Tanya Maniktala: There is a constraint of time and episodes

Amid critique that PI Meena doesn’t do justice to its characters, Tanya Maniktala defends the mystery thriller; hopes series will tie up loose ends in next season

Far from the hullabaloo that precedes the release of shows, PI Meena went under the radar, with little to no promotion before it dropped online. Was it a deliberate move, we ask Tanya Maniktala as we sit down to discuss the mystery thriller. “We wanted the story to sell for itself, we wanted an organic draw towards the show. While some people have loved it and are asking for another season, there is always someone with a different opinion,” says the leading lady.

The Amazon Prime Video offering sees Maniktala play Meenakshi Iyer, a private investigator navigating the bylanes of Kolkata and Littnong in her pursuit of a killer. What she stumbles on is a conspiracy way above her pay grade. One of the show’s biggest critiques is that despite having a talented cast—from Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Jisshu Sengupta, to Vinay Pathak and Harsh Chhaya—the characters weren’t given a clear arc. “I found the story interesting because there were multiple tracks and they were all connected somehow. [When I was reading the script], I wanted to finish it all in one go,” says Maniktala. Point out that some characters don’t meet a justifying end, she reasons, “There is a constraint of time and number of episodes. While writing, you can delve into these stories as much as you want to. However, when it comes to executing the scenes, you don’t have that much freedom. So, some things have been removed from the show. Hopefully, they will be tied up together in the second season, if we [have one].”

Jisshu Sengupta and Tanya Maniktala in PI Meena

What was it like working with such an eclectic cast? The actor laughs that she is tired of using the word “amazing” to describe the experience. “It doesn’t do justice. Being in the same room with these people is a blessing. It was a beautiful learning experience because they have so much to teach you, so much to offer.”

From Flames to A Suitable Boy (2020), from Tooth Pari to now PI Meena, Maniktala is attempting diverse genres. The idea, she says, is to showcase her versatility as an actor. “I believe I’m creating a space for myself. With shows like these, I hope that [makers] notice that I have a range to offer as an actor.”

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