PremiumBambai Meri Jaan review: Avinash Tiwary's gangster drama is like an old wine in a new bottle but Kay Kay Menon steals the show
Bambai Meri Jaan presents the same story that we have seen earlier without any new flavours.
Last Updated: 01.01 AM, Sep 14, 2023
Bambai Meri Jaan, a brand-new web series from Prime Video is directed by Shujaat Saudagar. There are ten episodes in the series. The script for the show is written by S. Hussain Zaidi, who is also the author of Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia.
As the book describes how Dawood's life in Mumbai, the formation of the Dawood gang, the idea of the 'supari' (paid assassin), and how they eventually became the most powerful mafias of the city, which was then called Bombay, the show describes the same but with a few hiccups.
Review:
Bambai Meri Jaan, the fictional crime series is a compelling story about a father and son who are two sides of the same coin. The classic, all-encompassing conflict between good and evil is explored throughout the series. The plot, which is set in the post-independence era, follows the life and ascent of a young man named Dara Kadri (played by Avinash Tiwary), who is divided between carrying on his father's heritage of law enforcement (played by Kay Kay Menon) and forging his own path into organized crime. Most of the story centers around Dara Kadri as he becomes one of India's most powerful dons and his upright father tries to keep him from turning to the dark side.
On one end, when the Pathan and Haji gang was ruling and their expansion of smuggling activities started growing, Dara was a relatively unknown figure at the time, but everything changed when he started taking over everything like a boss and then became the biggest don in Mumbai since he was so feared by everyone.
The story did not need to be showcased in 10 lengthy episodes. I think we have seen this Don story so many times that there is nothing new to get you excited in this one. You will hardly be able to stay glued to your screens because of how spread apart the episodes are. There are so many superfluous sequences that the show might have been condensed into six episodes.
The true star of the drama is Kay Kay Menon, who plays the father of Dara, Ismail Kadri. He portrays his role so convincingly that it is impossible to even consider another actor for the part. His blank faces, agitated glares, and a guy weary of warning his kids not to choose the wrong route are all expertly delivered.
Avinash Tiwary successfully adapts the role of a don owing to the depth of his personality and the way he delivers the dialogues. However, my expectations for him were too high after seeing his work in movies like Laila Majnu and Bulbbul.
Nivedita Bhattacharya was excellent throughout the fshow. She gave a captivating and convincing performance in her role. Kritika Kamra is a complete misfit for the character she is portraying in the show. A woman who is a don's sister and has been said to be one of the fierce ladies of that times, she fails to carry the power of character. Amyra Dastur's little screen time as Dara's love interest quickly loses your attention once you begin to evaluate her character.
Haji, played by Saurabh Sachdeva, is a perfect example of how to flawlessly portray a character on screen. Nawab Shah and Vivan Bhatena both did an outstanding job in their respective roles as Pathan and Abdullah.
The most interesting part of the film after performances has to be the background score. Midhun Chandran's cinematography also works in the favour of the show. Shujaat Saudagar's direction is as mediocre as it gets. He has shown no innovation in showcasing the story in a new light.
Verdict
Bambai Meri Jaan presents the same story that we have seen earlier without any new flavours. The show doesn't offer anything unique or different from other underworld stories we have watched earlier. However, the only thing that makes the show a one time watch is the performances.