Diving into the show, I expected a true reflection of Hussain Zaidi's masterful narrative from 'Dongri to Dubai'. However, the series failed to capture the raw essence of the book, often getting lost amidst unnecessary jazz music, missing powerful dialogues, and overly polished Hindi dialogues. The authenticity was further compromised with excessively designed sets. I mean where's the Mumbaiya-Dongri tone and lingo??? While I respect the creators' vision, at the same time I can't help but imagine the depth and rawness Anurag Kashyap could have instilled into the narrative. I mean, just think about Black Friday or Gangs of Wasseypur. The story deserved more justice - a genuine portrayal in its purest, unembellished raw form.
Despite a cast brimming with potential, especially the likes of Kay Kay Menon, the series seldom landed a memorable punchline. It's almost painful to recall how Avinash Tiwary's scene with Haji, revolving around 'darr' and 'ijjat', missed the mark. Such moments had all the ingredients for impactful dialogue, but execution fell short. It's hard to lay the blame on the actors.
Summing it up, while I can dive into numerous examples, it's disheartening to think that those unfamiliar with Zaidi's work will miss out on what could have been a magnum opus rendition of Dawood's story; which will likely never be made now. Perhaps my expectations are too high, but at least, engaging Kashyap or someone like him for raw insights might have bridged this chasm of lost potential.
Despite a cast brimming with potential, especially the likes of Kay Kay Menon, the series seldom landed a memorable punchline. It's almost painful to recall how Avinash Tiwary's scene with Haji, revolving around 'darr' and 'ijjat', missed the mark. Such moments had all the ingredients for impactful dialogue, but execution fell short. It's hard to lay the blame on the actors.
Summing it up, while I can dive into numerous examples, it's disheartening to think that those unfamiliar with Zaidi's work will miss out on what could have been a magnum opus rendition of Dawood's story; which will likely never be made now. Perhaps my expectations are too high, but at least, engaging Kashyap or someone like him for raw insights might have bridged this chasm of lost potential.