Series: Bard of Blood
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Vineet Kumar Singh, Kirti Kulhari, Jaideep Ahlawat
Directors: Ribhu Dasgupta
Rating: 3.5 Moons
It seems men seeking redemption and getting chances to do so after an unexpected turn of events has become the favorite plot for Netflix. After Saif Ali Khan aka Sartaj Singh in Sacred Games, it is Kabir Anand (Emraan Hashmi) in Bard of Blood who is battling the nightmares of the day he lost his best friend Vikramjeet (Sohum Shah) and would do anything to avenge his death. Netflix’s latest offering, backed by Shah Rukh Khan’s company Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Ribhu Dasgupta, is an adaptation of Bilal Siddiqi’s 2015 novel of the same name.
Kabir Anand, code named Adonis, is a former Indian spy who now teaches William Shakespeare to bored school students. Five years ago, his mission in Balochistan goes downhill and kills his best friend Vikram. Since then, he is plagued by sadness but finally gets his chance for redemption after his former boss Sadiq Sheikh (Rajit Kapoor) wants him to rescue four Indian agents captured by Taliban in Balochistan. On the mission, he is joined by Isha Khanna (Sobhita Dhulipala), a character carved on the lines of Radhika Apte in Sacred Games but certainly less effective. The two then pick Veer Singh (Vineet Kumar), someone who is forgotten for the past seven years by the Indian intelligence.
The makers have kept the Bard connection with each episode taking its title from a Shakespearean play. For instance, the first episode is called ‘What’s past is prologue’ (The Tempest). While the theme of vengeance is prevalent in the show, first after his partner was killed during a mission and second, after Sadiq Sheikh is murdered, there’s nothing more than can actually be connected with the British playwright. If the makers feel that Emraan mouthing some quotes from Shakespeare is the connection, then we are certainly disappointed.
Emraan is the most impressive of the lot, especially as he moves out of his over explored genre of erotic thrillers. Being cast as someone who’s fabulous at his work, it is rather disheartening to see him running around in circles and playing the victim card every now and then. His performance in action sequences is worth a watch. On the other hand, Sobhita and Vineet fare poorly. Sobhita, a star analyst who is vying to work on the field, isn’t really able to do much when the time comes. Not to miss, a confused look on her face, her constant calls to Indian intelligence and unnecessary exchange of information. Vineet, who left the audience impressed with his act in Mukkabaaz, has spent seven years in Balochistan and around Taliban but it takes a minute for him to whine like a toddler who wants to go home.
The cast of Bard of Blood
Meanwhile, Jaideep Ahlawat plays Tanveer Shehzad, and as expected out of him, he shines brightly as the diabolical Pakistani secret agent and Taliban handler. Kirti Kulhari as Jannat, Hashmi’s former girlfriend, and Shishir Sharma as Arun Joshi, the head of the Indian Intelligence, too play their parts with full dedication. In fact, another character like that of Qasim Baloch (played by Shamaun Ahmed) has a tremendous screen presence as the intense Balochi warlord.
Although there are several themes that are touched upon, they are not fully explored. For example, the idea of patriotism, how some agents are treated by the Indian government, and how the agency put forth a flat-out refusal to stage a rescue operation for the captured agents. But there is no further interpretation given on these long-standing issues. Also, Islam is dealt as deeply misunderstood religion and the dichotomy of how Muslims are is something that most poeple would not approve of.
Last but not the least, there’s a lot of talking in Bard of Blood and subtitles are a boon as the cast switches between Hindi, Urdu, English, and Pashto, but to say the least, Ribhu Dasgupta tries to play it safe and explores familiar tropes and clichés. While the 7-episode series makes for a compelling watch with both the beauty and barrenness of Leh been captured beautifully, a backdrop of Taliban, spies, intelligence and Balochistan could have been treated with greater finesse. The only surprise comes at the end of episode seven and we are undoubtedly tangled on the hook of hope to see what happens next!
PeepingMoon.com gives Bard of Blood 3.5 stars.
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