Citadel: Honey Bunny Review (Amazon Prime) Web Series!
Overview:
The creators Raj & DK, known for large-scale web series like The Family Man and Farzi, bring their latest offering, Citadel: Honey Bunny. The series, starring Samantha and Varun Dhawan, is streaming on Amazon Prime from today. Comprised of six episodes, the series belongs to the spy-action genre. Here’s a look at how it fares.
Story:
Set between 1992 and 2000, the story primarily unfolds in Mumbai and Nainital. Honey (played by Samantha), who dreams of becoming an actress, runs away from home to Mumbai.
Struggling to adapt to the film industry’s environment, she meets Bunny, a stuntman, and the two develop a romantic relationship. Bunny, meanwhile, lives a double life as an agent named ‘Raahi’ for a secret organization led by Baba (played by Kay Kay Menon). An orphan raised by Baba, Raahi sees him as a father figure and is deeply loyal to him.
Coming from a wealthy zamindar background but fueled by her passion for cinema, Honey becomes close to Raahi. She asks Bunny to train her as an agent, and after rigorous training, he shares her wish with Baba.
Despite his initial reluctance, Baba accepts Honey into the agency. She soon starts participating in missions alongside their team.
Amid these circumstances, a mission titled ‘Operation Talwar’ is launched, which pits Baba’s group against the organization ‘Citadel’. Baba wants to halt the mission and seize its ‘weapons program’.
To achieve this, he deploys Raahi and Honey. Honey builds a relationship with Dr. Raghu (Thalaivasal Vijay) to access the program. Realizing Raghu’s integrity and his dedication to society, Honey pledges to complete the mission without endangering him.
However, under Baba’s orders, Raahi ultimately kills Raghu, leaving Honey devastated. Pregnant, she flees with the program, and Raahi believes she died in an ensuing accident.
To find Honey, Baba sends his men Nakul and KD, who learn about her newborn daughter. Planning to eliminate both mother and daughter without Raahi’s knowledge, they pursue Honey, resulting in a series of challenges that she must face to protect her child.
Analysis:
The six-episode series balances action and emotion effectively. Its strong screenplay keeps viewers engaged throughout. The heavy, intense storyline is well-supported by action sequences, particularly the pursuits and shootouts, which heighten the tension.
The parallel storytelling between 1992 and the 2000s offers a fresh perspective, although certain aspects, such as ‘Operation Talwar’, could benefit from more clarity. Simran’s character could also have been developed more powerfully.
Performances:
Despite Varun Dhawan’s presence, this series belongs to Samantha, who shines with her performance. Varun delivers commendable action scenes, while Kashvi Majmundar as Samantha’s daughter impresses with her natural acting.
As expected, Kay Kay Menon delivers a strong performance. The cinematography by John is impressive, particularly in the action scenes, while Sachin-Jigar’s background score elevates the series. Sumit’s editing maintains engagement, though some episodes can feel slow. Overall, it is a compelling series content-wise.
Series Details:
- Name: Citadel: Honey Bunny
- Release Date: November 7, 2024
- Cast: Varun Dhawan, Samantha, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon, Sikandar Kher, Simran
- Director: Raj & DK
- Producers: Syed Zaid Ali, Alec Conic
- Music: Sachin-Jigar
- Banner: Amazon MGM Studios – Gozie AGBO
Also Read: Kozhipannai Chelladurai Review: A Simple Story with Deep Emotions on Amazon Prime