Review: Bandish Bandits (Amazon Prime)

If you know anything about me, then you know that I’m too picky for my own good. I invest wisely and selectively into substantial content. I don’t binge either (loyal to discipline) but when I do, it is absolutely incredible content. So…BANDISH BANDITS!!!! Yes, all the caps and exclamatory remarks are needed for this one. The show is literally everything I love packed into one thing.

Culture + Music + Mind blowing actors + Mesmerizing cinematography + Breathtaking soundtrack + Great screenplay + Brilliant direction = Bandish Bandits

Radhe, a 22-year-old training in classical music, is a musical prodigy who ends up encountering Tamanna, a Youtube pop artist. Their music sets them worlds apart yet, love finds its way through nooks and crannies. The narrative follows their attempt to take on the personal and familial challenges whilst trying to preserve their relationship.

The show bridges the gap between the traditional and contemporary culture of India by blending these contrasting aspects into one yet, it never takes away from their individual significance.

One of the best parts of the show is that even though the show is made to look like it revolves around its protagonists, it doesn’t. The narrative puts equal consideration into every character and their own unique stories. The scripting is well-crafted in authenticity for each persona instead of sideline-treatment with cliché tropes. The show bridges the gap between the traditional and contemporary culture of India by blending these contrasting aspects into one yet, it never takes away from their individual significance. It’s one story in different faces and different places; of love, music and family.

The careful explanation of music makes it easier to flow with the narrative and is the only respectful way to go about treating the soulful art form of music.

The story is set in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, which is genuinely one of the most scenic places in India. With the narrow streets and the majority of shots focusing on the life indoors, the cinematography could have failed to take place into context completely. Fortunately for our aesthetic-deprived eyes, it doesn’t. Instead, the shots beautifully capture the culture and essence of Rajasthan, from the overhead palace shots to the carpet decorated verandas. Being a musical show, the songs feature a fusion of the traditional and contemporary as well as purely classical music, with the particular narrative focus upon the rasas. The careful explanation of music makes it easier to flow with the narrative and is the only respectful way to go about treating the soulful art form of music. Anand Tiwari’s direction is off the charts because it gets real, especially in the scenes involving domestic issues. His approach carefully captures the narrative’s complexity as it moves in multiple directions without losing the central focus on the protagonists.

The cast is the most brilliant ensemble the world has yet seen in an Indian web series…

The cast is the most brilliant ensemble the world has yet seen in an Indian web series, featuring the absolute best Naseeruddin Shah, Atul Kulkarni, Sheeba Chadha, Rajesh Tailang and Amit Mistry. Their transfixing performance falls short of words. The newcomers Shreya Chaudhary and Ritwik Bhowmik hold their own in their spotlight, without stumbling in intimidation which I could only imagine would have been tremendously daunting given the rest of the cast.

Everything maintains the equilibrium; never over-staying its welcome and holding space for all other components in the frame.

Like I said, nothing about the show goes off-beat. Everything maintains the equilibrium; never over-staying its welcome and holding space for all other components in the frame. It is definitely a binge-worthy show which would continue to enthral your senses without making you feel guilty about chasing pleasure. If you are a fan of beautiful direction then you might find yourself finding wanting to re-watch the show and dare I say, it would be even better the second time around.