Rangbaaz Review

'Rangbaaz' showcases in vivid detail, the life and times of UP criminal, Shree Prakash Shukla (changed to Shiv Prakash Shukla in the series), laying bare the grisly specifics of his short life, in nine, finely-nuanced episodes.

As the facts of Shukla’s life of crime and murder tumble out into the public domain, web audiences watch in horror and fascination, absorbing the shocking true story of his meteoric rise in the world of crime, his stunning count of twenty cold-blooded murders in the span of a few years and his close association with top politicians of the country. It is undoubtedly a fascinating tale.

'Rangbaaz' chronicles the transformation in minute detail, taking us along in the journey of the makeover of a gauche young Shiv Prakash into the criminal Shukla, the most wanted man in India. His metamorphosis is at once stark and spectacular. We watch in mesmeric enthrallment, as the shy and wary young student becomes the feared criminal who lives life to the beats of his self-composed gangsta rap. Once initiated into the world of crime, Shukla is unstoppable. He dodges the clueless UP police with calm disdain, plans murders with cold-blooded nonchalance and shoots his victims dead with practiced ease. As the heady power of the crime world and the unrelenting clout of the gun goes to his head, he takes an almost gleeful delight in pumping bullets into his victims. One or two shots are never enough for our trigger-happy protagonist – it has to be a full round, pumped into the almost lifeless body of his target.

Rangbaaz is a masterfully made crime drama, the after-effects of which will stay with you, long after you’ve finished watching the show. The unnerving story of a good guy gone bad will wrench your heart and twist it with its pathos-laden undertones, until you feel a numbing pain in your chest for the promising life lost to a disturbingly sinister criminal system. On the surface, Rangbaaz is simply a tale of the rise and fall of a dreaded UP criminal. But underneath its seeming simplicity lie manifold layers of harsh reality – the evil absolutes of the ominous politician-police-criminal nexus that is widespread in the country. It is prevalent as much in 2018 as it was in 1998, the year Shiv Prakash Shukla met his maker.

And now, it’s time to write an ode to Saqib Saleem’s outstanding performance. To say that this is the actor’s best performance till date would be disgustingly underwhelming. He is terrific as Shiv Prakash, getting under the skin of the dead gangster’s character with flawless perfection. He lends credence to his portrayal of Shukla, getting right each nuance, as also the dialect and mannerisms, with consummate precision. His is a crisp, bracing performance, and the glittering crest of the show.

Ranvir Shorey and Ravi Kishan give evidence of the vast reserves of talent that reside within them. Both have given measured performances, without a hint of unnecessary histrionics sullying the gravity of their roles. It is Tigmanshu Dhulia, however, who has caught our fancy with his brilliant portrayal of the cunning Ram Shankar Tiwari. The man is a marvel really.

Watch 'Rangbaaz' for Saleem’s spectacular acting, for its superb narration and for the gutsy gangster who is no more, but who’s left behind a tale that is the stuff of legends. Watch Rangbaaz, period.