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Bambai Meri Jaan Review: 'Bambai Meri Jaan' is another addition to retelling the saga of the underworld in Mumbai which has been showcased in several Bollywood projects. The web series narrates the story of Dara Kadri, a fearless gangster of Mumbai, through his father, Ismail Kadri's perspective. Set in the post-independence era, Ismail, an ex-cop, is forced to join the gangster, Haji, which influences Dara's life. Starring Avinash Tiwary, Kay Kay Menon, Kritika Kamra, Nivedita Bhattacharya, Saurabh Sachdeva, Vivan Bhathena, Shiv Panditt and Amyra Dastur, it is streaming on Prime Video.

What works for Bambai Meri Jaan:

'Bambai Meri Jaan' is a story about characters with grey shades but do not try to justify their deeds. The series perfectly dramas the line between right and wrong by narrating the story through Ismail Kadri's point of view, who is against his son's decision to enter into the world of the underworld. This 10-episode series takes its time to establish the world of gangsters and introduce the characters but it does not stretch the plot. After building its world of the underworld in the first episode, 'Bambai Meri Jaan' picks up the pace in the second episode and becomes more serious. Each character has been given depth and their own time to shine.

Watch the official trailer of 'Bambai Meri Jaan' attached below:

The background score does a fine job of moving the story forward and perfectly shows Dara's transition from being a rebellious teenager to a local goon to becoming the king of the underworld. The series does not shy away from showing the brutality which can be tough to watch but keeps the scenes close to reality.

The father-son dynamic in 'Bambai Meri Jaan' has been showcased brilliantly as we see two different perspectives of the same situation, indicating the clash in the ideologies of Ismail and his Dara. The helplessness and agony of Ismail and his wife Sakina, as they watch their children dive into the criminal world, has been perfectly portrayed. Dara and his gang's transition into becoming the king of the underworld is also seamless.

What does not work:

'Bambai Meri Jaan' becomes another project on the gangsters as it does not surprise you despite being near-perfect. This tried and tested series does not show you anything which has not been portrayed before in any projects related to gangsters. Even though the characters' journies are perfectly paced, you might feel the plot getting stretched and boring in between. The 10-episode series could have easily been summed into eight episodes.

Performances:

Avinash Tiwary has proved his versatility as an actor again in 'Bambai Meri Jaan' as his portrayal of Dara Kadri is perfect. He gets into the skin of his character as he brilliantly shows Dara's transformation from a notorious youngster to becoming the mafia king. From his expressions to his body language, Avinash embodies Dara Kadri in every aspect. He flawlessly expresses Dara's confidence, anger and anguish and shines throughout the series.

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Kay Kay Menon steals the show with his powerful on-screen presence as he plays the role of Dara's father, Ismail Kadri. He impeccably depicts Ismail's dilemma and inner conflict as he chooses the path he is against to begin with. His transition from being a confident cop to a helpless man trying to survive with his family is heartbreaking to watch. Kay Kay Menon excellently shows his misery as he watches his children take the path of destruction.

Kritika Kamra as Habiba is a delight to watch and she successfully leaves her own mark amid other brilliant performers. As Habiba goes from a happy-go-lucky girl to a strong strong-headed woman with vengeance in her mind, Kritika beautifully shows those emotions with her performance. Nivedita Bhattacharya as Sakina puts forth an earnest performance and depicts her characters's sorrows and helplessness with ease. Vivan Bhathena and Saurabh Sachdeva shine with their powerful on-screen presence and are extremely charming in their scenes. Jitin Gulati and Shiv Panditt did a commendable job and stood out in their respective scenes.

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Final Thoughts:

'Bambai Meri Jaan' is a treat to watch if you are a fan of a story about the underworld. The show might test your patience with 10 episodes and can be a tough watch due to brutal scenes. But the brilliant performances in the series will hold your attention and keep you on the edge of your seat.