Bambai Meri Jaan (2023– ) User Reviews

Darkness brings down grip

[usharamky · 6/10 · 18 September 2023]

The tempo, acting talent of the stars were all very good. Feel like giving 7+ rating. But the entire film is in darkness, can't understand why. We miss out on some expressions of artsts, the surrounding etc. But for certain night sequences, there was no necessity for it to be so dark. But for the storyline and direction, we would have skipped the series.

We are a big fan of KAYKAY and he did complete justice. Liked how Dara emerged and his loyalists along.

It was a period series fine, but electricity had come by then, right? Then why the petromax light effect in most part of the film? The flow did slowdown several times, but that was still fine in a 10 episode series. Please next time, we need lights.

Plus 1 for KK

[dogchasingcars · 7/10 · 15 September 2023]

This isnt the first attempt at narrating the story of the Mumbai Underworld. Also like all the previous efforts this one tries hard to glorify, glamorise, and even justify the famous Dcompany from even before its inception. The casting was good, although M. Surve's character was either made to look like a joker or it was just poor direction. One way or the other the feared M. Surve was a force to reckon in real life while the one presented here was really week and almost comical. The Shining knight as expected and delivered was KK Menon. The man simply wears the skin he is given and hardly ever fails to make you believe whatever it is that he intends to. D's Daddy stole the show for me cause amidst all the action and drama I was looking forward to his next scenes. Mr. Tiwary has truly stepped forward and has tried to own the character which so many others before him have only managed to stereotype. One of the better versions of D I admit to have seen over the years.

Its definitely engaging and worth a watch, but could have been so much more if the plot were not twisted to this extent. Zaidi's fascination with D and his fairy tales are not new to the audience who is going to watch this genre and subject. Nevertheless as someone grown up it the 70's and 80's it always feels intoxicating to watch what we left behind.

Corruption, Crime and Family: Inside Bambai Meri Jaan

[trendvisionz · 7/10 · 17 September 2023]

In the tumultuous backdrop of 1965 Bombay, "Bambai Meri Jaan" unravels a gripping narrative of Ismail Kadri, a principled police officer and devoted family man. Tasked with exposing the dark alliance between underworld kingpins Haji and Pathan, Ismail's unwavering integrity faces relentless challenges. Simultaneously, he grapples with domestic turmoil, particularly disciplining his son, Dara. An unexpected crisis ensues when Ismail's brother-in-law accidentally kills a fellow officer, leading to Ismail's expulsion from the police force.

Struggling to provide for his family post-dismissal, the weight of poverty begins to shape Dara's perspective. Haji tightens his grip on Ismail, eventually forming a trio of criminal overlords with Anna. Fast forward to 1977, and Dara emerges as a formidable rival, sparking a personal feud with the Pathan gang that escalates into a blood-soaked vendetta.

Dara's pursuit of vengeance leads to alliances with Dubai Sheikhs, giving birth to the notorious D-Company. As his empire expands, family tensions rise, and a revenge-fueled Pathan threatens to dismantle everything. A ruthless war unfolds, resulting in brutal showdowns, and Dara's ultimate sacrifice - leaving his family under the care of his sister, Habiba, as he ventures into an uncertain future in Dubai. "Bambai Meri Jaan" is an unrelenting journey through Mumbai's underbelly, where loyalty, betrayal, and revenge shape destinies, birthing the empire.

Quite Close to the real Story.

[mayankv-99685 · 10/10 · 14 September 2023]

For those who read the book of this famous writer Hussain Zaidi, knows exactly what happened in early 80's and 90's in bombay. This series holds up a strong grip on those real life incidents and events that took place in underwood era. From money extortion to Rolex watch scammers that used to took place at that time was exactly happened in real life at that time by very own "D". Kay Kay memon excelled in his role, almost a show stealer but Ohh boy what a performance by Avinash Tiwary, who manages to hold the script around himself and delivered a glass shattering performance of the one and only.

what a great take on the biggest rivalry..

[samy2587 · 9/10 · 16 September 2023]

I understand few folks are comparing this to gangs of wasseypur. Well, no offense, these millenials need to know the history before writing a review. The greatest rivarly that ever existed in Mumbai between Haji and D Company was well showcased in this 10 episode event. Hats off to the director and writers. Although, my review is also based on the news and movies I have seen over the years on this feud, nonetheless, this was a great entertainer. Nicely written combined with pace. Anybody who knows Mumbai knows what this story was. I hope this series receives much better ratings in order to encourage those fearless writers and producers to come forth and convert little known facts into public knowledge.

KK Menon's portrayal of Ismail Khadri is remarkable

[SonGoku540 · 7/10 · 21 September 2023]

"In 'Bambai Meri Jaan,' the Mumbai underworld takes center stage as we delve into the intriguing life of mafia don Dawood Ibrahim. This series masterfully uncovers the origins and growth of underworld gangs in Bombay, offering a detailed and immersive experience.

The narrative also follows the journey of Ismail Khadri as he's transferred to Bombay, dedicating four episodes to his family's complex dynamics. These emotional scenarios and character relationships add depth to the storyline, making for a captivating watch. Witness the transformation of KK Menon's character, Ismail Khadri, and his remarkable portrayal of emotional scenes.

Hussain Zaidi's rendition of Dawood Ibrahim adds a layer of intrigue, keeping the audience engaged with well-paced action sequences and profound emotional depth. Episodes 5, 6, and 7 shed light on Dawood's evolution into a mafia don, exploring the dynamics between him, his brother Sadiq, and sister Habiba. The series doesn't shy away from the emotional complexities in Dawood's relationship with his mother Sakina.

KK Menon's outstanding performance as Ismail Khadri continues to shine in the portrayal of family dynamics, adding depth to the Khadri family's emotional turmoil and relationships. 'Bambai Meri Jaan' is a fresh take on the Mumbai mafia empire, unraveling the enigma of how Dawood Ibrahim became one of the world's most wanted criminals.

Captivating till last episode

[m_shahab · 10/10 · 16 September 2023]

It is not so easy to recrate the 60's, 70's and 80's era with perfect cinematography, excellent acting and direction. Every episode is exciting and you cant help binge watch the whole series.

There is nothing much left for the new season but still hoping that something between D company & Chotta will be the plot for the new season.

Both Avinash and Saurabh gave excellent performances along with Kiritika. Kay Kay doesnt need words, we all know his perfection in excelling any role.

Overall a very nice series after long time with superb performances by entire cast. I am sure the rating will go up from 7 to 8 within short span of time.

Watch for actors

[sanjeevanwar · 6/10 · 15 September 2023]

Anwar Says: It seems that on OTT , creators have shortage of modern stories and they have no option other than to go to'60s to'80s, particularly while presenting gangster drama. This time S. Hussain Zaidi -Dongri to Dubai has been recreated in six decades and the story is of the making of Don, without naming.

Competing with Rana Naidu in foul language and every gangster is smoking in every frame,still it is a binge watch because of the superb acting. Kay Kay Menon as father, Avinash Tiwary ( Ajay Devgun look alike, sometimes) and Kritika Kamra as Habiba have given brilliant performances but the other supportings are no less. Normal humans are sometimes forced to crime and they become ruthless, now it's the duty of director, not to glorify them and simultaneously create empathy for them. Shujaat Saudagar has been successfully able to tell the story of power hunger and you don't hate him.

Could have been shortened to 8 episodes and some more lights could have been used. Bambaiya Hindi accent in dialogues have been delivered superbly by the characters with cussing of course. Go for it in the weekend, you won't regret.

#amazonprime #anwarsays #bombaymafia #GangsterDrama #CrimeGenre #KayKayMenon #AvinashTiwary #kritikakamra #dongritodubai #webseries2023 #reviews.

"Stunning Performances in 'Bambai Meri Jaan'"

[hassan-72637 · 10/10 · 17 September 2023]

Within this series, readers acquainted with Hussain Zaidi's literary world will find a vivid tapestry of the early 80s and 90s in Bombay. It's as though the show intricately weaves a cinematic canvas that paints the real-life underworld era, capturing incidents like money extortion and Rolex watch scams that were indelible parts of the city's history during that tumultuous period.

While Kay Kay Menon's performance is a brilliant star in its own right, it's Avinash Tiwary who emerges as the true guiding light. With finesse, he seizes control of the script and delivers a performance that resonates profoundly, leaving an indelible mark on the viewer's psyche.

Aditya Rawal's contribution to the series is nothing short of awe-inspiring, earning him a place of honor. His portrayal is like a multi-layered tapestry, adding depth and complexity to the narrative with his extraordinary acting prowess. Rawal's presence in the show is akin to a shining beacon in the night, guiding the audience through this mesmerizing journey.

Absolute waste of so much potential.

[gg2021 · 18 September 2023]

First, Kay Kay Menominee absolutely killed it, even though his role is a side role after first couple of episodes.

Note to the team making such pieces. The previous fictionalised events did more justice than this piece of utter garbage.

If you can't even use the real name and fail to establish the relationship of haji and D.

Overall, skip this and save your time. It's a whole lot of effort which falls short in the end because it just doesn't go deep enough nor does it manage to fictionalise it.

An absolute mid effort and I hope the team takes this as positive feedback to do better next time.

Alternate Version of Mirzapur.

[ahamedmn · 7/10 · 15 September 2023]

This series starts with the family run by K. K. Menon. Character of Ismail Kadri is a righteous police officer revolves around the Gangster called Haji Makbool and Azeem Pathan.

Making of this series is a complete masterclass.

Technically a very strong series. Excellence in Visuals and Background Score. Slow burn screenplay has 10 episodes which overall a good watch. Usual Gangster flick with some good performances and different handling. K. K. Menon totally underplayed in this series. Avinash Tiwary played a powerful character. The world of Bambai meri jaan is very convictional. Reminds me of Mirzapur. Overall a Predictable Series in the end but the performances and making makes us to watch.

Avinash Tiwari has Arrived as Dawood!

[mihirchandan · 10/10 · 14 September 2023]

The true origin story of Mr D! Right off the bat, this series is a Slow Burn! But its intense and engaging throughout! Kay Kay as we all know is a phenomenal performer and Avinash has not just taken the baton but held it high!

80s Bombay is such a vibe refreshing to see the producers get that right!

In the fast paced world of Reels, great to see deep dive into characters do justice to the biggest Mafia Bombay has ever seen!

After Manju, Bulbul, Khakee Avinash has proven he is super versatile performer! Bollywood please pick him up over nepo kids! Lets bring back glory to Cinema and pure talent!

A mix of The Godfather and peaky blinders with a dash of Indian chat masala.

[gr-sadat · 6/10 · 23 September 2023]

A mix of The Godfather and peaky blinders with a dash of Indian chat masala.

Kay Kay Menon is great every time he comes on the screen. The guys Playing Haji and Dara Quadri have done a great job from their respective places. Colour grading is good and the background score with the look and feel creates an intense haunting feeling every time there is a murder scene or blood and gore shown on the screen. The title song is something that I have really liked and takes you to 1980s and beyond with a gangster backdrop. The female characters are under utilised and Kay Kay Menon should have more scenes in the series.

Overall a good watch but nothing new or that much exciting.

Story line was good

[apsar-56683 · 10/10 · 14 September 2023]

Excellent series. All characters are done well acting. Showing old Bombay with nice costumes and dresses. I m waiting for season 2 . Past Bombay will tell us what are the things happened and what the action was taken by police department.

Excellent series. All characters are done well acting. Showing old Bombay with nice costumes and dresses. I m waiting for season 2 . Past Bombay will tell us what are the things happened and what the action was taken by police department.

All are good 👍 Child characters are done good acting.

Good job done by all entire team and director and other team members.

AWARD DESERVING SHOW

[pyarabach · 10/10 · 14 September 2023]

"Mumbai Meri Jaan" is nothing short of a masterpiece, deserving of a flawless 10/10 rating. From its riveting opening moments, the series unleashes an electrifying tapestry of performances by KK Menon, Avinash Tiwary, and Kritika Kamra that are nothing short of mesmerizing. The visuals are a symphony of precision, the storyline masterfully crafted, and the gunplay executed with impeccable finesse. However, what truly elevates this series to greatness is Saurabh Sachdeva's tour de force performance, which weaves an indelible spell on viewers. The dialogues are sharp as a knife, injecting an extra layer of depth into the narrative. Even the portrayal of negative roles is delivered with such suave sophistication that it leaves you in awe. The series culminates in a breathtaking ending, maintaining an unrelenting pace that refuses to waver. The family dynamics in the initial episodes are portrayed with subtlety, while the interplay between the good and bad cops adds a delicious complexity. Dara's character is a revelation, a character you both despise and admire, driven by an unshakeable mission. The chemistry between Dara and his father is magnetic, shot with exquisite finesse. "Mumbai Meri Jaan" is a tour de force in the world of web entertainment, an unforgettable journey through the heart-pounding underbelly of Mumbai that will leave you spellbound.

Great entertainment, vulgar language.

[itiskaycee · 6/10 · 21 September 2023]

Show works but vulgar language, and mostly just for the sake of it, is absolutely not needed and a show that does great work providing material for ones artistic senses, this needlessly vulgar language leaves a bad taste.

Somehow, indian show makers, despite having great content at times, feels the need to include this kond of language.

Wonder whats their thinking behind it.

70s and 80s are created very nicely, acting is great too, chractors dont act our of their characters just for sake of creating a situation and villians do look like villians of that era.

Cinematography, effects, acting, all works.

Just not the language.

Would have given it an 8 otherwise.

Mostly very authentic story

[nitchow · 9/10 · 23 September 2023]

Great recreation of the gang rivalry of yesteryears in Bombay between D company and Haji Mastaan. Wonderful recreation of the corruption in the police. Some of the characters are spookily similar. Some of the sets suffer from the overhang of the modern Mumbai but the kadri household, neighbourhood and the large floppy shirt collars are straight out from Bombay of the seventies and the eighties. Despite knowing the final outcome of the action scenes, it's still an edge of the seats storyline. Very very very well done to the producer, director and the cast! Avinash Tiwary is superb - he's achieved the impossible - overshadowed Kay Kay Menon's character!

Rich & Raw: A Diamond in the Rough That May Not Shine Much

[mpargunde · 6/10 · 29 October 2023]

Diving into the show, I expected a true reflection of Hussain Zaidi's masterful narrative from 'Dongri to Dubai'. However, the series failed to capture the raw essence of the book, often getting lost amidst unnecessary jazz music, missing powerful dialogues, and overly polished Hindi dialogues. The authenticity was further compromised with excessively designed sets. I mean where's the Mumbaiya-Dongri tone and lingo??? While I respect the creators' vision, at the same time I can't help but imagine the depth and rawness Anurag Kashyap could have instilled into the narrative. I mean, just think about Black Friday or Gangs of Wasseypur. The story deserved more justice - a genuine portrayal in its purest, unembellished raw form.

Despite a cast brimming with potential, especially the likes of Kay Kay Menon, the series seldom landed a memorable punchline. It's almost painful to recall how Avinash Tiwary's scene with Haji, revolving around 'darr' and 'ijjat', missed the mark. Such moments had all the ingredients for impactful dialogue, but execution fell short. It's hard to lay the blame on the actors.

Summing it up, while I can dive into numerous examples, it's disheartening to think that those unfamiliar with Zaidi's work will miss out on what could have been a magnum opus rendition of Dawood's story; which will likely never be made now. Perhaps my expectations are too high, but at least, engaging Kashyap or someone like him for raw insights might have bridged this chasm of lost potential.

Here combined acting prowess surpasses the storyline and script!!

[pritypoddar · 8/10 · 23 September 2023]

Directed by Shujaat Saudagar, Bambai Meri Jaan is a 10 episodes web series with 30-50 minutes running time.

It depicts the life span of Dara Kadri (Avinash Tiwary), the D Company founder, from his childhood days till he leaves for Dubai to escape his arrest warrant by Mumbai Police.

Ismail Kadri (Kay Kay Menon), an honest and devout Mumbai cop turned gangster Haji's (Saurabh Sachdeva) accomplice turned spiritual recluse, plays his father and narrator of the series.

Kay Kay has a crucial role and he has played it brilliantly, mostly with stoic silence and one liners. His acting in the series is beautifully layered and perhaps the best of his acting career!!

The web series has multiple important characters and all have been casted wonderfully and enacted effectively. In fact their combined acting prowess has surpassed the storyline and script!

The entire series is embedded with Mumbaiya expletives and at one point the blood and gore becomes too much to handle.

Overall, the series is familiar, engaging, entertaining and well edited with top class production design.

Perfect representation of events. Loved it.

[sshanischara · 10/10 · 23 September 2023]

This is one of the closest representations I have seen in a while. Characters have been well portrayed. The events turned out to be in reference to many other movies and TV shows that came out. I figured this to be a blend of all those, but in a manner that suffices most of the actual scenarios that happened when Mumbai was Bombay. It was one of the very few shows I wanted to see more of. 10 episodes did the justice but still there were many plots hinted which could give us definitely more of the standalone shows or movies of different characters. All cast did a fantastic job by resembling and portraying the best of reality. Good job!!

Wish they had done it differently!!

[jonn-en · 5/10 · 5 October 2023]

I have read the book its based on and its a good read, but taking it and changing bits for the purpose of glorifying the central character just feels like cheating, either you follow the book completely (probably only changing names) or just change it so much that the central character is not glorified, given his notoriety; we dont want another glamorised D-company story where he gets away with it. Shows some balls and make something different, dont just make him the hero of his story.

Acting's average, only K K and the actress who play his wife play their parts well, rest are forgettable. The actress who play sister is extremely annoying, I wish someone had shot her dead :D, the way she delivers dialogues with no expression made it even more irritating. The guy who plays Dawood is extremely average and the way his character is written feels a bit odd, w/o much effort people just start following/worshipping him as if he is some kind of evil messiah and people are ready to die for him just like that. The character who plays is girl friend also is dumb with no morals who's OK with all the killings, not sure if its based on a real character though.

Production and other technical aspects are good, the period feel is good.

One time watch at best.

Solid acting by all the characters.

[kailashranvir · 10/10 · 19 September 2023]

I loved the fact that prominent actors like Nawab Shah and Vivan are finally getting the recognition and roles that they deserve. Great job by all the actors. Kritika was great too. Would love to see the second season and how the entire story evolves.

The story is gripping and makes you want to see the all episodes at one go. KK menon ofcourse was superb like always. Also, Saurabh Sachdeva was seen in an amazing role after Manmarziyan's small but really impactful and funny role. It would be interesting to see how Ismail and Hazi's roles interact in the next season.

All in all, a superb series after a long time. Eagerly waiting for the next season.

Very close to real incidents and acting like real.

[ravikb-56782 · 10/10 · 20 September 2023]

Whenever KK menon sir come on screen he took the focus of audience. Very nicely directed, show starts with light mode and end with darken mode. Show narrated from devil and shows the devil face, always considered himself wrong decision maker. No one is hero or correct.

Life is alike same.

Everyone considered himself correct in his own glasses Avinash tiwari again shows good acting skills. He done well in front of KK sir.

Cinematography, dialogues, acting location all are perfect. Only a bad word uses a lot. But in normal life these people using a same language nothing is new in that. Its a reality of society.

No need for hide and show Hero in OTT atleast. So 10/10.

Fabulous show

[skgelogy · 10/10 · 14 September 2023]

Series pick from the first minutes. Absolute rocking performance kk memo,Avinash Tiwary,Kritika Kamra. Seen in the series shoot too smart, story line very good, gun shooting excellent .standout performance given by Saurabh Sachdeva goes in skin viewer. Dialogue very good love all actor performance negative role actor too smart .ending is great.series never slow run on high pace. In Starting episode family seen to smart. Play of good cop and bad cop. How police and gangster work for profits dara role some time to hate him and most time you love him. Dara is man on mission & dara and father role shoot to smart.

Give up on Netflix's generic content, this was a great show.

[AwaixJvd · 8/10 · 18 September 2023]

I loved the seriousness and beauty of the script. It was written well.

These days, its hard to find good content when Netflix is in everyone's mind. Not every series can become sacred games, i admit but content should be good enough. Netflix's content has become formula-based and generic. Sonyliv has much better content.

It was great to see this. The story was good and even if there is going to be a part-2 which i suspect, it was not like every other series whose script gets a scoobydo type of twist to release the mask in the end to make its sequel. It was well directed, to be converted in sequel, if there will be.