With the advent of shows like Sacred Games and Mirzapur, an entire internet generation seemed to have been infected with a newfound interest in gangster stories, only this time closer to home. What made the shows and other preceding movies like Gangs of Wasseypur successful was the essence of vernacular and the colloquialism the remoter audience could relate to.
Following a close trail to the preceding examples, Bhav Dhulia (director) and Siddharth Mishra (writer), came up with Rangbaaz, a show based on real-life figures from the rustic lands of Northern India. The show derives its premise from the life of Shiv Prakash Shukla, a young lad from Gorakhpur, in the 90s, who turned the later years of his life into being infamous and feared as a political goon.
His name has been changed to Shri Prakash Shukla, probably because the makers weren’t keen on omitting the real-life connotation the audience could cling onto. The writer impressively sketches out a fine outline of the turbulent political upheavals during the 1990s.
The show although doesn’t have something new to cater about the political hooliganism present in the cow belt region of India, it conveniently keeps away from stooping to the low life dialects one usually associates them with. It instead focuses more on the metamorphosis of a naive yet dedicated college student into a political gangster. This transition is at once eerie, unsettling and prominent. It doesn’t take much time for Saqib Saleem to turn into a scary goon from a wary UPSC aspirant. We are taken into intimidation despite Saleem’s charming boyish face.
Tigmanshu Dhulia in the role of a major political figure, Ram Shankar Tiwari carries massive meat of a role by skillfully executing the thirst and conniving nature of a politician is looking to prey on the credulity of young, unsuspecting men to do their dirty job.
Shukla changed his sides from Tiwari to Chandra Bhan Singh over the years, the latter allowing him to consolidate his independent hold in political affairs. Amidst all his criminalities, Shukla manages to have an affair with a hotel receptionist, played by Aahana Kumra. She doesn’t have much role to play other than being the seductress who manages to somewhat tame Shukla’s bloodthirsty whims.
The show is a successful attempt at unravelling the murky waters on which many political affairs take place, especially so the state elections that take place in the cow belt region, the criminal manipulation, the intimidation and the preying on vulnerabilities of unsuspecting youth.
The star cast does its job without leaving much scope for us to complain. Saqib Saleem and Tigmanshu Dhulia deserve a special mention in this section reaching bars with their performances. Ranvir Shorey, Ravi Kishan and Aahana Kumra don’t fall far behind.
The narration is quite neat where the story seamlessly switches from past to present and vice versa. Certain crucial scenes have been given meticulous attention to through direction, which an otherwise inept director would have made a miss at; especially the part that primarily focuses on Shukla’s transformation.
All in all, the show makes for a good watch only if you don’t instantly put forward expectation’s kin to that of Sacred Games. Let Rangbaaz grow on you at its own pace.
If you haven’t watched any of the seasons yet, watch Rangbaaz Phirse Review Online.