Bambai Meri Jaan

This isnt the first attempt at narrating the story of the Mumbai Underworld. Also like all the previous efforts this one tries hard to glorify, glamorise, and even justify the famous Dcompany from even before its inception. The casting was good, although M. Surve's character was either made to look like a joker or it was just poor direction. One way or the other the feared M. Surve was a force to reckon in real life while the one presented here was really week and almost comical. The Shining knight as expected and delivered was KK Menon. The man simply wears the skin he is given and hardly ever fails to make you believe whatever it is that he intends to. D's Daddy stole the show for me cause amidst all the action and drama I was looking forward to his next scenes. Mr. Tiwary has truly stepped forward and has tried to own the character which so many others before him have only managed to stereotype. One of the better versions of D I admit to have seen over the years.

Its definitely engaging and worth a watch, but could have been so much more if the plot were not twisted to this extent. Zaidi's fascination with D and his fairy tales are not new to the audience who is going to watch this genre and subject. Nevertheless as someone grown up it the 70's and 80's it always feels intoxicating to watch what we left behind.

Directed by Shujaat Saudagar, Bambai Meri Jaan is a 10 episodes web series with 30-50 minutes running time.

It depicts the life span of Dara Kadri (Avinash Tiwary), the D Company founder, from his childhood days till he leaves for Dubai to escape his arrest warrant by Mumbai Police.

Ismail Kadri (Kay Kay Menon), an honest and devout Mumbai cop turned gangster Haji's (Saurabh Sachdeva) accomplice turned spiritual recluse, plays his father and narrator of the series.

Kay Kay has a crucial role and he has played it brilliantly, mostly with stoic silence and one liners. His acting in the series is beautifully layered and perhaps the best of his acting career!!

The web series has multiple important characters and all have been casted wonderfully and enacted effectively. In fact their combined acting prowess has surpassed the storyline and script!

The entire series is embedded with Mumbaiya expletives and at one point the blood and gore becomes too much to handle.

Overall, the series is familiar, engaging, entertaining and well edited with top class production design.

In the tumultuous backdrop of 1965 Bombay, "Bambai Meri Jaan" unravels a gripping narrative of Ismail Kadri, a principled police officer and devoted family man. Tasked with exposing the dark alliance between underworld kingpins Haji and Pathan, Ismail's unwavering integrity faces relentless challenges. Simultaneously, he grapples with domestic turmoil, particularly disciplining his son, Dara. An unexpected crisis ensues when Ismail's brother-in-law accidentally kills a fellow officer, leading to Ismail's expulsion from the police force.

Struggling to provide for his family post-dismissal, the weight of poverty begins to shape Dara's perspective. Haji tightens his grip on Ismail, eventually forming a trio of criminal overlords with Anna. Fast forward to 1977, and Dara emerges as a formidable rival, sparking a personal feud with the Pathan gang that escalates into a blood-soaked vendetta.

Dara's pursuit of vengeance leads to alliances with Dubai Sheikhs, giving birth to the notorious D-Company. As his empire expands, family tensions rise, and a revenge-fueled Pathan threatens to dismantle everything. A ruthless war unfolds, resulting in brutal showdowns, and Dara's ultimate sacrifice - leaving his family under the care of his sister, Habiba, as he ventures into an uncertain future in Dubai. "Bambai Meri Jaan" is an unrelenting journey through Mumbai's underbelly, where loyalty, betrayal, and revenge shape destinies, birthing the empire.

Within this series, readers acquainted with Hussain Zaidi's literary world will find a vivid tapestry of the early 80s and 90s in Bombay. It's as though the show intricately weaves a cinematic canvas that paints the real-life underworld era, capturing incidents like money extortion and Rolex watch scams that were indelible parts of the city's history during that tumultuous period.

While Kay Kay Menon's performance is a brilliant star in its own right, it's Avinash Tiwary who emerges as the true guiding light. With finesse, he seizes control of the script and delivers a performance that resonates profoundly, leaving an indelible mark on the viewer's psyche.

Aditya Rawal's contribution to the series is nothing short of awe-inspiring, earning him a place of honor. His portrayal is like a multi-layered tapestry, adding depth and complexity to the narrative with his extraordinary acting prowess. Rawal's presence in the show is akin to a shining beacon in the night, guiding the audience through this mesmerizing journey.

The tempo, acting talent of the stars were all very good. Feel like giving 7+ rating. But the entire film is in darkness, can't understand why. We miss out on some expressions of artsts, the surrounding etc. But for certain night sequences, there was no necessity for it to be so dark. But for the storyline and direction, we would have skipped the series.

We are a big fan of KAYKAY and he did complete justice. Liked how Dara emerged and his loyalists along.

It was a period series fine, but electricity had come by then, right? Then why the petromax light effect in most part of the film? The flow did slowdown several times, but that was still fine in a 10 episode series. Please next time, we need lights.