Salakaar Review: In this series inspired by true events, we follow a young Indian spy on a covert mission across two different timelines as they collide with devastating consequences.
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Salakaar JioHotstar Cast
Naveen Kasturia, Mouni Roy, Mukesh Rishi, Purnendu Bhattacharya, Ashwath Bhatt, Surya Sharma
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Salakaar Series Director
Faruk Kabir
The series consists of 5 episodes, each with a runtime of around 35 minutes.
Salakaar Review
JioHotstar’s newest original series is a short, action-packed venture that keeps us invested with its tight storytelling that doesn’t waste time trying to build too vast a backstory that might leave viewers bored. Following a deft spymaster who goes on a dangerous mission to thwart a nuclear attack, we are taken on a journey that includes the past colliding with the present as a similar threat grips the nation and a spy’s life is on the line.
As mentioned previously, the series is short enough to be thoroughly enjoyed and will leave viewers invested throughout. It doesn’t have a lot of fluff, but it adds enough to reel you in. The past and present colliding add a certain charm to the entire thing, and you wait with bated breath to figure out whether or not Adhir will be able to get Srishti out of Pakistan and away from Ashfaq. I think the short runtime is its biggest win and makes you interested in watching till the end.
The biggest kudos, however, probably go to Naveen Kasturia and Purnendu Bhattacharya, both of whom are very charming and make the series very watchable. Mouni Roy also stars in the show and is charming as well, although there’s not much for her to do in the grand scheme of things. I enjoyed Mukesh Rishi and Surya Sharma’s performances as well; Rishi, especially, is terrifying as Zia Ulla.
In the end, Salakaar is a low-stakes but enjoyable watch for anyone who needs a quick dose of action and espionage thriller. The series does a great job of presenting a problem and quickly solving it without delving too deeply into the details. Although that means that it’s not going to be as impactful or, frankly, memorable, it does make for good entertainment.
The film’s crisp storytelling is great, as it flip-flops between the past and the present to round out the storyline. The plot progression is also nice, and it gets to the point quite quickly. Within the first episode, we learn the problem, the person who will give the solution, and almost get to know how that solution will come to be. I quite enjoyed the series for what it was, although there are quite a few silly moments in the series that will make you roll your eyes.
Final Thoughts
Salakaar is fine. Its biggest strength is its length, and it gets a surprising lot done in its short runtime. The performances are great, and despite some silly moments, I think it’s a fine entertainer. The only issue is that it’s hardly memorable in any way.
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