With a name meaning 'acting' and a surname inherited from his legendary parents Ramesh and Seema Deo, acclaimed filmmaker Abhinay Deo was destined for cinema. After cult films like Delhi Belly and Blackmail, he now presents the Zee5 series Brown, a neo-noir crime thriller based on Abheek Barua's novel City of Death.
Why Crime Is the Go-To Genre
Addressing the abundance of crime dramas on streaming platforms, Deo explains, 'Crime is all around us. Pick up any newspaper, look in any direction, and you see crime. Hence, it becomes the most consumed genre in cinema.' Regarding the prevalence of female police leads, he notes that all stories ultimately draw inspiration from epics like the Mahabharata or Ramayana, so similarities are inevitable. He is unfazed by comparisons between his protagonist Rita Brown and other characters, quoting Shakespeare: 'What's in a name?' He reveals he began developing Brown four years ago, long before similar shows emerged.
Treatment Over Formula
Deo emphasizes that beyond the whodunit, the treatment matters most. 'Brown is not just another crime story. It is about human nature, its decay, and will leave you questioning society and yourself.' The series stars Karisma Kapoor as Rita Brown, a choice Deo defends by noting that when experimenting with format, familiar faces provide comfort. He praises Kapoor as a powerhouse performer who embodies her role instantly, much like her iconic work in Zubeidaa.
The ensemble includes Surya Sharma, Jisshu Sengupta, and veterans Helen and Soni Razdan, with Kolkata serving as a character itself. Deo is conscious of not glorifying violence but insists gore cannot be entirely avoided; the goal is to avoid making viewers cringe. He dismisses the notion that onscreen violence triggers real-life aggression, comparing it to the fleeting feel-good effect of comedies.
Despite his focus on crime, Deo is genre-agnostic and considering a love story next. From his parents, he learned that 'it's okay to be flawed and to fail. All that matters is intent.' Brown streams on June 5 on Zee5.
