Ek Thi Begum (Web series) review :
One of the best web series I've seen in a long time, Ek Thi Begum (Marathi/ Hindi) is aapla own version of Kill Bill (2003) (and I refer to the Tarantino classic here and not the Doordarshan wala Marathi program. Haha!).
Ashraf Bhatkar (Anuja Sathe) seeks revenge for the death of her gangster hubby Zaheer (Ankit Mohan) by a rival gang controlled by a Dawood styled Don (Ajay Gehi) operating out of Dubai.
From a loving docile homemaker to a scheming bar dancer, Ashraf's transformation makes for an exciting watch and though fourteen episodes long, Ek Thi Begum doesn't appear stretched at any point of time.
The performances are top class. Anuja Sathe shines in the lead role as Ashraf and her alter ego Sapna. She not only looks gorgeous but is also a super fine actor. Ankit Mohan leaves a solid impression even in a small role. The rest of supporing cast - Chinmay Mandlekar, Santosh Juvekar, Abhijeet Chavan and Rajendra Shisatkar- is commendable as well.
The 80s setting is accurately captured right from the movie screening in a chawl to the calendar on the wall; the attention to detail is just perfect. Director Sachin Darekar shows flair for gangsta genre with right blend of commercial elements and realism.
I normally refrain from reviewing web series but making an exception for EK Thi Begum as it was truly an enjoyable experience for me. The ending leaves ample scope for a sequel. Looking forward to it!!
Regards,
Sumeet Nadkarni
