Raj and DK’s ‘Farzi’ looks more like the work of a magician who repeats his tricks on market demand
What happens when an artist crosses the lines of the law? What happens when he begins to see a humble currency note as a challenging work of art? Writer-director duo Raj and DK have an uncanny ability to create charismatic characters grappling with the socio-political realities of our times. His canvas becomes larger than life, but he interacts with the details of master craftsmen seeking to understand it. Zardozi A thread of emotion and thought laced with edgy humour. Together bogusThey expand the Everyman secret agent universe they created Together the family man, The possibilities are delicious… but after eight episodes that provide plenty of goosebumps moments and plenty to laugh about, the series leaves you with the feeling of being sold a dummy.
Shahid Kapoor in ‘Farzi’
Over the years, Shahid Kapoor excels in roles where the character’s self-esteem comes under attack. Here, as the anti-hero Sunny, he remarkably blends the intensity of anxiety with an impressive smile in a role that has shades of his real life. Abandoned by his father as a child, Sunny grows up under the shadow of his righteous maternal grandfather (Amol Palekar), who runs a newspaper called revolution magazine and paint thinker With trembling hands However, the young artist looks at the world around him and pays more for a fake than for an original work. As he watches the tree slowly wither under debt and rampant corruption; Revolution becomes a retired thought for Sunny. But to save Nanu and his crumbling ideas, the artist crosses borders and sells his craft to the highest bidder. As his arrogance and ambition get the better of him, Sunny is driven into a black hole as we get an insight into how a man becomes consumed by circumstances.
The narrative is filled with moral dilemmas that are not easy to negotiate. The emotional track where Sunny fears that her Nanu – whose memory is fading by the day – will find out that he has violated her trust, creates an uneasy feeling. The scene of Sunny hugging his Nanu from behind makes the eyes moist. It’s Palekar’s pristine presence, carefully choosing his project, that makes us believe in the integrity of the conceptual slugfest, even when the writers lose track.
On the one hand, there is Michael (Vijay Sethupathi), an impossibly skilled officer fighting personal battles, determined to rid the country of the scourge of fake currency, and on the other, Mansoor (Kay Kay Menon chews the scenery) with his With the trademark flourish), a reptilian figure who gives wings to Sunny’s imagination and ambition for his cause. Sethupathi is suitably sensible and charming at the same time; There is a certain loveliness in the way he delivers his dialogues in Hindi that even swear words are endearing. This creates an interesting contrast between his physical and vocal sensibilities, and is reminiscent of Mohanlal who also played a committed law enforcer. company, Their family story isn’t even half as interesting as that of Shrikant Tiwari’s, but Sethupathi makes sure it remains delicious till he shares notes with Michael Tiwari in the next season.
Vijay Sethupathi in ‘Fargie’
With Shahid, it’s the other way around. He comes across as a lovable scoundrel whose circumstances push him down a drain. It is a pity that we do not get to see a face-off between the two in the first season as the streaming platforms conspire to keep the pot lit for the second season, even if it means compromising on storytelling and stifling interest Are.
In between, there is a prominent but well-written track where Sunny infiltrates the crack team through Megha (Raashi Khanna), an expert on fake currency who can see through fake currency, but when Falters when it comes to matters of the heart. The part is written in such a way that one doesn’t mind suspending disbelief for a while; Rashi is also impressive as a girl who doesn’t get distracted from her goal much by Sunny’s magic.
Raashi Khanna in a still from the series
As always, the action is interspersed with Raj and DK universe current affairs and an electric background score. Minister Gehlot’s (Zakir Hussain) insistence on tying everything to electoral politics is relatable, and the way Michael sells the idea of a big picture to the newspaper every time the minister drags his feet on national security issues is astonishing. is realistic.
However, for all the character-building and competent performances, the simple perspective and immersive experience the family man missing here because the producers are keen to underline that we are in for something intelligent and well-researched with a bleeding pen.
bogus Seems like the work of a magician who repeats his tricks on the demand of the market. socio-political commentary that was spontaneous the family man There’s a lot of repetition here and there, even annoyances. The screenplay feels like that eye-catching coat that hasn’t been properly stitched, and gives way over the course of a rough eight episodes. There are passages when it seems the writers’ research notes on counterfeit currency have been slipped into the script and we are looking at an instruction manual to reveal the fake bills on-screen. Interestingly, the writers have spent hours explaining the business of counterfeit notes, but have left loose the nuts and bolts of the story. Some twists are too convenient for mass muster, the back stories aren’t compelling, and an important character is given away without much effort. it makes inconsistent approach bogus Feeling like a super note from Sunny; A splash under the glitter.
Farzi is currently streaming on Amazon Prime