9/10. Essential viewing. Just keep the lights on.
Mehreen lives alone in a large apartment in a bustling city. Her parents are abroad, her friends are busy with their own lives, and her only consistent human contact is a condescending landlord and a neighborhood cat that sometimes visits her windowsill. The episode masterfully uses long, silent takes—a bold move for a web series.
: Fans of the leads appreciate the soulful music and the "fresh" romantic concept. tanhaiyan episode 1 with english subtitles
If you are a fan of slow-burn psychological horror (think The Haunting of Hill House or The Night House ) but want something culturally distinct, Tanhaiyan is for you. Episode 1 serves as a perfect short film on its own—a 32-minute meditation on what happens when no one believes you.
The first episode, often titled "The Silent Apartment" by fan subbers, opens not with dialogue, but with sound—or rather, the lack of it. We meet (played with devastating restraint by a leading Pakistani actress), a university student in her early twenties. The opening shot lingers on a half-empty cup of chai, a buzzing fluorescent light, and the echo of footsteps in a high-ceilinged, barren flat. Mehreen lives alone in a large apartment in a bustling city
Much of Episode 1’s tension comes from Mehreen’s internal monologues—whispered, fragmented, and fast. English subtitles capture the panic in phrases like "Koi hai?" (Is someone there?) versus "Koi tha?" (Was someone there?)—a critical distinction in tense.
Throughout the series, the characters face numerous challenges, including natural disasters, personal conflicts, and hidden dangers on the island. As they work together to overcome these obstacles, they discover that the island holds many secrets, including a mysterious organization, hidden treasures, and a dark history. : Fans of the leads appreciate the soulful
: Some viewers felt the storyline lacked depth initially, describing certain plot points as "senseless" or "over-acted". JioHotstar How to Watch with English Subtitles You can watch Episode 1 with official English subtitles on JioHotstar Note on Versions: This review pertains to the 2017 web series . If you are looking for the 1985 PTV classic
: Audience reviews for the first episode are generally polarized: