The world loves the supernatural. The popularity of The Vampire Diaries and Twilight series proves just that. In fact, their Indian adaptations Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal and Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani saw huge success too. So, when an original vampire show like Tooth Pari: When Love Bites was announced, the anticipation was quite high. And the audience’s expectations were pushed even higher with the power-packed star cast. The show is headlined by Tanya Maniktala with Shantanu Maheshwari, Adil Hussain, Saswata Chatterjee, Tillotama Shome, Revathy, and Sikandar Kher in prominent roles. Here’s our review of Tooth Pari: When Love Bites.

Tooth Pari lacks soul

That’s the best way to describe Tooth Pari: When Love Bites. The series has an interesting premise. A vampire breaks her right canine tooth, which is pretty essential to bite and suck blood, and ends up at the clinic of a timid dentist. Like in any Bollywood movie or series, opposites attract and they fall in love. But, of course, there are forces at play that are keeping them apart.

There are a lot of characters in this show. Of course, there are the leads Rumi (Tanya Maniktala) and Roy (Shantanu Maheshwari). You also have a cop investigating the supernatural cases, Kartik Pal (Sikandar Kher), a dubious character who is probably playing both sides, AD (Adil Hussain), and a witch and vampire hunter, Luna Luka (Revathy). There are also Rumi’s sorta guardians and fellow vampires David (Saswata Chatterjee) and Meera (Tillotama Shome), not to mention a slew of more characters. Everyone has a backstory, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

Tooth Pari is boring. It doesn’t entice you or make you look forward to the next episodes. The actors are subdued and understated in their performances, which is not bad. But it is ineffective. Kher’s Kartik Pal is a snarky, alcoholic cop who brings in some humour. Roy is too mousy and timid, and it gets annoying, Rumi is fun and funky in certain places, but too robotic overall. The light in this otherwise dark tunnel is Tillotama Shome’s Meera. A courtesan turned vampire, her theatrical personality adds a certain charm to the show.

This review is based on the first three episodes of the show, so, here’s hoping it gets better in the remaining five episodes. Tooth Pari is now streaming on Netflix.

Can you watch it with family?: No, Tooth Pari: When Love Bites has some intimate scenes and violence.

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