Bold, sleazy, profane and adult content is order of the day on OTT platforms. A web series on a dreaded serial killer, womaniser and pimp who terrorised Chennai city for a decade from 1985 and was hanged is no different. From the first two episodes of Auto Shankar, which were full of sleaze and cuss words, it is clear that the makers are taking advantage of the absence of censorship on digital content.
Sarath Appani of Angamaly Diaries essays the menacing Gowri Shankar aka Auto Shankar with new girls Swayam and Vasudha playing his love interests Chandrika and Laitha. Ace cinematographer Manoj Paramahamsa, producer of the series, says they have recreated the story from research into police records and admits though that they have fictionalised it as well, perhaps to woo youth audiences.
Shankar’s nexus with police and politicians is clearly portrayed. At the end of the day while the criminal who is nurtured by these ruthless power-hungry politicians and corrupt and crooked cops, is framed, the patrons go scot free. Auto Shankar was hanged in 1995 for six brutal murders.
Arrol Corelli’s music with its Latin-American touch is said to be a high point in the series directed by Ranga and written by Maniji and currently streaming on Zee 5.
