Bandwaale Review: Shalini Pandey, Zahan Kapoor’s musical dramedy is a soul-stirring celebration of chasing your heart’s deepest dreams

Bandwaale Story: Prime Video's latest series, Bandwaale, is set in the town of Ratlam and revolves around Mariam, a young poetess who feels restricted by the traditional expectations and lack of independence in her environment. She began sharing her poetry anonymously online to find her voice and sense of identity. Her journey intertwines with Robo, a brass band singer, and DJ Psycho, who help her pursue her artistic dreams. 

Bandwaale Review

There are several series and movies are already made focusing on following your heart against all odds. They provide relatable, high-level narratives of emotional escapism, inspiration and resilience, transformation and ultimate triumph. These stories reflect the human desire for authenticity and the hope that, despite all obstacles, whether social, financial, or personal, perseverance can lead to a more meaningful life. One such series is Prime Video's latest release, Bandwaale. This musical-dramedy highlights how following what the heart wants comes with so many obstacles, but once you overcome those, your new life begins, which is fearless, unique, and exciting.

In Bandwaale, the message of following your heart is explored through art and music, creative fields that are often undervalued due to doubts about their worth. Mariam (Shalini Pandey) is a young woman living in a small town, Ratlam, where traditional expectations like early marriage often stifle personal freedom. She has a strict father, David (Ashish Vidyarthi), a college Principal, who never understands the value of Mariam and also her sister, Cynthia. Mariam is a talented poetess struggling to find her identity and self-worth. 

To find her voice, she begins sharing her personal poetry anonymously online with the help of her little sister. Her journey intersects with two other "misfits": Robo (Swanand Kirkire), a brass band singer, and DJ Psycho (Zahan Kapoor). Together, they form an unlikely band to chase their artistic dreams and navigate the challenges of societal expectations and financial instability.

Most Indian parents want their children either to become doctors, engineers, teachers, or, in the case of girls, marry into wealthy families. The chaos and tension arise when children gain the courage to pursue their own passions, be it music, sports, creative fields, or even the latest trend of becoming an influencer. 

That's the case for Mariam, who loves creating poems, and since the social media audience wants music with her poems, DJ Psycho and Robo, along with Mariam, confront their ambitions, doubts, and artistic desires, and the show highlights how they use creativity to challenge social norms. The series also highlights the struggles of rising influencers who are still shy to start but have a big dream in their heart. It also highlights the competition between human-made creatives and technology. Bandwaale reminds us to keep chasing our dreams. 

Also Read: Bandwaale trailer: Shalini Pandey and Zahan Kapoor lead a band of small-town misfits bridging the gap between brass and beats to make art against all odds

The eight-episode series Bandwaale, directed by Akshat Verma and co-created and co-written by Swanand Kirkire, feels a bit long at times, with the story taking time to find its rhythm. Still, this slow-paced musical drama carries a heartfelt and beautiful purpose. 

Speaking about the performances, Shalini Pandey as Mariam warms the heart. However, her portrayal sometimes lacks the emotional depth to fully convey the struggles, doubts, and emotions that Mariam experiences as she finds her voice through poetry and music. Instead, Cynthia, played by Sanjana Dipu, is commendable. She plays the little sister of Mariam. 

On the other hand, Zahan Kapoor as DJ Psycho and Swanand Kirkire as Robo bring energy and charm to the series, but their performances often feel restrained and could have carried more emotional weight, especially given the challenges their characters face in fulfilling their artistic dreams. Meanwhile, Ashish Vidyarthi as David, Mariam’s strict father, delivers a solid performance, convincingly portraying the authoritarian and traditional mindset that shapes Mariam’s struggles.

Bandwaale Verdict

Slow-paced yet soulful, Bandwaale celebrates the courage to dream beyond societal expectations. Although it is long at times and lacks emotional depth in some performances, Shalini Pandey, Zahan Kapoor, and Swanand Kirkire's series still wins hearts with its warmth, creativity, humour, and inspiring story.

Bandwaale is streaming on Prime Video, and subscribers of OTTplay Premium will also be able to watch it with a top-up option.