A lackluster descent into a run-of-the-mill crime drama

Disney+Hotstar’s ‘Sultan of Delhi’ review: In the age of web series, where content creators are exploring fresh narratives and innovative storytelling, predictable plots, unnecessary sensationalism and gangster dramas are becoming increasingly popular. Attraction has reached saturation point. Director Milan Luthria, who is known for directing powerful films like “Once Upon a Time in Mumbai”, has raised expectations with his series “Sultan of Delhi”, which is based on Arnab Ray’s book. Ta. But this ambitious project relies too heavily on style over substance and falls short of delivering a compelling story. Even the charismatic Tahir Raj Bhasin cannot save this muddled storytelling.

• Cast: Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anjum Sharma, Vinay Pathak, Mouni Roy, Harleen Sethi, Anupriya Goenka, Mehreen Pirzada, Nishant Dahiya

• Director: Milan Luthria

The Sultan of Delhi’s Conspiracy

Co-directed by Milan Luthria and Suparn S. Verma, ‘Sultan of Delhi’ initially teased the audience with the promise of an engaging storyline. The series begins with a young Arjun (Ricky Patel) who, along with his father (Vijay Anand), survives the brutal Partition massacre and lands in Delhi. However, his subsequent ten years seem to have passed in the blink of an eye, giving us a superficial glimpse of Arjun’s journey of survival and transformation into an auto mechanic. Tahir Raj Bhasin takes to the stage as a grown-up Arjun, but there is still a lot to look forward to as the story unfolds.

The story takes a turn when Arjun gets involved with Jagan Seth (Vinay Pathak) and begins his journey to become a powerful leader. However, the reasons behind his actions remain unexplained, including an absurd illegal ammunition deal that resulted in the unnecessary death of a police officer. A lack of depth in character motivations and a tendency to gloss over important story elements are recurring issues.

Arjun’s antagonist Rajinder Pratap Singh (Nishant Dahiya) comes across as an aristocratic brat with unresolved father issues. He is supported by Shankari (Anupriya Goenka), a manipulative character who seems hastily written. Dressed in her bizarre and revealing costumes, she remains an enigmatic character in the series who is more interested in style than substance.

delhi sultan review

In ‘Sultan of Delhi’, Mouni Roy appears as a cabaret dancer and a completely unnecessary number appears in the middle of the series. This leads to a ridiculous bank robbery scene, further emphasizing the show’s departure from meaningful storytelling. At times, the series shows a frustrated sense of the times and politics, perpetuating stereotypes that drive the plot. The character of film director Roy Babu, whose activities involve bank robberies in the name of rebellion, is a classic example.

Tahir Raj Bhasin’s talent is underutilized in a story that fails to provide room for character growth amidst an uninspired storyline. Each character is still limited to broad, typical roles and lacks depth. The lack of investment in the setting and characters makes it difficult to engage with the series over its nine episodes. The disappointing adaptation tries to make up for that, but falls short of its overwhelming conclusion.

“Sultan of Delhi” is a period crime drama set in the turbulent post-Partition era. It aims to be an epic depiction of loyalty, ambition and betrayal in the early days of free India, but Execution falls short. The series plods through gunfights, bromance, and toxic masculinity galore, but it struggles to create a convincing depiction of an authentic setting and era.

The show’s depiction of Delhi, Calcutta, and political life in the 1960s lacks authenticity. The characters live in vast mansions that feel disconnected from reality, and the depictions of these cities bear little resemblance to their historical counterparts. Stories often fail to explore the rich layers of the original, resulting in empty storylines.