‘Pharma’ series review: Despite strong performances and solid premise, the narrative misses the mark

There is a scene in one of the first couple of episodes of Pharma (streaming on JioHotstar) where a senior pharmaceutical industry executive explains how their business works. That medicines for one condition might cause a side-effect, for which the company has a medicine that could precipitate another illness—the cold calculatedness is worrying.

Pharma, written and directed by PR Arun, appears well-researched, showing an understanding of how the industry works. All those headlines and news reports about spurious medicines and the fatalities come to mind as one watches the eight-part series with Nivin Pauly in the lead. It spotlights the unsavoury aspect of the industry whose foot soldiers are medical representatives. We have all seen them as we waited for our doctor’s appointments, and wondered about what they do. A medical representative’s job is more than coaxing and convincing doctors to prescribe medicines, we learn; there is no place for morality. 

KP Vinod (Nivin), a fresh recruit, accompanies his superior (Binu Pappan) on their hospital visits. Still green behind the ears, he ‘prepares’ for his meetings, learning the chemical compositions of the drugs they are meant to market only to realise that what matters is something else entirely. Depending on how many prescriptions a doctor writes, various “benefits” are on offer: money, all-expenses-paid foreign vacations, and other gifts.

For Vinod, this marks a loss of innocence as he learns the ways of the world he now inhabits. The narrative moves back and forth across a span of roughly 20 years, from the mid-2000s to the present. Vinod’s fate is literally decided by the drugs he markets. So, 10 years down the line, we see him stuck in a job that leads nowhere, even though he now drives a bigger car.  

One of the doctors on his roster is gynaecologist Janaki (Sruthi Ramachandran), who discovers that one of the drugs manufactured by the company Vinod works for has long-term consequences for the health of children whose mothers were prescribed it during pregnancy. That his daughter is around the same age as the affected kids is a rude awakening. 

Vinod turns a whistleblower after quitting his company. Pharma is about what happens when David takes on Goliath. In this case, a voluntary organisation, Zaathi, taking on a huge corporate, having more money and muscle power. Zaathi, set up by a group of doctors, takes on the pharmaceutical industry and conducts investigations into medical malpractice apart from running medical stores with affordable medicines. Vinod joins Zaathi in the battle of good over evil. 

Rajit Kapur is Dr Rajiv Rao, one of the founders of Zaathi. How does the takedown happen— no spoilers here, go and watch it. There are casualties along the way. Dr Rao tells Vinod that he can leave because a war such as this does not guarantee wins, which when they do come are tiny. But Vinod refuses and continues to fight till the end.

It is wonderful to see Nivin in his OTT debut after what feels like ages. The role is a cakewalk for him. As a fresher, we get some glimpses of the funny Nivin, which fans have missed. As the older, world-wise Vinod, we see another side to the actor with a certain maturity in his craft. It is good to see him again. Sruthi as Janaki is quite effortless as well. Also, this begs the question— why is Sruthi so underutilised? We need to see more of her.   

Promotion poster of ‘Pharma’
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Pharma is a sincere effort. The content is different from most shows in Malayalam, which seem to follow the regular crime template. The attempt is honest, but despite the promise, somewhere along the way, Pharma falters, loses pace and weakens as a narrative. Perhaps the cynic in us questions the idea of justice being delivered to those who deserve it, because, as we know, life and justice do not operate on the principle of fairness.

It is perhaps the introduction of other threads and characters such as Janaki’s husband, essayed by Naren and Nivin’s junior, Mashood, which weakens the plot. Mashood is still a trigger for Vinod, pushing him in a particular direction. But Naren’s character? Or perhaps it is just a case of the viewer expecting more because it is Naren and not a lesser known face. 

Pharma is not pacy— it will not have you perched on the edge of the seat but it is passable as a one-time watch. 

Pharma is streaming on JioHotstar