Yo, I just binged Criminal Justice Season 4 on JioHotstar—it dropped May 29, 2025, and I was hyped to see Pankaj Tripathi back as the badass lawyer Madhav Mishra. This season, called A Family Matter, dives into a juicy murder mystery with family drama, featuring Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Surveen Chawla. I’m a huge fan of the show’s vibe, but did it live up to the earlier seasons? Here’s my honest take on what had me glued, what dragged, and whether you should dive in.
A Murder Mystery with Family Feels
The season kicks off in Mumbai with a wild setup: big-shot surgeon Raj Nagpal (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) is caught holding his mistress Roshni (Asha Negi), who’s been stabbed to death. Raj gets nabbed, his estranged wife Anju (Surveen Chawla) gets tangled up in the mess, and our guy Madhav Mishra steps in to sort out this crazy case. It’s all about love, betrayal, and some heavy family secrets, with a side of mental health struggles thrown in.
The first three episodes—“A Birthday to Remember,” “Buried Secrets,” and “Quid pro quo”—are straight-up gripping. The courtroom stuff is tense, and the family drama hits you right in the feels. But then, around the middle, it starts to drag. There’s a bunch of emotional side stories that go on too long, and the mystery starts feeling kinda predictable. It picks back up in the last couple of episodes, with Madhav doing his thing in court, but it’s not quite the wild ride I hoped for. Compared to Season 1’s crazy twists, this one feels a bit too safe.
Why It Works, Why It Doesn’t: The show’s got heart, especially when it digs into family tensions and moral dilemmas. Raj and Anju’s messy marriage and their kid’s struggles are relatable, but the writing doesn’t always go deep enough. The mental health stuff feels more like a plot point than something real, which bummed me out. It’s like they had all the pieces for an epic story but didn’t quite nail the emotional punch.
Pankaj Tripathi Is the MVP
Let’s talk about Pankaj Tripathi, because, man, he’s the reason I kept watching. As Madhav Mishra, he’s all charm and smarts—cracking jokes one minute, owning the courtroom the next. There’s this one scene where he’s grilling a witness, and I was just like, “Yup, this dude’s a legend!” He makes every moment pop, and honestly, he carries the show. Without him, I’d probably have zoned out during the slower bits.
Surveen Chawla kills it as Anju, bringing all the raw emotion of a woman dealing with betrayal. Her scenes where she’s just barely holding it together? Total gut-punch. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub is awesome as Raj, mixing guilt and charm, especially in this super emotional jail scene with his daughter. The supporting cast—like Asha Negi, Barkha Singh, and Meeta Vashisht—is solid, but their characters don’t get enough to do. Roshni’s gone way too quick, and I was like, “Wait, that’s it for her?”
The Cast Deep Dive: Pankaj is the glue here, no question, but it feels like the show leans on him too much. Surveen and Zeeshan are great, but their characters could’ve used more depth—Anju’s arc wraps up too neatly, and Raj’s backstory feels half-baked. Compared to earlier seasons, where side characters like Aditya or Zara had meaty stories, this season’s supporting players feel more like props, which is a bummer.
Rohan Sippy’s Vibe and Style
Director Rohan Sippy keeps the show’s mix of courtroom heat and human drama on point, and Mumbai’s gritty-glitzy vibe comes through strong. The cinematography by Murzy Pagdiwala is dope, with slick shots of courtrooms and moody family scenes. The music by Sameer Phaterpekar is fine but forgettable—not gonna be humming any of it. The eight episodes, at about 40 minutes each, feel a bit stretched in the middle. A tighter edit could’ve kept the energy up, especially in those draggy family bits.
Behind-the-Scenes Thoughts: Sippy’s got the Criminal Justice formula down, but it feels like he’s playing it too safe. The courtroom scenes are fire—tight dialogue, great pacing—but the family drama gets repetitive, and there’s no big stylistic swing to make it stand out. Compared to something like Your Honor or even Season 1’s raw edge, this season’s visuals and tone are solid but not groundbreaking. A bolder soundtrack or some fresh camera tricks could’ve leveled it up.
What’s Hot, What’s Not
The Good Stuff: Pankaj Tripathi is pure magic, and the early episodes hook you with their mix of mystery and family vibes. The courtroom scenes are a blast, and the themes—love, loyalty, mental health—are heavy in a good way. Surveen and Zeeshan bring serious chops to keep you invested.
The Not-So-Good: The middle episodes crawl, with too much focus on side plots that don’t add much. The mystery’s twists are kinda obvious, and some characters feel flat. It’s missing the wow factor of Season 1 or the emotional gut-punch of Season 3, leaning too hard on Madhav to save the day.
My Final Take
Criminal Justice Season 4 is a fun ride, mostly because Pankaj Tripathi is an absolute gem as Madhav Mishra. The murder mystery and family drama keep you watching, but the slow patches and predictable plot hold it back from being epic. Surveen Chawla and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub are great, but the story doesn’t always give them enough to work with. I’m giving it a 3.5/5—perfect for a chill binge on JioHotstar if you love legal dramas or just wanna see Pankaj do his thing. If you’re new, though, start with Season 1 for the real deal.
Add Comments