'Sultan Of Delhi' Review: Tahir Raj-starrer series is not fantastic, but does satisfy the thirst to see a gangster-thriller story

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‘Sultan Of Delhi’ Review: Tahir Raj starrer series misses the plot in portraying gangster-thriller story

The historical crime thriller Sultan of Delhi is a royal slog as it plods through the sludge of a corrupt metropolis in the years after the partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan.

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October 13, 2023 13:16 IST
‘Sultan Of Delhi’ Review: Tahir Raj starrer series misses the plot in portraying gangster-thriller story
‘Sultan Of Delhi’ Review: Tahir Raj starrer series misses the plot in portraying gangster-thriller story

New Delhi: In addition to the densely packed plots and rustic and fashionable individuals, Milan Luthria has always had a thing for settings, a particular atmosphere that has become an intrinsic character.

The historical crime thriller Sultan of Delhi is a royal slog as it plods through the sludge of a corrupt metropolis in the years after the partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan.

The protagonist is a survivor of the Partition riots who must struggle to find stability among the ever-shifting sands of fortune, friendship, and enmity.

While the story of Sultan of Delhi, written by co-director Suparn S. Varma and directed by Milan Luthria, is certainly violent, and not so good; the film’s portrayal of Delhi’s the-then-gangster story is quite satisfying.

Storyline

The Hotstar Specials series plods along through a succession of gunfights and shootouts, with some token romantic overtones and toxic masculinity thrown in for good measure.

The show follows Arjun Bhatia, a survivor of the Partition riots who, seventeen years later, has learned to forget the past and fight for survival in a cutthroat environment. He’s a whiz behind the hood, and his enthusiasm for vehicles has propelled him to the top.

The youthful fraudster Nilendu alias Bangali works for Jagan Seth, a businessman with political aspirations. Arjun falls in love with the daughter of a rich man, Sanjana, but he quickly discovers that his future isn’t paved with rose petals.

Trailer:

Review

The story takes the spectator from 1947’s Lahore Partition to early 1960s Delhi when Arjun transforms from a survivor to a savvy operator in his pursuit of success.

While the series’ early episodes overuse exposition and use clunky dialogue to describe personalities and backgrounds, it picks up speed as Arjun’s character changes dramatically.

Arjun and Rajinder Pratap Singh, portrayed by Vinay Pathak, are locked in a heated power struggle as the story heats up. Rajinder Pratap Singh is a rich ally of the fearsome Jagan. This competition provides the impetus for a thrilling showdown that will leave spectators wanting more.

Without overhead photos of Qutub Minar during various times of day and night, Delhi is not seen sufficiently. These seem like stock footage rather than aesthetic elements. The streets, residences, even a posh hotel and its surroundings don’t resemble the city back then.

Sultan of Delhi parts are set in Calcutta. We see nothing of the city here either.

While Tahir Raj Bhasin does a good job of conveying Arjun’s early concentration on survival, his sudden transformation into a criminal figure is jarring.

To Mouni Roy, a cabaret performer in a Calcutta nightclub who attracts Bangali’s eye, the screenplay deals very much the same approach.

The male leads, played by Tahir Raj Bhasin and Milan Luthria, do their part in a production that provides them with few opportunities to go deeper than the surface with their talents.

Overall, the Sultan of Delhi is an effort. It’s based on the same-named novel by Arnab Ray and, although not outstanding, is watchable enough to be nearly satisfactory.

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