cerejo and Bianca Gomes composed the songs under the band name Shor Police.

36 Days premiered on 12 July 2024, to a positive response from audiences, although critics offered mixed reviews. The performances received praise, but the screenplay and predictability were criticized..

Premise
The story begins with the shocking and brutal murder of Farah Zaidi, an event that triggers a narrative countdown unfolding backwards from 36 days prior. This countdown methodically peels back the layers of intrigue and tension surrounding the events leading up to her tragic death. Set within the luxurious confines of Casa De Magnolia, an upscale suburban housing complex nestled in the serene environs of Goa, the series introduces us to a diverse and deeply flawed ensemble of residents.

Among them is Tony Walia, a chauvinistic womanizer whose outward charm masks a darker, more sinister side. There's also Noel, a menacing drug lord whose presence casts a shadow over the community. Benaifer Machado, an overbearing baker grieving the loss of her daughter, harbors secrets that complicate her relationships. Tara, a transgender artist, struggles against societal prejudices while seeking acceptance. Lalita, a successful but enigmatic businesswoman, navigates a web of ambition and intrigue. Dr. Rishikesh Jaykar, a celebrated microbiologist, hides a hidden agenda beneath his professional facade.

Each character in Casa De Magnolia is painted in shades of grey, their complexities and vulnerabilities laid bare as the narrative unfolds. The series intricately weaves together their intertwined lives, inviting viewers to delve into the murky depths of their motives and relationships. As suspicion mounts and tensions escalate, the mystery surrounding Farah's background deepens, casting doubt on everyone and leaving viewers on edge with the unsettling realization that any one of these characters could be the perpetrator.

Throughout the series, unexpected twists and revelations keep the audience guessing, challenging their perceptions and unraveling the truth in surprising ways. '36 Days' is a gripping exploration of human nature, where secrets, betrayal, and hidden desires simmer beneath the surface of idyllic suburban life, ultimately culminating in a suspenseful and thought-provoking journey towards justice and resolution.

Main

 * Neha Sharma as Farah Zaidi aka Suhana Mohan: Sameera's sister, she is an air hostess seeking revenge for her sister's suicide, who moves into the diverse neighborhood of Casa De Magnolia.
 * Purab Kohli as Rishi aka Dr. Rishikesh Jaykar: Radhika's husband, Advait's stepfather and Sameera's ex-boss. He is a writer dealing with unresolved marital issues.
 * Chandan Roy Sanyal as Tony Walia: Sia's husband and the owner of Casa De Magnolia's land. He is drawn to Farah's beauty.
 * Sharib Hashmi as Vinod Shinde: Lalita's husband and a casino manager who is suspicious of Farah from the start.
 * Amruta Khanvilkar as Lalita Shinde: Vinod's wife and Bobo's sister. She is envious of Radhika and has lofty ambitions fulfilled through a shady side hustle involving drug sales.
 * Shruti Seth as Radhika Jaykar: Rishi's wife and an entrepreneur who is insecure about her husband's friendship with Farah.
 * Sushant Divgikar as Tara aka Tarun: Sia's ex-lover who desires a sex change operation.
 * Shernaz Patel as Benaifer Machado aka Binny: Denzel's wife and the mother of Riad and Pari. She is a home baker deeply affected by the tragic loss of her daughter and feels neglected by her husband.
 * Faisal Rashid as Riad Machado: Binny and Denzel's son, Shonali's husband, and Mini's father. He navigates single parenthood after a divorce and deals with parental expectations.
 * Keneth Desai as Denzel Machado: Binny's husband, Riad and Pari's father, Rishi and Tony friend, as well as a painter who withdraws into seclusion after a personal tragedy.
 * KC Shankar as Noel: Ella's father, Vinod's boss and a close friend of Tony's. He owns the casino and operates as a kingpin in the drug trafficking world.
 * Chahat Vig as Sia Walia: Tony's third wife and Tara's ex-lover, who quits her acting aspirations for her husband's desires.

Recurring

 * Shivam Patil as Bobo aka Baban: Lalita's brother who deals drugs, causing complications in his own relationships and affecting Lalita and Vinod's lives.
 * Ajay Kumar Dutta as Thomas
 * Nehal Vadoliya as Seductress4u: The blackmailer on video chat with Denzel
 * Aman Desai as Advait: Radhika's son and Rishi's stepchild, who is in a relationship with Ella and Anushka but is forced to leave Goa by Noel.
 * Sarah Gesawat as Ella: Advait's lover and Noel's daughter.
 * Danish Pandor as Mohit: He is married to Sameera and Mehnaaz. He is the father of Munmun and Sona, and he cheats on Sameera.
 * Sharvari Deshpande as Chayya
 * Vishal Arora as Drug peddler
 * Hardika Sharma as Mini: Raid and Shonali's daughter
 * Ganesh Yadav as Savio: Police inspector
 * Jagdish Chavan as Mangesh: Police constable
 * Ketan Karande as Rodney (Noel's bodyguard)
 * Bianca Arora as Anushka: Advait's lover
 * Shweta Mehta as Kleo
 * Khushi Bharadwaj as Aditi: Rishi and Radhika's daughter who becomes friends with Farah.
 * Sapna Rathore as Sameera: Farah's sister and Mohit's wife, and Munmun's mother who tragically commits suicide upon learning of her husband's affair.
 * Ashmara Sharma as Pari
 * Payal Arora as Dr. Prabhu Desai
 * Daivik Balodia & Daivat Balodia as Twins
 * Smaran Sahu as Karan: An actor who stars opposite Sia in a movie and eventually falls for her.
 * Palash Tiwari as Jugal (House keeping staff)
 * Supriya Mishra as Rohini (House keeping staff)
 * Palvi Jaswal as Shonali
 * Randeep Singh as Sukhwinder watchman
 * Zara Khan as Munmun
 * Abhijeet Pawar as Magician
 * Asha Sharma as Mehnaaz
 * Urvi Upadhyay as Sona
 * Darshit Lahane as Amar
 * Neeva Malik as Anjali

Production
36 Days is the Indian adaptation of the British series 35 Diwrnod, originally in Welsh, which aired from 2014 to 2017 across four seasons. The adaptation was officially undertaken by writer Anahata Menon, who collaborated with Seneca Mendonsa on the screenplay.

In October 2022, it was revealed that Sharib Hashmi, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Sushant Divgikar, Shernaz Patel, Faisal Rashid, Kenneth Desai, among others, were cast in the series. In April 2023, Sonyliv officially announced the series along with the rest of the main cast, including Neha Sharma, Purab Kohli, Shruti Seth and Amruta Khanvilkar. Child actor Zara Khan was cast in October 2023.

Sharma, who portrays the enigmatic airhostess in the series, mentioned that she watched a portion of the original BBC show 35 Diwrnod, describing it as mind-bending. Reflecting on her role, she remarked, "I don’t think anyone ever expected me to portray a morally ambiguous character." Initially, Kohli was offered a different role, but due to scheduling conflicts, he had to decline it. However, a few months later, the makers approached Kohli again, this time offering him the role of Rishi. Kohli and Desai reunited after 26 years for this series; they had last worked together in the cult classic television series titled Hip Hip Hurray. Seth, who stars opposite Kohli, shared insights into their bond, saying, "Meeting after so long, we were catching up so much that our director, Vishal, had to request us to stop talking."

The main schedule of principal photography predominantly occurred in Goa, focusing on locations in North Goa, with additional scenes filmed in Mumbai. Quaais Waseeq served as the cinematographer, and Abhijeet Deshpande edited the series. The musical duo Clinton Cerejo and Bianca Gomes composed the songs under the band name Shor Police.

Soundtrack
The background score is composed by Roshin Balu, with sound design by Anirban Sengupta. All the songs are composed by the musical duo Shor Police, consisting of Clinton Cerejo and Bianca Gomes.

Release and reception
The makers released the trailer on 28 May 2024, featuring the main star cast. Alongside sharing the trailer, they posed a question: "There are always three sides to every story—your side, my side… and the truth. But what if the truth lies hidden behind a wall of secrets?"

Reception
The series garnered mixed reviews from critics, who lauded its performances but criticized its writing.

Archika Khurana of The Times of India reviewed the series, awarding 3.5 out of 5 stars and observed, "While the show becomes somewhat predictable midway, the unexpected twists towards the end keep it engaging. The 35-minute episodes manage to maintain a compelling pace despite the dense web of characters and their interconnected lives." Ronit Kawale for Presswire18 commented, "The screenplay is so dull that one feels like watching it in fast forward" despite the decent performances and atmospheric technical elements." Navbharat Times critic Upama Singh, giving 2 stars, praised performances, cinematography, setting, and background score, while remarking, "The screenplay is so sluggish that one feels like fast-forwarding through it. Direction lacks substance too; the initial two-three episodes lack any thrill." Deepa Gahlot of Scroll.in reviewed "The eight-part series moves at a leisurely pace. Everything that happens does not necessarily connect to the murder. The helter-skelter format is more to build suspense and comment on the corrosive effects of pretence or the damage caused by ignoring mental health issues." Risha Ganguly of Times Now, awarding 2.5 out of 5 stars, remarked, "It lacked originality and suspense," adding, "You can predict from the very first episode that the story is following a certain plot. Even the twists and turns ate so dated that you see them coming from a mile." Mitul Kansara of Tellychakkar praised it with 4 stars, stating, "All in all, this has been an amazing watch with good performances, good characters and a pace that could be improved."

Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express mentioned, "This is an interesting ensemble, and I got pulled into all these questions which swirl around the residents.." but criticizes its excessive use of familiar tropes and a lack of sustained tension and urgency in the storytelling, giving it 2 stars. Vaibhavi Mishra of Gadgets 360 described it as "Overstretched and Predictable," commenting, "the show falls prey to the classic mistake of stuffing unnecessary tropes in thrillers, just to add more faces to point the misdirected finger at." Manik Sharma from OTTPlay observed, "There are plenty of sub-plots to chew on... Instead what we get is short shrift on a bunch of situations, without any real insight into the people dealing with them." A critic from ap7am.com rated it 2.75 out of 5, calling the screenplay "bit faster" and noting, "Although the story is told in the housing complex on the coast, it does not bore much. Photography .. background music .. editing helped this series." Riya Sharma from DNA awarded 2 out of 5 stars, criticizing its predictable plot, lack of genuine suspense, and failure to fully utilize its talented cast, stating, "The show doesn't seem to do justice to an ensemble cast who gives their all and present you with a powerful performance despite a dull, predictable and boring storyline." Critic Simran Kumari of Cinetales gave it 3 out of 5 stars, praising the performances as the "highlight" and summarizing, "...the twists in the narrative also seem quite predictable except for the last few. Therefore, you won’t feel the relief at the end since there’s no proper build-up."

Shatakshi Ganguly of IWMBuzz criticized the series for faltering despite its promising premise and talented cast, pointing out overindulgence, disjointed storytelling, and a lack of suspense or satisfying payoff, noting, "The sheer volume of characters dilutes the impact of the story, leaving viewers grappling with an ensemble cast that ultimately feels wasted." In contrast, Troy Ribeiro of The First Press Journal rated it 3 out of 5 stars, highlighting intricate character development and a slow-burn mystery set in Goa's serene backdrop, stating, "The pacing, initially leisurely as a Sunday morning in Goa, might test the patience of those accustomed to breakneck thrillers." Leisure Byte reviewer Archi Sengupta commented, "36 Days has its moments that will arrest you thoroughly, especially as you try to decipher who could’ve murdered Farah. However, the series isn’t able to balance its many storylines, ending in the last episode becoming sort of an exposition dump rushing towards concluding everything quickly."