The Night Manager

It's been a while since I saw the hollywood version. So without hollywood bias I am writing this.

The original source is very smartly adapted into this Indianized version. Infact, I am impressed how the writers very subtly integrated current affairs into the events of the original source. It is also very well casted. I am loving the understated Aditya Kapoor is bringing to this character. Even Anil Kapoor who is famous for making his characters larger than life and sometimes louder than life (slumdog millionaire) has been keeping it very nuanced and thus adding to the menace. It feels more natural. I am not going to say anything about Shobhita Dhulipala because so far she hasn't been given much to do but the next part looks promising for her. Saswata Chatterjee is terrific as always and brings much needed comic relief in this dark methods. This is the first time I am watching Tilotama Shome and I am really enjoying her performance. I really hope she has a scene of banter with Saswata Chatterjee in next part.

It's so refreshing to hear good dialogues after such a long time. First Farzi and now this series is proof of how dialogues can make or break a scene. Also special mention to the title sequence. I didn't skip intro even once. Production design is top notch. They've really put their money into this. Great work behind the camera too except for a few out of focus sequences.

Where this series isn't working out for me is the pacing. A little too much breathing room is given to some scenes. Editing can be more snappy and the entire setup could've been an episode shorter. Shobita's character could've been given more to do, her backstory could've been explored instead of some other elements. Music is forgettable. But the most unforgivable mistake is marketing. Literally no one knows about this series. Is hotstar not confident about this series?

All that said, I am glad they picked this source and it looks great so far. I'll be watching the next part.