If you have watched Crime Patrol late at night, you probably know its unique ability to make an ordinary neighbourhood look suspicious. A crime, a secret, an unfamiliar face and its unsettling background score were often enough to keep viewers on edge, reports NDTV.
The show now returns as Crime Patrol – Crime Ka Current Season, with Ajay Devgn taking over as host.
Only four episodes have aired so far. The first two follow one case, while the next two tell another. That makes it too early to judge the entire season. Still, the opening episodes offer a clear idea of what the new season gets right and where it falls short.
For the most part, the familiar Crime Patrol formula remains intact.
Each case begins with a crime and gradually reveals the secrets surrounding it. The police piece together the evidence while the characters expose different sides of their lives.
Just when the answer seems obvious, the story introduces another possibility.
That approach still creates enough curiosity to keep viewers watching. You may start an episode casually, only to find yourself trying to work out the culprit.
The two-episode format also gives each case room to develop. The stories do not rush towards a conclusion. However, the slower pace sometimes works against the show.
Some investigations take longer than necessary, and viewers may find themselves wondering why the police have not asked an obvious question.
The new season also brings technology, social media and changing relationships into its stories. These elements reflect how modern life has changed the nature of crime.
Yet the presentation remains largely familiar. Dramatic recreations, tense interrogations, suspicious glances and an intense background score continue to define the show.
Ajay Devgn fits the role of narrator well. His deep voice gives the stories added seriousness. He also avoids making his celebrity status the focus. Instead, he allows the cases to remain at the centre of the show.
But one major change remains difficult to ignore: Anup Soni is no longer there.
This is not about deciding whether Devgn is better or worse. Soni became closely associated with Crime Patrol.
His calm and conversational delivery gave the show a distinctive identity. Even disturbing details sounded more chilling because of his restrained narration.
Devgn brings greater intensity. Soni brought familiarity.
That difference stands out in the new season. Devgn does a solid job, but the absence of Soni leaves a noticeable gap.
Viewers may eventually adjust to the change, but replacing a voice so closely linked to the show’s identity was never going to be easy.
The bigger question concerns whether Crime Patrol can offer enough fresh ideas to hold today’s audience. Four episodes cannot provide a final answer.
The cases remain engaging and the twists keep the mystery alive. The nostalgia also works in the show’s favour.
However, uneven pacing and an occasionally dated storytelling style prevent the new season from fully recapturing the show’s old spark.
