'Exam' review: Pushkar-Gayatri's series is not interesting enough
What's the story
Pushkar and Gayatri's (Vikram Vedha) new Tamil series, Exam, is out on Amazon Prime Video. Directed by A. Sarkunam and produced by Wallwatcher Films, it explores the fraud and corruption that plagues Indian government exams. Starring Dushara Vijayan (Vettaiyan) and Aditi Balan (Saripodhaa Sanivaaram) in the lead roles, it aims for an engaging narrative but suffers from an overstretched storyline.
Plot
A woman decides to expose the scam in competitive exams
Set against the rural backdrop of the fictional town of Thykara, the suspense drama follows Jhansi (Vijayan), who is determined to uncover a deep-rooted scam in the Regional Public Service Exam. Available in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and Malayalam audios, the project offers seven episodes, each about 35 minutes long. Abbas, Saravana Sakthi, Venkatesan Akash, and Sooriya Jeya also play key roles.
#1
The story starts well, draws you in quickly
Pushkar-Gayatri's fingerprints are all over the series, and the story starts well, establishing the groundwork in the first two episodes. This fast-paced approach helps it maintain momentum as we familiarize ourselves with Jhansi and her rival, Maramalli (Balan). The scenic locations, raw, intense storytelling, and strong character development quickly put Exam on track.
#2
But it goes haywire soon after
However, these positive attributes don't last long. As the show progresses, the initial charm and suspense wear off, making way for monotonous, humdrum storytelling. The haphazard inclusion of multiple characters (several of them are unnecessary) slows down the plot, and the narrative begins to tumble. Repetitive scenes, lack of intriguing characters, and rapid conflict resolution further undercut the show's impact.
#3
Becomes slow, tedious, and predictable
The show underlines an alarming problem that jeopardizes the lives of millions of aspirants in India, and for that, the writers deserve credit. However, the execution leaves much to be desired; it's ironic that in a series about competitive exams, we meet very few students. Multiple storylines criss-cross, and while it's initially a unique draw, it becomes confusing as the story progresses.
Verdict
Watchable, but could have been a lot better; 2/5 stars
Vijayan's performance, too, feels inadequate in confrontation scenes; she lacks the menace needed to play an intimidating woman. Exam starts decently, but takes too long to get to the point, and it's underwhelming when conflicts built over several episodes are resolved within minutes. Needlessly overdramatized, Exam fails to harness its full potential and ends up as a show that's just about watchable. 2/5 stars.