Tandav Season 1 Review : After seeing his political party govern the country for three terms, Samar Pratap Singh (portrayed by Saif Ali Khan) expects that his father, Devki Nandan (played by Tigmanshu Dhulia),, who is also the Prime Minister of India, will hand over the reins to him once they are re-elected. However, in politics, power reigns supreme, and Samar’s father has different intentions.
Release Date 15 January 2021 Language Hindi Genre Action, Drama, Thriller Director Ali Abbas Zafar Writer Gaurav Solanki Cinematography Karol Stadnik Producer Ali Abbas Zafar, Himanshu Kishan Mehra Music Julius Packiam Production Offside Entertainment Episodes 9 Certificate 18+ Cast Saif Ali Khan, Sunil Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Dimple Kapadia, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Dino Morea, Anup Soni
With no apparent solution to remove his father from the equation and advance his own political career, Samar resorts to killing Devki. But politics is never that simple. Samar encounters another obstacle in the form of Devki’s close friend and ally, Anuradha Kishore (played by Dimple Kapadia), a senior leader of their party who knows more than Samar realizes. Assisting Samar in covering up his tracks is his trusted aide and henchman, Gurpal (played by the stoic Sunil Grover). Meanwhile, students from VNU, led by the dynamic activist and UPSC aspirant Shiva (portrayed by Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub), are drawn into politics with the ulterior motive of being used as pawns in a larger scheme. Who will emerge victorious in this game of deception, revenge, and power?
Ali Abbas Zafar is renowned for his commercial approach to filmmaking, prioritizing style over substance. Thus, expect a visually engaging series with plenty of drama, although the plot may lack complexity. Saif Ali Khan exudes charm, making grand entrances and exits in slow motion, adorned with Ray-Ban Wayfarers and accompanied by a dramatic background score. Characters exchange mysterious smirks with each other, hinting at potentially dangerous moves, while the camera captures every sly glance. Actors play their roles with a sense of knowing they’re part of a conspiracy-laden series, maintaining a stiff demeanor and rarely smiling.
The series often indulges in characters explaining political concepts as if they were mandates, with phrases like “What stands between right and wrong in politics is called politics.” Such explicit explanations detract from the intrigue. While the series attempts to incorporate contemporary issues such as student protests, caste politics, and fake news propagated by party IT cells, the writing lacks depth and relies heavily on superficial references.
Despite its shortcomings, Tandav manages to sustain interest across its nine episodes, keeping viewers guessing about the future Prime Minister. It’s akin to watching a game of musical chairs—entertaining but not intellectually stimulating. Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, and Kumud Mishra deliver noteworthy performances, adding to the series’ allure. Although Tandav may not offer the depth of Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti, it provides a glamorous take on politics, set against the backdrop of the opulent Pataudi palace. Watching Tandav is akin to engaging in Twitter banter with a stranger—entertaining but disconnected from reality, lacking intellectual stimulation, yet providing a semblance of awareness about current affairs.
