Bambai Meri Jaan review: Gangster movies and series are abound with their stories often finding a place on the screen, whether the context truly calls for it or not. When an idea becomes overly saturated, the challenge lies in setting your story apart. This is where the combination of a compelling narrative and outstanding performances can truly shine. Bambai Meri Jaan is a series that follows the familiar path but distinguishes itself through exceptional acting. Bambai Meri Jaan Director Shujaat Saudagar Reveals How COVID-19 Was a Major Challenge During the Making of Series.

Ismail Kadri (Kay Kay Menon) is a law-abiding cop who wants to put an end to the empire of Haji (Saurabh Sachdeva) by collecting evidence. But Haji is too big a name to crumble so easily. He spins a tale and Ismail loses his job. Out of desperation, Ismail joins Haji. All this while he failed to notice how his own son was on his way to becoming the next don of Bambai (now Mumbai). Thus began the journey of Dara (Avinash Tiwary) who started as a scammer on the streets to  be the 'Bhai' of Mumbai.

Bambai Meri Jaan stays true to the decade it is focusing on - the '80s. The setup, the cars, the people, everything has the distinct flavour of the decade. It just unfolds as a story of gangsters trying to own Mumbai without over-glorifying anyone. Even when Chhota Babban (Aditya Rawal) makes tall claims, he is shown as a person who overestimates his own strength and the situation.

What could have been a deterrent works well for the series. Bambai Meri Jaan puts together every movie of Amitabh Bachchan from the '70s where he played a ruffian or a gangster. A budding gangster who goes from extorting money from the local businesses in the name of protection to winning every illicit business of the city, the deep divide behind a morally sound father and a morally corrupt son, an honest cop buckling under pressure from a ganglord... you name it and the series has it. Only this time, it is more real and easily believable.

The characters have been very soundly written. Ismail is in perpetual angst as he witnesses his life and his children's lives spiraling down. He can't even do much about it and it is aptly depicted. The kids' indifference toward their father's views, beliefs and pains is enacted not verbalised which makes for an amazing watch.

Perhaps to keep cliches from getting dismissed, the series picks up pace only after the third episode. Because after a while, the predictability of the story threatens to wane your interest. Also, the 10-episode runtime is unnecessary. The same story can be wrapped up in 7-8 episodes which could have also spiked the pace and would have peaked interest for the ending.

Watch the trailer of Bambai Meri Jaan

It's a pure delight to watch Kay Kay Menon on screen. It's a fact that he is a brilliant actor but to witness that on screen is always an enriching experience. More than his dialogues, his silences and shifty pain and guilt-filled eyes do the maximum talking. Avinash Tiwary's Dara is not a swashbuckling cigar-smoking Don. He is reticent, and reserved and speaks only when he needs to. Rest everything is portrayed through his mannerisms. Aditya Rawal's confidence is infectious. Kritika Kamra is good and so is the rest of the cast. Bambai Meri Jaan: Kritika Kamra Excited To Play Female Gangster in Amazon Prime Series, Finds it Challenging.

Special mention for Saurabh Sachdeva. He has been doing quite a few series lately and doing a fab job at it. As Haji, he is the silent menace nobody saw coming!

Final Thoughts

Bambai Meri Jaan should be on your watchlist this weekend especially because it transports you to a Mumbai that reeks of bullets, conspiracies and betrayal. Never mind the cliches! Catch the series on Amazon Prime.

 

Rating:3.5

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2023 03:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).