A scene from ‘The Night Manager’
marrying style with substance, night manager One of the few adaptations of an international franchise where text and context come together to create an immersive experience. Adapted by Sridhar Raghavan, the Indian version of David Farr’s acclaimed series adapted from the novel by John Le Carré, night manager As it opens in our eastern neighborhood of Bangladesh, which is grappling with the forced exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar.
Before we delve into the magnitude of the problem, the action moves to an expensive hotel in Dhaka, where the child bride (Arsita Mehta) of a cynical Bangladeshi tycoon Freddy Rahman is struggling to find a way out amid the crisis . She finds an unlikely ally in Shaan Dasgupta (Aditya Roy Kapur), a strapping manager with a fluttering heart.
As she blows the whistle on her tormentor, we learn that Rahman is a front for Shailendra Roongta (Anil Kapoor), an arms dealer in the guise of a business magnate, who is cultivating terror and unrest. Everyone has a share in the land. The police do not touch him except for Lipika Saikia (Tilottama Shome), a RAW officer who is not only thorough with her research and analysis but also knows how to sidestep seniors who bat for Rungta. . She couldn’t stop Rungta in Bangladesh, but a few years later, Shaan got another chance to catch the big fish at a resort in Shimla. How he infiltrates Roongta’s gang with Saikia’s support constitutes the rest of the four-part first season.
The Night Manager (Hindi)
creator: Sandeep Modi
mould: Aditya Roy Kapur, Anil Kapoor, Tilottama Shome, Sobhita Dhulipala, Saswat Chatterjee
Story: A hotel’s night manager is the only weapon against a dangerous arms dealer. Will he be able to stop her?
Sridhar showed his skills Pathan (he was one of the writers), here take their cues from Carrey, but add plenty between the lines to hit the inspiration close to home. Particularly, the way he sets it up in Dhaka ensures that you get sucked into the maelstrom of emotions and intrigue. Ultimately, night manager resorts to the tried and trusted methods of an espionage thriller where a soldier finds a reason to return to action, but Sridhar, backed by the series’ blinding scale, ensures that the interest remains alive and kicking.
Aditya Roy Kapur in ‘The Night Manager’
Roongta is surrounded by interesting characters. There is a wife (Sobhita Dhulipala) whom he holds like a trophy and she acts like a dumb doll hiding a lot behind those expressive eyes. There is a partner-in-crime (Saswata Chatterjee) who is devoted to Roongta, but his sexual propensities threaten to spoil their relationship. As always, Rungta has a weakness in the form of his precocious son, who, as expected, develops a bond with Shaan.
One of the highlights of the series is its pacing; Scenes and situations don’t last beyond a few episodes. Showrunner Sandeep Modi who showed mastery in handling props Arya, Once again navigates effortlessly through layers of intrigue and complex emotions. With a dose of sharp humor and sleazy sexiness, it’s smart treatment of predictable parts that keeps us invested.
The series also provides a platform to some of the underprivileged actors to showcase their talent. Aditya Roy Kapur finally gets a role where his performance matches his personality. Writing demands a certain emotional pride from him, and Aditya delivers. His equation with the two child actors gives the tense thriller some tender moments. Sobhita gets our blood running high every time she comes on screen, Sobhita is not just about pleasing the eyes.
Anil Kapoor in ‘The Night Manager’
Anil Kapoor is at the top of his game as the double-faced tycoon who deals in terror. With characters like this there is always an opportunity to bomb, but Kapoor effortlessly chews the scenery. And there’s a lot of it! The trademark drawl is present, but the way he internalises the insecurities of a man whose hands are covered in blood is a delight to watch.
He finds his match in Tilottama. As an intelligence officer beset by her own system, she has the will to succeed with a light touch. Like the series, she points out that when art meets popular appeal, it can make for some explosive moments on screen. We can’t wait until June, when night manager Booked for another outing.
The Night Manager is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar