Mirzapur is a treasure chest of characters so unique and so well developed, that writers and writing deserve distinguished credit. Take, for instance, the other protagonists, Bablu Pandit (Vikrant Massey), a bright student aspiring to be a civil servant whose bleak reality and circumstances take him down a completely different path or his brother Guddu Pandit (Ali Fazal), naive and impulsive, searching frantically for his shortcut to the top.

While the concept of Mafias dealing drugs and arms isn't unheard of, Amazon's take on it is certainly something to behold in highest of regards. The show is based in a small town Mirzapur where Akhanda Tripathi's (Pankaj Tripathi) realm reigns supreme. While his "business" and the empire passed down from generations are flourishing, the tug of power among him, his impulsive son Munna Tripathi (Divyendu Sharma) and his wife Beena Tripathi (Rasika Dugal) make for interesting drama. But they are not the only ones hogging the entire screentime.

The opening scene alone is enough to set the tone of the show boasting a desolate society with no consequences for the powerful and no relief for the ordinary. From Infidelity to brutal killings to family rivalries, the show doesn't shy away from gory. Death scenes are too real and cruelty is appalling. performances are fierce and it's easy to forget the characters aren't actual residents of Mirzapur but actors.

It's impossible not to fall in love with every minute of this show.

This show, unlike any other Alt Balaji's asinine titles, comes with some actual artistic values and barely passable storylines. The show presents ideas of sexual and emotional struggles.

Each episode is based around consequences of emotional repression and stigmatization of sex. Focus is on characters based in small rural towns, and themes dealt by the show range anywhere from concealing sexual orientation to breaking free of forced marriages. Writing is mediocre, so is the direction but some good performances can be found here and there.

Fortunately, the erotic scenes are not a complete disaster and the show remains consistent to the theme. Each plot-line is different but grapples with way too many ideas at once. Watch at your own discretion.

9 times out of ten, I am left in awe when I see Manoj Bajpai on screen but this is one of those times where even his profound skill set struggles to save a weak script. Srikant (Manoj Bajpai) works for TASC, a secret agency that proactively predicts and stops terrorist activities. Thanks to a job that keeps him on the toes, his personal life is on the verge of being a colossal wreck. Grappling with family and work, 'The family man' often finds himself in perilous yet humorous quandaries.

The cast is well-curated and performances are convincing. While the plot isn't edge-of-the-seat gripping, it is engaging enough to compel the viewer into finding out what happens next. The writing might have benefited from a better focus on a natural dialect rather than trying to push as many cuss words as possible in a scene.

With some masterpieces like 'Mirzapur', 'Made in heaven' under its belt, Amazon runs a bit short this time to uphold its standards and produces a show that seems a little too familiar with "Pakistani terrorists" out to obliterate India. Give it a go, primarily, for some great on-screen performances.

Sentimental, cheesy and very Bollywood – ‘The forgotten army’ attempts to remind us of the invaluable contribution of the INA in India’s freedom struggle and its now forgotten history. The show is flooded with unapologetically desi emotions, drama and rather poor dialogue choices. Patriotism often feels forced than natural and over-the-top sentiments take center stage much more than facts and figures.

Two timelines run parallel in the show and the story have been told primarily from the perspective of Lieutenant Sodhi, who is our ‘hero’ of this 5-part series. The show’s interesting approach to unfold the story is the only thing minutely compelling about it. Direction is sharp and incidents seem well researched but the whole experience is tainted heavily by superficial one-liners.

One good thing I could spot was the inclusion of the footage of actual INA gatherings being addressed by Netaji. If you take liking for movies like ‘Mission Mangal’ – mawkish, cloy and brim filled with clichés, then you won’t mind this show either.