Sultan of Delhi review: Power-packed performances salvage a disjointed plot in Milan Luthria's crime saga

2.5/5

Sultan of Delhi Story:

Set against the backdrop of Delhi during the 1960s, Sultan of Delhi follows the tale of a young man who finds his place amid popular gangsters and aspires to become the biggest arms dealer to gain power, money, and more.

Sultan of Delhi Review:

Fictitious or real stories based on gang lords and the underworld, especially during the 1950s and 1960s, fascinate today's audience as they showcase the time, which used to be completely different and diverse from now. Some of these films and shows based on those tales have garnered praise in the past, including Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, Shootout at Lokhandwala, and more. Sultan of Delhi is one such series that goes into the underbelly of the crime world and simultaneously tries to tell the story of revenge.

Based on the book Sultan of Delhi: Ascension by Arnab Ray, the Disney+ Hotstar period crime thriller drama begins by giving the backstory of our hero, Arjun Bhatia (Tahir Raj Bhasin). At a young age, he arrives in India from Pakistan during the 1947 partition with his father and starts everything from scratch. The show introduces his character as a rebel and as an influence on common people. The show takes you on a journey and showcases how he becomes a valuable asset to an arms dealer, and after crossing multiple hurdles in his life, he finally becomes the Sultan of Delhi.

The story begins on a strong note and instantly hooks you up with the whole partition fiasco and Bhasin's entry into the crime world. However, at times, a lot of twists and turns taking place in the protagonist's life appear unnecessary. He also seems to have a little bad luck in love, which is inevitable in a gangster's life, and finally settles with someone he never loved. A good story gives the lead actor something stronger to hold on to, be it revenge, power, or money. Here, the protagonist gets everything, one after the other, and most of the time, that makes the story quite disorienting. As an audience member, it becomes difficult for you to keep tabs on other characters' stories.

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A lazy and perplexing writing with a not-so-perfect direction doesn't let it be a desired watch; however, Sultan Of Delhi's talented cast and its action sequences save the Milan Luthria-directed series from being a complete waste of time. Tahir Raj Bhasin does a fine job; however, his charm, like Karan in Mardaani and Vikrant in Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein, feels missing. On the other hand, Anjumm Sharma steals the show with his newness in his performance.

Being one of the most versatile and talented actors in the country, the audience's expectations of Vinay Pathak with each of his upcoming projects get high, and gladly, he doesn't disappoint. But even with a great screen presence, you miss that quirk, which can be found in most of his characters in other shows and films.

As always, Mouni Roy steals your heart with her graceful appearance, while Anupriya Goenka catches your eye with her performance as the most evil and wampy character ever. Nishant Dahiya, Mehreen Pirzada, and Harleen Sethi support the show well and keep it afloat, along with others.

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Meanwhile, the end is displeasantly surprising, and it certainly feels like an abrupt halt rather than a finish. It is still too soon to assume if Sultan of Delhi will be back for another season or not. As a viewer, you won't find any angle to make a whole new story all over again.

Sultan of Delhi Verdict:

Being a huge crime thriller fan, Sultan of Delhi kept me seated through the whole show solely because of the performances of all the pivotal actors and the power-packed action sequences. The Disney+ Hotstar show can be watched once.