Mirzapur is an action crime-drama web series created by Puneet Krishna and Karan Anshuman. It is a series on Amazon Prime Video produced by Excel Entertainment. And, it is Amazon Prime Video’s third fiction Indian Original after Inside Edge (2018) and Breathe (2018). The series is available on Amazon Prime Video for streaming.
The series sets in the titular city Mirzapur, the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. It starts with Akhandanand Tripathi AKA Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi), the uncrowned king of Mirzapur, who runs a drugs and arms business, under the guise of a carpet manufacturing company. Things start going wrong when Kaleen Bhaiya’s only son Munna (Divyendu Sharma), accidentally shoots a groom with celebratory gunfire at a wedding procession. The family of the dead groom hires Ramakant Pandit (Rajesh Tailang), a fearless and idealist lawyer. Ramakant is also a family man, and a father to 3 children – Guddu (Ali Fazal), Bablu (Vikrant Massey), and Dimpy (Harshita Gaur). When Munna tries to clear his mess by threatening Ramakant Pandit and his family, it ignites a series of destructive events entangling the lives of these two families.
Undoubtedly, the series is one of the daring and most violent ones coming out of India. The narrative of the series is very gripping. Normally, for a series, it takes at least 3 to 4 episodes, to lay the plot and build the characters, and then it picks up the pace. But, this one is a surprising exception. From the very first episode, it grabs the attention of the viewers and keeps the momentum elevating with every episode. In some places, the series seems choppy, but the twists and turns work well to keep it on track. Towards, the finale episode of this season, the stakes get very high, and leaves you craving for more. Towards the end, the series gives you everything you wanted but also leaves many open questions, which will be answered in Season 2. And, the series has been renewed for a second season and is scheduled for 23 October 2020 premiere.
The content of the series very endearing and unapologetic, and never holds back in showing what it is. The violence and brutality in the series are creative and at the next level, which may be disturbing for some viewers. Like Gangs of Wasseypur, the violence in this series is very raw and mostly done with practical effects, but in some places, it seems too much or unnecessary.
The casting of the series is just perfect. There is not a single dull moment concerning the performances. All the lead and supporting performances in the series are worth appreciating. All the characters in this series are grounded and compelling. Especially, Pankaj Tripathi as Kaleen Bhaiya, who plays the kingpin of Mirzapur, is the whole and soul of the series. He steals every scene he is in. His body language, his eyes, his dialogue delivery, his commanding screen presence, and his command over the local language makes it one of the best gangster/negative characters ever played on screen. Previously, he did a similar and solid gangster role in Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), where he made his mark, but that was the supporting role. So, this series pays him his long-pending dues, which he always deserved.
Verdict : The series is a must-watch for witnessing the next level of action crime-drama genre.
Rating : 4.2/5
Check the trailer here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNeGF-PvRHY
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