Sacred Games Season 1 (Netflix)

Series Review 

I binged on this one. I do not remember watching any other series with such avidness after Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. Not only was I hooked on to the format, I was drawn in by the fact that it was so totally Indian.

I am not a lover of violence and gore yet there was something about this riveting fast paced drama showcasing the underworld. 

Though this is a man's world run by dons like Ganesh Gaitonde (played superbly by Nawazuddin Siddiqui), police officers like Parulkar (played capably by Neeraj Kabi), and the protagonist Sartaj Singh, (played by Saif Ali Khan) and assassins like Malcom Murad (played by Luke Kenny), what stands out are the women in the series. They are strong women with a mind of their own. Kukoo, (wonderfully portrayed by Kubra Sait)  stands out as the beautiful dancer who brings magic into Gaitonde's life. This is the first time I have seen a transgender with a meaty role. Anjali Mathur from RAW played effortlessly by Radhika Apte shows a fearless woman while Gaitonde's wife played by Rajshree Deshpande is feisty. 

Though characters like Constable Katekar, Bunty and Nayanika have existed they will be sorely missed.

The movie does not have a linear progression and that is one of the reasons for the Series doing well. There are so many stories left unsaid that the next season is awaited eagerly. I am hoping to see a more mature Sartaj Singh as he has to contend with Parulkar, Gaitonde and Guru ji (Pankaj Tripathi was as usual superb).

The novel by Vikram Chandra does provide the foundation but the building takes on its own form and as a series this will hopefully work well.

Newton

Movie Review (Hindi)

Yes, I am really glad that this is the movie nominated for the Oscars from India. I am also really surprised that such a good film came into being!! We all know that the so called Indian Democracy is falling apart at the seams. The total disintegration of that democracy is picturised beautifully in the elections held at the Dandakaranya forests in Chattisgarh. This area has seen a lot of violence between the security forces and the Maoists. No wonder then that the people of this region couldn't care less about elections.

When well meaning public servants want to do a good job and go about their duties, they face life threatening obstacles, not by the so-called enemy but by people apparently on our side. One such public servant is Nutan Kumar turned Newton Kumar, who has questions which no one wants to answer. The casting couldn't have been better. Along with Rajkumar Rao as Newton, we have such stalwarts as Raghubir Yadav and Pankaj Tripathi.

I felt like an invisible character moving around with the motley group of superbly etched characters each outdoing the other in enacting their roles. It has the feel of a docu-drama. The screenplay and dialogue simply pushed up the bar of the movie. 

Amit Masurkar, thank you for reinstating my faith in Indian cinema. Looking forward to more such gems...