Subsequent seasons of series which supersede the expectations of viewers in terms of satisfying them like the first one are far and few. For instance, Asur was loved by the audience; Asur 2 couldn’t make a strong or lasting impact. Ditto for Breathe, the first installment was brilliant but same cannot be said for the later versions. Last but definitely not the least the kind of buzz that the first season of Sacred Game created, the second season could not.
In the present day when audiences are spoilt for choice and rather discerning, producers need to be smart so that they can gauge what the audience demands or anticipates. Mirzapur is one of the fewest web series that actually took the audience to another level with its second season. Now that the third season has released let’s see if Mirzapur season 3 is as satisfying for the audience as the preceding one was.
The premise
The third season starts with Munna Tripathi’s cremation, this signifies that Divyendu’s character is done and dusted despite being one of the most loved characters of the series who kicked off the first scene of the first episode literally with a bang-bang, a misdeed that set the premise for the entire saga that split into seasons. Munna will be missed by the audiences for we loved hating him and oddly, even felt sorry for him at times.
What comes next is Akhandanad Tripathi (Pankaj Tripathi) being saved by Sharad Shukla (Anjumm Sharma) but is in coma. So, the commanding power automatically goes to Guddu Pandit (Ali Fazal) and Golu Gupta (Shweta Tripathi) with the accomplice of Beena Tripathi (Rasika Duggal) but the core of the issue is Guddu is yet to be elected as Bahubali of Mirzapur by the supreme command along with the other key Bahubalis. But Sharad Shukla has made a solid impression amongst the other Bahubalis and becomes a strong contender for Mirzapur’s throne. Hence the competition between Guddu and Sharad for the throne turns in to a war for the rest of the season.
At one side, Guddu and Golu befriend Beena and Lala, while on the other Sharad strengthens his relationships with Tiyagis and Yadavs. The game of politics and conspiracies takes the front seat and bloodshed along with expletives takes the rear. New characters with different motives, some clear, others ambiguous are introduced in the third season and they do look promising. Many characters that felt strong and significantly important are removed from this season [will not share their names – no spoilers here].
A look back
It started off with a journey of two brothers, one who wanted to pursue IAS (Indian Administrative Service) and other planning for Mr Purvanchal competition but turning in to gangsters and leaving behind them a simple life to embrace gunshots, police-encounters and the wrath of politicians and other gangsters. Season 1 was loaded with the element of surprise, key characters were developed — Munna’s wild side was an unusually satisfying curve for the fans of gore and violence. The continuous letdowns in Munna’s life and a true friend being butchered by him were the foundation of his personality. Finally, Bablu and Sweety’s death were the saddest elements to wrap up the season. Season 2 was more about how Guddu along with the help of Golu bounces back and gives Tripathis a taste of their medicine, how Munna turns out to be and how Beena takes the revenge from Baauji with the help of her partners.
Unpredictability — the biggest bet knocks with season 3
The third season is quite unpredictable and perhaps one of the reasons why the audience has not accepted it the way first two seasons were loved at large. The series started off with more action than plotting, but in season three there’s more plotting, twists, power-games and associations along with somewhat violence and gore. For those who like political dramas where shift of power and mind games are key plots, this season will be quite intriguing. The beauty of the series is, which many might not agree with, is killing the characters at their peak. This was done in the first season, the second and repeated in the third. Some key characters are wiped off so newer ones can enter the canvas and show their potential. That’s how life is, isn’t it?
The first two episodes set the mood of the series with scenes which are high on drama. Guddu’s scenes with his father in the police van and with his mother at the dining table are brilliantly executed and written. A scene where Guddu kick-starts his father’s bike and leaves his walking stick behind signifies the strength of a father whether he is on your side or not – a power-packed scene that had no dialogue.
Evolution is the key
With each episode, some new characters are introduced in the season and they keep the audience intrigued. All these characters have different shades, for instance Rahim is a poet but a very unpredictable sort, inspector Valimiki is a cunning, sharp and strong officer, the list continues. Characters from the previous seasons are also given meatier scope and spotlight. To name a few, Manurishi Chadha, Anangsha Biswas (playing Zareena’s character), Liliput and Shama (Lala’s daughter) have been given more screen presence and their characters are developed and strengthened.
Strong performances
Ali Fazal is in the finest form. He effortlessly breathes the character of Guddu. Despite other characters’ taking more screen time, his scenes are both immaculately written and performed. The elements of wildness, volatility and confusion whether to take the step or not are all very meticulously handled by Fazal. He bags some great dialogues too. Every scene where Guddu and Sharad come face to face are the highlight and there are no dull moments. Anjumm Shharma (Sharad Shukla) is the surprise package in season 3 of Mirzapur, he gives a calculated, realistic, calm and very composed performance showcasing him the kind of character he plays. He is menacing, cunning, sharp, intelligent and confident in every scene he does.
Vijay Varma is first rate; he plays a complicated character with gusto. At places and in a few scenes, the audience might feel and think what the hell is he doing? But that’s what his character is like, his character is confused, trying to be confident and everything in between. His scenes in the brothel and in front of Dadda Tiyagi are two extreme contrasts that showcase his prowess as an actor. Liliput has perhaps gotten a very unusual character in his career and he hits it out of the boundary with brilliance.
Pankaj Tripathi gets minimal screen presence but whenever he is on the screen, he is the ‘Kaaleen Bhaiyya’ personified. Sheeba Chaddha and Rajesh Thailang are amongst the most impactful actors of the series and they continue to play their characters with complete ease and great conviction. The jail and courtroom scenes where Thailang is silent speaks volume for his performance. Isha Talwar is pretty effective.
The final verdict
Yet Mirzapur Season 3 struggles to meet the high expectations set by its previous seasons. While it attempts to offer a blend of politics, power games, and evolving character arcs, it falls short in delivering the same level of excitement and satisfaction. The series’ strength lies in its unpredictable narrative and bold character choices, but this can also be its Achilles' heel, alienating loyal viewers. Despite strong performances and moments of brilliance, Mirzapur Season 3 is a mixed bag, highlighting the challenges of sustaining excellence in a demanding genre.
For season 4, the ground is already set for Kaaleen Bhaiyya and there is a probability that the series will follow an entirely new and different path because the makers are geared up to remove any character they might wish to, for they are the real Bahubalis of the Mirzapur tale.
Shafiq Ul Hasan Siddiqui is an avid movie buff, and film and drama critic and a digital inbound marketer. He tweets @shafiqulhasan81
All information and facts are the responsibility of the writer.