Stir up hornet’s nest: My quick take on Ali Zafar’s “Tandav”.
The moment I finished watching this latest web series (Available on Amazon), my first reaction was ‘the makers are either stupid or too clever to make this series’ which is loaded with scenes/dialogs which are ought to hurt many. Hope this is not a ploy to gain “unwanted” popularity as they say “Naam Nahi Hua to kya, badnaam hi Sahi”.
This is a political drama that moves around the corridors of power in North and south blocks, filled with dynasty politics (widow mother and incompetent son !!!), deceit, political ambitions, sex, illicit relationships, corrupt administration, over corrupt cops, political murders, fake news network, overzealous anti-establishment news media, tukde tukde, and aazadi gang, JNU campus (here it is re-christened as VNU) and even Farmers protest in the capital. In short, it was a lame attempt by Sultan, Tiger & Bharat’s director Ali Abbas Zafar to ape BBC series “House of cards”, in the process ended up stirring up hornet’s nest and will be facing flak of many now, and he will end up doing Tandav now.
On the positives of the series, the production quality is as glossy as Ali Abbas Zafar’s earlier big-budget movies, location (I think its Pataudi palace) is simply breath-taking, the costumes and attires of politicians is impressive, I wish all our politicians ear such designer wares, on performances front, our Gutthi (Sunil Grover) is simply outstanding in a cold-blooded henchman’s role which is diametrically opposite to onscreen image – Take a bow Sunil Grover, Saif Ali Khan looks like relishing greyish characters now ever since he essayed Udaybhan’s character in Tanhaji, Dimple Kapadia to takes forward her performance where she left us in Nolan’s tenet, rest all are just fillers in the plot (even though they are well-established actors)
Otherwise, the plot and premise of the movie are disappointing, instead of National politics this plot would have appealed more if it was set at ZP (Zilla Parishad) level, too may parallel tracks like Kisan Andolan, JNU agitation, Students politics, Right vs left ideology/s, Arab spring type social media campaign might have deprived the maker to deliver a hard-hitting political thriller. Maybe it was not Ali Zafar’s cup of tea to direct a web series without ‘Bhaijaan’. This is what will happen when like Johors, Chopras will get into directing a web series (Just imagine KJo directing Ganesh Gaitonde in Sacred Games 😉). Instead of making a “Kissa Kursi ka” director has ended up making a “Kissa kisses ka” filling the series with too many lip locks.
Avoid it if you can or watch Manav Kaul’s “Nail Polish” which is available on Zee5 platform.
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