The new Apple TV+ series Shantaram is about an escaped Australian Bank Robber who finds refuge in the slums of Bombay during the 80s. The series stars English actor Charlie Hunnam (The Gentleman, Sons of Anarchy) in the lead role of the convicted protagonist and is based on the novel of the same name by Gregory David Roberts.
The cast of the series includes Antonia Desplat, Elektra Kilbey, Sujaya Dasgupta, Alexander Siddig, Elham Ehsas, Fayassal Bazzi, Shubham Saraf, Mel Odedrea, Monica Kumar, Arka Das, Vincent Perez, Suraj Kolarkar, Alvin Maharaj and Ganesh Salian.
–Shantaram Review Contains No Spoilers–
Shantaram Episode 1 starts with the prison escape of Lin Ford, an addict and a former student of philosophy, who was involved with big guns, robberies and other crimes and landed himself in a bad spot.
Lin’s motive for escaping the prison is to save his life from other inmates and also to start a new chapter of normalcy. However, our protagonist is only half convinced about the second part. Eventually, he winds up in the streets of Bombay with a non-stereotypical purpose. The Australian hunk with a fake Kiwi Passport is not there to find his soul but to lose his identity.
For the fans of the book, Shantaram may feel like an honest adaptation of the novel filled with multiple references and quotes. On the other hand, people new to the subject matter might have some contrary views.
The centre point of these contrary views might originate after Lin’s arrival in India, which was followed by several moments that were artificial in nature. One can argue that it’s a criticism, but I feel it’s a sign of a dedicated adaptation.
I remember watching Shawshank Redemption and understanding why it’s such a perfect film. Mostly because it never felt like one. The magnum opus of adaption in cinema was like reading a novel, page by page, at a deep meditating pace. In fact, the movie had more things in common with reading a book than watching a motion picture.
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The art of overlapping mediums with each other is a treat to watch. Therefore, if you judge the first three episodes of Shantaram on this merit of dedication, they are bound to make an impact.
The strong and balanced performance of Charlie Hunnam further adds to this meditative experience. He is impressive in the emotional scenes and dynamic in the rest and completely absorbs the role of the protagonist.
Shantaram Episode 2 follows Lin’s journey deeper into the slums of Bombay with his Indian mate Prabakar. It works as a setup for what’s coming next and how it will impact the redemption keen convict.
Notably, if the first two parts introduce us to the action, then Shantaram Episode 3 leads into the reaction. Where Lin is faced with the consequences of his good spirit involvement. Something which has a big role to play in his final fate.
Shantaram Final Thoughts
The series starts off on a strong note with a few weak points that can be fixed in the upcoming episodes. All in all, the experience will be meditative and engaging and leave you with high expectations.
The first three episodes of the series are available to stream on Apple TV+. Tell us your thoughts about the best-selling adaptation in the comment section below.
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