What Is the Story About?
An Indian spy, Adhir, is on a mission to stop Pakistan’s president, General Zia Ullah, from developing the country’s first nuclear bomb. Many years later, in 2025, he is racing against time to protect an undercover agent, Mariam a.k.a Shrishti, who unearths a dangerous secret about a Pakistani officer, Ashfaq, his past and is making a perilous escape.
Performances?
Naveen Kasturia holds his own as an upright spy who does what it takes to fulfil his duties. He maintains appreciable restraint with his body language, diction, lending authenticity to the portrayal. Mouni Roy’s role, Shrishti, comes with many limitations, while she does her best to rise above them. However, her character could’ve exhibited more agency with her choices, actions.
Analysis
Salakaar, a spy thriller by Faruk Kabir, is woven from the same cloth as John Abraham’s Diplomat, which comfortably aligns with the country’s stance against Pakistan as a terrorist state where law and order has completely collapsed, and that Indian presence is needed to restore order. The show is a blend of fact and fiction, illogical and amusing, wearing patriotism on its sleeve.
Narrated across five episodes (of 30 minutes each), the story alternates between two timelines – the late 1970s and 2025 – where two generations of spies risk it all to save India from a nuclear threat. The narrative underscores how its protagonists go about their jobs, while living life on the edge, transmitting information and keeping their identities discreet.
As part of an undercover operation to uncover Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions, Adhir is sent to the neighbouring country to dig deeper into General Zia’s plans to destroy India and do what it takes to foil his bid. Nearly four decades later, Zia’s grandson Ashfaq aims to further the same plan, only to be honey-trapped by an Indian spy, Shrishti. What connects Shrishti to Adhir’s past?
Making the most of today’s volatile political climate, Salakaar rides high on patriotic fervour, idolising the sacrifices of the unsung heroes and the men in uniform to stratospheric heights. Regardless of its intentions, it oversimplifies espionage, reducing the opposing nations to a dummy, doing little to challenge a spy’s mettle and making their job seem like a walk in the park.
As a plot idea, there’s not much you can dispute about it, but one wishes it approached its subject with more seriousness than merely exploiting the past and the recent political developments to up its ante. The detailing remains basic and laughable at times. Miraculously enough, the director brings in urgency to keep the proceedings intriguing, although the events look far-fetched on paper.
The recreation of the 1970s is partly more convincing, given that it infuses a new dimension to the plot beyond the obvious and offers something for the viewer to absorb. Of course, Pakistan is portrayed in a fairly conservative light, and yet again, a filmmaker uses convenient cinematic liberties to suit his agenda. The scenes from the present-day timeline appear rushed and make little impact.
As you would expect, there’s a subplot about the protagonist finding an ally in Pakistan and how he, in turn, appreciates Adhir’s heroics. The final episode, which unfolds at the airport, is the best of the lot, generating adequate tension, keeping viewers on the edge. The ending is abrupt, like most Indian OTT shows, in a desperate effort to offer a cliff-hanger for a new season.
Salakaar has grand ambitions as a spy thriller, has a few edgy moments, though the treatment lacks any believability, defying logic.
Music and Other Departments?
Composer Amar Mohile’s score has the larger-than-life charisma to lend weight to the narrative, though Shabbir Ahmed’s songs are strictly ordinary. The cinematography, by Jitan Harmeet Singh, is a certain value addition. The action sequences do create an impact. Better writing and the treatment could have brought more respectability to the show.
Other Artists?
Mukesh Rishi’s experience in playing antagonistic roles comes to good use with his performance as the authoritarian General Zia. Surya Sharma is aptly cast for Ashfaq, who looks and behaves his part to the T. Others, including Purnendu Bhattacharya, Ashwath Bhatt, and Kuldeep Sareen, to name a few, deliver the goods within minimal screen time.
Highlights?
Naveen Kasturia’s performance
Crisp screenplay
Technically impressive
Drawbacks?
Weak writing
Convenient resolutions to conflicts
Mouni Roy’s segment
Did I Enjoy It?
Only in parts
Will You Recommend It?
Only if you like spy stories and keep your expectations low
Salakaar Web Series Review by Binged Bureau
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
