{ "id": "ep0wq9g95a", "slug": "cat-2022-tv-series", "title": "CAT (2022 TV series)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia", "label": "South and Southeast Asian serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "label": "South Asian web serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials.yr-2013-2024", "label": "Premiered 2013 to 2024", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials.yr-2013-2024" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials.yr-2013-2024", "label": "India · 2021 and later: Premiered 2013 to 2024", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials.yr-2013-2024", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021", "label": "India · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "label": "South Asian web serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials.yr-2013-2024", "label": "Premiered 2013 to 2024", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials.yr-2013-2024" } ] } ], "excerpt": "CAT is a 2022 Punjabi-language Netflix crime thriller, also called a Punjabi original series, created by Balwinder Singh Janjua; Randeep Hooda plays former police informant Gurnam Singh in eight episodes about Punjab's insurgency era and drug trade.", "snippet": "CAT is a 2022 Punjabi-language Netflix crime thriller, also called a Punjabi original series, created by Balwinder Singh Janjua; Randeep Hooda plays former police informant Gurnam Singh in eight episodes about Punjab's insurgency era and drug trade.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials.yr-2013-2024", "markdown": "# CAT (2022 TV series)\n\n**CAT** is an Indian Punjabi-language crime thriller television series created by Balwinder Singh Janjua for Netflix, in which a former police informant is forced back undercover to infiltrate a drug empire in Punjab in order to save his brother.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/revenge-drama-cat-starring-randeep-hooda) It premiered on December 9, 2022, with eight episodes, and stars [Randeep Hooda](https://www.edgepedia.org/randeep-hooda), Suvinder Vicky, and Hasleen Kaur.[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/video/randeep-hooda-on-cat-getting-his-due-showing-the-real-punjab-exclusive-2307236-2022-12-09?t=%7Bseek_to_second_number%7D) • [3](https://qr.netflix.com/us/title/81281063) The Hindustan Times described it as Netflix's first Punjabi original.[4](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/cat-review-randeep-hooda-shines-in-thrill-a-minute-ride-from-punjabi-heartland-101670567338010.html)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Premiere | December 9, 2022, on Netflix[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/video/randeep-hooda-on-cat-getting-his-due-showing-the-real-punjab-exclusive-2307236-2022-12-09?t=%7Bseek_to_second_number%7D) |\n| Format | One season of eight episodes, roughly 44 minutes each[3](https://qr.netflix.com/us/title/81281063) • [5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/cat/season-1) |\n| Language | Punjabi (original), with Hindi and other audio and subtitle options[6](https://flixboss.com/series/cat-81281063) |\n| Creator | Balwinder Singh Janjua, showrunner, co-writer, and co-director[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/revenge-drama-cat-starring-randeep-hooda) |\n| Lead cast | Randeep Hooda as Gurnam Singh, Suvinder Vicky as Sehtab Singh, Hasleen Kaur as Babita[3](https://qr.netflix.com/us/title/81281063) • [7](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/show/cat) |\n| Setting | Punjab across two timelines: the insurgency era of the 1980s and 1990s and the drug trade of the mid-2000s[8](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/entertainment/writer-director-balwinder-singh-janjua-wants-to-tell-stories-of-the-soil-372960) |\n| Rating | TV-MA on Netflix; rated 15 in the United Kingdom[3](https://qr.netflix.com/us/title/81281063) • [9](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/tv-series/cat) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise\n\nThe series follows Gurnam Singh (Randeep Hooda), who as a teenager lost his parents to a militant's bullets and was recruited as a \"cat\", the Punjab police term for an informant planted inside militant groups.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/cat-review/20221209.htm) After his mission he was given a new identity and settled into life as a motor mechanic raising his younger siblings.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/cat-review/20221209.htm) In 2006 his brother Sunny (Danish Sood) is arrested for drug trafficking, and Gurnam turns to the officer who once ran him, Sehtab Singh ([Suvinder Vicky](https://www.edgepedia.org/suvinder-vicky)).[11](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/cat) Sehtab agrees to help on one condition: Gurnam must go back under as a cat, this time inside the drug empire of the politician Madam Aulakh (Geeta Agrawal Sharma), whose operation moves cocaine from Pakistan into Punjab.[11](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/cat) • [12](https://scroll.in/reel/1038963/cat-review-an-impressive-cast-provides-the-highs-in-show-about-punjabs-drug-problem)\n\nThe eight episodes are titled [The Deal](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-deal), The Invasion, The Imposter, The Takeover, The Crossroad, The Escape, The Deceit, and The Masterplan.[13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/cat/s01) Scroll's review notes that the season counts down to a series of stand-offs and a second season.[12](https://scroll.in/reel/1038963/cat-review-an-impressive-cast-provides-the-highs-in-show-about-punjabs-drug-problem)\n\n### Cast and characters\n\n- Randeep Hooda as Gurnam Singh, a mechanic and former police informant; Abhishant Rana plays the young Gurnam, known as Gary[7](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/show/cat)\n- Suvinder Vicky as Sehtab Singh, the police officer who recruits Gurnam[7](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/show/cat)\n- Hasleen Kaur as Babita Masih, a policewoman[7](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/show/cat)\n- Geeta Agrawal Sharma as Madam Aulakh, a politician who runs the drug trade[7](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/show/cat)\n- Dakssh Ajit Singh as Laadi, a former wrestler working for Aulakh[12](https://scroll.in/reel/1038963/cat-review-an-impressive-cast-provides-the-highs-in-show-about-punjabs-drug-problem)\n- Danish Sood as Sunny, Gurnam's brother[7](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/show/cat)\n- Pramod Pathak as Chandan, Sehtab's assistant[20](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/punjabi/cat/webseriesshow/96031800.cms)\n\n## The title and its historical meaning\n\nThe word \"cat\" in the title refers to a real counterinsurgency practice. According to an analysis by Prem Mahadevan in the SATP journal *Faultlines*, the term was most likely a colloquialism coined in 1986 by police officers in Amritsar district for pseudo-terrorist gangs formed to help locate real militant groups, and working as a \"cat\" became a source of livelihood for young men in the state.[14](https://satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume18/Article2.htm) In the series, the protagonist's history as a cat during the 1990s insurgency is the link between the two timelines, and Sehtab Singh is the character who connects the militancy era to the later drug trade.[12](https://scroll.in/reel/1038963/cat-review-an-impressive-cast-provides-the-highs-in-show-about-punjabs-drug-problem)\n\n## Production\n\n**Creator.** Balwinder Singh Janjua, then 41, had moved to Mumbai nearly two decades earlier from Kathiali village in the border district of Gurdaspur, and had previously written the screenplays for the films *Saand Ki Aankh* (2019) and *Mubarakan*.[15](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/gurdaspur-boy-cat-series-punjab-8327810/) • [16](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/punjabi/cat/season-1/seasonreview/96032509.cms) He has said the subject was personal: the show touches on the insurgency of the 1980s and the drug menace around 2005, periods he grew up witnessing.[8](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/entertainment/writer-director-balwinder-singh-janjua-wants-to-tell-stories-of-the-soil-372960) • [1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/revenge-drama-cat-starring-randeep-hooda)\n\n**Crew and companies.** The series was produced by Movie Tunnel Productions in association with Jelly Bean Entertainment, with Janjua and Panchali Chakraverty as producers.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/revenge-drama-cat-starring-randeep-hooda) Janjua directed with Rupinder Chahal and Jimmy Singh, and wrote with Rupinder Chahal, Anil Rodhan, and Jimmy Singh; Netflix's 2022 announcement had listed Anutej Singh as a co-director.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/revenge-drama-cat-starring-randeep-hooda) • [17](https://newsindiatimes.com/cat-is-routine-crime-thriller/) [Arvind Krishna](https://www.edgepedia.org/arvind-krishna) was the cinematographer.[12](https://scroll.in/reel/1038963/cat-review-an-impressive-cast-provides-the-highs-in-show-about-punjabs-drug-problem)\n\n**Filming and language.** The series was shot over 90 days across the Majha region of Punjab, the border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran, in about 80 locations.[15](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/gurdaspur-boy-cat-series-punjab-8327810/) • [18](https://theprint.in/ground-reports/dunki-bollywood-films-punjab-in-cinema-no-yash-chopra-fantasy/1888756/) Janjua engaged 80 to 90 actors and crew members from Punjab and insisted the story be told in Punjabi in authentic dialect, saying a Punjabi man shown speaking Hindi on screen would have taken the essence out of the story.[15](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/gurdaspur-boy-cat-series-punjab-8327810/) Hooda, who had previously appeared on Netflix in the film *Extraction*, made his web series debut with CAT.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/revenge-drama-cat-starring-randeep-hooda) • [19](https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/randeep-hooda-makes-his-web-series-debut-with-cat-premiering-on-netflix-today/cid/1902765)\n\n## Reception\n\nThe Times of India gave the season 3.5 out of 5, calling it \"a riveting thriller that soars on the strength of strong performances\" while noting that midway through it becomes overly indulgent and sluggish.[16](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/punjabi/cat/season-1/seasonreview/96032509.cms) Rediff's Deepa Gahlot praised its authenticity in language, locations, production design, and costumes, but found the plot took too many detours and carried too much violence.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/cat-review/20221209.htm) Scroll credited the cast, singling out Suvinder Vicky's performance as Sehtab as the show's anchor.[12](https://scroll.in/reel/1038963/cat-review-an-impressive-cast-provides-the-highs-in-show-about-punjabs-drug-problem) On Rotten Tomatoes the season held an 88% Tomatometer score from two reviews.[13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/cat/s01) Viewers gave it an IMDb rating of 8.1 from about 14,000 users.[5](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/cat/season-1)\n\nAt the 2023 Hitlist OTT Awards the series won Best Supporting Actor, Male, for Suvinder Vicky, and was nominated for Best New Series and for Best Actor, Male, for Randeep Hooda; Hooda also received a News18 REEL Movie Award nomination for Best Actor and won Lead Actor of the Year at the Digital Reinvent Awards.[21](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22297578/awards/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Netflix Announces Its New Revenge Drama, 'CAT' Starring Randeep Hooda, About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/revenge-drama-cat-starring-randeep-hooda)\n2. [Randeep Hooda on CAT, getting his due, showing the 'real' Punjab, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/video/randeep-hooda-on-cat-getting-his-due-showing-the-real-punjab-exclusive-2307236-2022-12-09?t=%7Bseek_to_second_number%7D)\n3. [CAT, Netflix Official Site](https://qr.netflix.com/us/title/81281063)\n4. [CAT review: Randeep Hooda shines in this thrill-a-minute ride from the Punjabi heartland, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/cat-review-randeep-hooda-shines-in-thrill-a-minute-ride-from-punjabi-heartland-101670567338010.html)\n5. [CAT - Season 1 (2022), JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/cat/season-1)\n6. [Where to watch 'CAT (2022)' on Netflix, Flixboss](https://flixboss.com/series/cat-81281063)\n7. [Where to Watch Cat (2022) TV Show Online, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/show/cat)\n8. [Writer-director Balwinder Singh Janjua wants to tell stories of the soil, The Tribune](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/entertainment/writer-director-balwinder-singh-janjua-wants-to-tell-stories-of-the-soil-372960)\n9. [CAT - watch tv series streaming online, JustWatch UK](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/tv-series/cat)\n10. [CAT Review: Authentic, Praiseworthy, Rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/cat-review/20221209.htm)\n11. [Cat - Parents' Guide & TV Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/cat)\n12. ['CAT' review: An impressive cast provides the highs in show about Punjab's drug problem, Scroll.in](https://scroll.in/reel/1038963/cat-review-an-impressive-cast-provides-the-highs-in-show-about-punjabs-drug-problem)\n13. [CAT: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/cat/s01)\n14. [Counter Terrorism in the Indian Punjab: Assessing the 'Cat' System, Prem Mahadevan, Faultlines 18, SATP](https://satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume18/Article2.htm)\n15. [Meet the Gurdaspur man behind CAT, a Netflix series on the dark decade of Punjab, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/gurdaspur-boy-cat-series-punjab-8327810/)\n16. [Cat Season 1 Review: A riveting thriller that soars on the strength of strong performances, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/punjabi/cat/season-1/seasonreview/96032509.cms)\n17. [CAT is routine crime thriller, News India Times](https://newsindiatimes.com/cat-is-routine-crime-thriller/)\n18. [Dunki, Bollywood films, Punjab in cinema, ThePrint](https://theprint.in/ground-reports/dunki-bollywood-films-punjab-in-cinema-no-yash-chopra-fantasy/1888756/)\n19. [Randeep Hooda makes his web series debut with CAT, The Telegraph India](https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/randeep-hooda-makes-his-web-series-debut-with-cat-premiering-on-netflix-today/cid/1902765)\n20. [Cat Web Series: Release Date, OTT Platforms, Review, Star Cast, The Times of India (Etimes)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/punjabi/cat/webseriesshow/96031800.cms)\n21. [Cat (TV Series 2022- ) - Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22297578/awards/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › South and Southeast Asian serials › South Asian web serials › Premiered 2013 to 2024*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/cat-2022-tv-series", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/cat-2022-tv-series.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"CAT (2022 TV series)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/cat-2022-tv-series. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[CAT (2022 TV series)](https://www.edgepedia.org/cat-2022-tv-series)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/cat-2022-tv-series](https://www.edgepedia.org/cat-2022-tv-series). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"CAT (2022 TV series)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/cat-2022-tv-series. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "CAT is a 2022 Punjabi-language Netflix crime thriller, also called a Punjabi original series, created by Balwinder Singh Janjua; Randeep Hooda plays former police informant Gurnam Singh in eight episodes about Punjab's insurgency era and drug trade." }