⭐ Rating: ★★
🎬 Director: Faruk Kabir
🎭 Cast: Naveen Kasturia, Mouni Roy, Mukesh Rishi, Surya Sharma, Purnendu Bhattacharya
📺 Kahan Dekhein: JioHotstar
🕒 Runtime: 5 episodes (27–39 min each, total ~2.5 ghante)
Kya Kahani Hai?
Salakaar ki kahani do alag-alag timelines mein chalti hai. 1978 mein hum milte hain RAW agent Adhir Dayal (Naveen Kasturia) se, jo Pakistan ke nuclear program ko torpedo karne ke mission par hai. Us waqt Cold War ka mahoul, Indo-Pak tension apne peak par, aur espionage ka asli maza shuru hota hai.
Phir aati hai 2025, jahan naye zamane ke agents — undercover Mariam (Mouni Roy) aur Colonel Ashfaq Ullah (Surya Sharma) — ek dangerous mission mein phans jaate hain. Yahan stakes high hain, politics tight hai, aur ek galti pura game khatam kar sakti hai.
Sounds thrilling? Haan, shuruat mein lagta hai ki yeh Argo type edge-of-the-seat spy drama hoga, lekin jaise-jaise episodes badhte hain, kahani ka pace aur logic dono test hone lagte hain.
Kya Achha Hai? 🔥
- Short aur crisp runtime — 2.5 ghante ka total package, jo aaj ke OTT ke 8–10 ghante ke marathons se bahut zyada digestible hai.
- Naveen Kasturia ka performance — dono timelines mein unhone ek calm, composed aur believable spy ka role nibhaaya. Emotional scenes mein bhi unki acting natural lagti hai.
- Mukesh Rishi as General Zia — unki screen presence itni solid hai ki jab bhi aate hain, scene ko elevate kar dete hain.
- Cinematography — Jitan Harmeet Singh ne 70s ka retro feel kaafi authentic tarike se capture kiya hai. Period detailing mein effort dikhta hai — cars, costumes, sets — sab visually convincing hai.
- Fast pacing in first two episodes — start mein show ka tempo engaging hai, jo viewers ko khinch leta hai.
Kya Kharaab Hai? 😬
- Logic ka bura haal — spy drama mein thoda suspension of disbelief chalta hai, lekin yahan kuch scenes itne over-the-top hain ki thrill ka maza chala jaata hai. Disguises, escapes, aur convenient twists ka overdose hai.
- Mouni Roy ka role waste — Mariam ka character kaafi potential ke saath introduce hota hai, lekin aage chalkar sirf ornamental ban ke reh jaata hai. Uski backstory ya depth explore hi nahi hoti.
- Jingoism over nuance — kahi-kahi lagta hai ki screenplay sirf patriotism ke slogans pe chal raha hai, strategy aur intelligence ke real elements missing hain.
- Tone ka confusion — kabhi serious espionage drama lagta hai, kabhi campy Bollywood masala ban jaata hai. Dialogue delivery aur kuch action scenes cringe territory mein chale jaate hain.
- Plot gaps in second half — kahani shuruat ke baad speed lose kar deti hai, aur climax mein toh wrap-up bhi kaafi rushed lagta hai.
Highlights & Masala Moments 🌶️
- Naveen Kasturia ka “silent stare” moments — bina dialogue ke bhi emotions convey karna.
- Mukesh Rishi ka entry scene — ekdum villain vibes, 90s ka Bollywood nostalgia trigger ho jaata hai.
- 1978 ke Lahore scenes — retro streets, vintage cars aur muted colors ka combo bahut hi aesthetically pleasing hai.
- Ek sequence jahan RAW agent disguise mein ghus ke document le aata hai — execution average hai, lekin background score mast hai.
- Climax mein ek “patriotism punchline” dialogue hai jo OTT lagta hai, lekin deshbhakt audience ko shayad pasand aa jaaye.
Verdict 📝
Salakaar ek high-potential spy thriller thi jo agar writing aur direction thoda tighter hota, toh Ajit Doval tribute ban sakti thi. Short runtime aur lead actors ki performances isko ek average watch bana dete hain. Lekin, agar aapko depth, complex plotting aur real spycraft chahiye, toh yeh show aapko satisfy nahi karega.
Weekend pe ek light, fast-paced deshbhakti touch wala espionage drama dekhna ho, toh Salakaar ek baar try ki ja sakti hai. Lekin jo audience The Night Manager ya Special Ops jaisa standard expect karegi, unke liye yeh ek missed opportunity lagegi.
At a Glance
| 👍 Strengths | 👎 Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Compact runtime | Weak writing, logic flaws |
| Strong lead performances | Female lead ka role underutilized |
| Original retro look aur feel | Overacting type scenes aur cliché ka overload |