Shahid Kapoor will make his major streaming debut this week with the Farzi series on Prime Video. The crime-comedy, which was produced by Raj and DK, the hit-making team behind The Family Man, debuts at a time when cinema stars appearing on television is no longer something that would cause their salesmen and executives to object.
Farzi review
Farzi review:A movie supermegastar doing TV (after which streaming became evident) was seen as a loss by the public. Only actors whose careers had collapsed may agree to acting on television, but A-list celebrities might never even consider making the switch. This view was reinforced by the frequent tv stars that made the transition to the big screen, leaving an impression on the spectators that one was more suited than the other. Without a doubt, Shah Rukh Khan is the biggest name in bollywood industry which come from television. Naturally, television has always been a more affordable alternative to movies, which means that businesses always have less money to invest in talent and ideas.
Farzi review:There have been a few outliers in both India and Hollywood, including Naseeruddin Shah who played Mirza Ghalib on television, Neena Gupta who made the full transition from the film to television industry, Shashi Kapoor who made a guest appearance on an NBC adaptation of Gulliver’s Travels, and Kabir Bedi who rose to fame in Europe after appearing in the Italian miniseries Sandokan.
True blue celebrities like Govinda or Rishi Kapoor, though, were never known to appear on television. While all three Khans have been in TV programmes, they have taken care to keep their appearances in the reality/documentary genre because acting as oneself rather than a character on film is not the same thing. There are distinctions between producing a streaming series and a streaming film.
Farzi review:After streaming providers were launched in the nation, it became more typical for Indian celebrities to appear on shows. Inside Edge on Prime Video gave Vivek Oberoi a lead role, but his career wasn’t nearly what it once was. When Saif Ali Khan committed to star in Netflix’s Sacred Games, things drastically altered, and the programme ended up really successful.
Emraan Hashmi’s role in Bard of Blood, Bobby Deol’s role in Aashram, and Madhuri Dixit’s role in The Fame Game were all made possible as a result. Madhuri is arguably the most well-known female Indian performer to star in streaming productions; last year, she also appeared in Maja Ma on Prime Video. Ajay Devgn, who starred in Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, Hotstar’s version of Luther, is undoubtedly her masculine counterpart.
In addition to the lesser compensation and the negative publicity, the lengthy commitment was likely another factor that discouraged movie performers from appearing on television in the past. Therefore, more than anyone else, two trailblazers deserve praise for shattering these taboos. Amitabh Bachchan took advantage of his career turnaround provided by Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2014 by agreeing to act in Sony’s drama-thriller Yudh. However, with his Hindi adaptation of the American series 24, Anil Kapoor made history as the first prominent Bollywood celebrity to serve as the show’s executive producer a year earlier.
Like Netflix’s favourite Radhika Apte, Mirzapur actor Pankaj Tripathi, and Paatal Lok’s Jaideep Ahlawat, the streaming business has also generated stars of its own. After appearing in significant streaming projects, several actors—like Manoj Bajpayee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui—became much more well-known than they previously were.
Hollywood has followed a similar path. Even though there were always exceptions, like as Al Pacino and Meryl Streep, who both starred in the HBO miniseries Angels in America before making their major streaming debuts with Hunters and Big Little Lies, TV was viewed as being beneath movies. When Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson appeared in HBO’s True Detective, which eventually featured Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, and Mahershala Ali, it was the equivalent of the Yudh/24 period over there.
But once streaming started, there was no going back. Because it starred an actual Oscar-winning actor, Kevin Spacey, and was created by the great David Fincher, Netflix’s first ever programme, House of Cards, became what it did initially. Since that time, a wide range of actors have dabbled in television and streaming, including George Clooney (Catch-22), Jude Law (The Young Pope), Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce, Mare of Easttown), Julia Roberts (Homecoming, Gaslit), Emma Stone (Maniac), John Travolta and Penelope Cruz (American Crime Story), Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway (WeCrashed), Harrison Ford (1923), and even Dwayne Johnson (Baller
MCU actors like as Chris Evans (Defending Jacob), Chris Pratt (The Terminal List), Jeremy Renner (Mayor of Kingstown), Tom Holland (The Crowded Room), and Robert Downey Jr (The Sympathizer) are also working on long-form projects outside of the franchise. Having said that, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Scarlett Johansson, and Leonardo DiCaprio have all avoided television series, despite having done many streaming movies between them.
With both Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra set to make their streaming debuts in the coming months, the distinctions between the film and television industries will become even more blurred.
Farzi profile
| Release Date | 10th Feb 2023 |
| Category | Bollywood |
| Directed By | Krishna DK, Raj Nidimoru |
| Produced By | Krishna DK, Sunil A Lulla, Raj |
| Star Cast | Shahid Kapoor, Rashi Khanna, Vijay Sethupathi |
| Starring | Shahid Kapoor, Rashi Khanna, Vijay Sethupathi |
| Written By | Krishna DK, Raj Nidimoru |
| Budget | 50 Crores (Estimate) |
| Box Office Collection | 0 Crores |
| Production Company | D2R Films |
| Music By | N/A |
| Status | Ready To Release |
| Edit By | A.S. Sujith |
| Cinematographer | Pankaj Kumar |
| Country of origin | India |
| Distributed By | Amazon Prime Video |
| Genre | Crime Thriller |
| Original Language | Hindi |
| Based On | July 2016 Dhaka attack, Holey Artisan Bakery |
Farzi review
Farzi review:Do you recall how frequently “jaali-note-ka-dhanda,” or counterfeiting, appeared in Bollywood blockbusters? After viewing Raj and DK’s produced and directed film “Farzi,” you might not gain a keen eye for false currency. However, the new eight-part Amazon series, in which Shahid Kapoor makes his OTT debut, does provide a ready reckoner on things most of us were unaware of, including the type of paper a genuine note uses, the artistry involved in the design, the printing and distribution, as well as the deadly danger involved in the entire operation.
Farzi review:Kapoor portrays Sunny, a talented illustrator whose devoted “naanu” (Amol Palekar) runs a failing printing press and a “patrika,” more of a booklet than a magazine, named Kranti. Sunny, who had a difficult upbringing, has not seen a revolution. He and Firoz, his “bachpan-ka-dost” (Bhuvan Arora), have only ever known hardship. They are primed for a tumble into the snake pit where vipers like Mansoor Dalal (Kay Kay Menon), a counterfeiter kingpin, lie coiling and waiting to strike due to the continual humiliations of having too little.
Farzi review:Finding the bad guys responsible for this “financial terrorism” is the focus of the law enforcement team, which is directed by the irascible Michael Vednayagam (Vijay Sethupathi), who is on the opposite main track. According to one worthy, inundating India with “farzi” 2000 rupee notes will ruin the economy of the nation. More details are revealed regarding India’s enemies.
Farzi review:By subtly portraying us corrupt, power-hungry netas, the series subtly incorporates the reality of demonetisation and how corruption was intended to be reduced with the new currency (one is an MLA from, um, Gujarat; the other one, played by Zakir Hussain, gets a lot more screen time). Despite being specifically instructed not to play a lone hand, an eager newcomer (Raashii Khanna), who is also a sharp cookie, joins the “farzi” note busters and frequently sets out on her own.
Farzi review:Bloody dead and bruised bodies are left in its wake as the action alternates between the cops and the “chor.” But the problem with “Farzi” is that nothing ever feels necessary or new enough. What should have been completed in four or five episodes is drawn out over eight due to excessive explanatory banter, declamation, and first-tell-then-show.The cause is evident. The writers of the far better The Family Man made no such accommodations for the Manoj Bajpayee-played major character, and look where that got them—right at the top of the web series pole. This programme is in service to its star, not to its narrative. (Beware of a little cameo by a cherished Family Man character)
Farzi review:It’s not like the boyishly attractive Kapoor, who plays a key role in the story, is ineffective. It’s not like he can’t act well, either. However, he accomplishes nothing novel here, save from the rare scene where he lets himself be vulnerable. Shahid Kapoor’s star-making character is cemented with Sunny, simply the latest in a long string of performances.
Another thing that irritates you is the constant stream of profanity. Everyone uses the words “mothers,” “sisters,” and “daughters” as if they were going out of style. It may have once been shocking to swear a blue streak. It’s now simply plain tedious and lazy. It almost seems like the streamers are seeking solace in characters who can’t say a single phrase without profanity after being warned to avoid touchy religious subjects (the problems with “Taandav” must still be fresh in their minds). Bas ho gaya? Even a few of the writers’ clever moves—like slipping in a satirical section about obedient pet TV anchors—get lost in the tad-tadaahat of gaalis.
Farzi review:It’s up to the legendary Vijay Sethupathi to make things interesting. He was a really great choice for the role; otherwise, who would we have watched? Even in settings that are not particularly innovative, this performer twists, spins, and pulls off the completely unexpected. It is also Sethupathi’s first step into the digital realm. In this story, the family man is faced with an unhappy wife (Regina Cassandra) who wants to leave, forcing him to resort to dishonest means in order to keep his marriage intact.
Farzi review:Other actors also perform their roles. Amol Palekar plays an idealistic elderly guy who is out of step with the times with a poignant dignity; Chittaranjan Giri is fantastic as his longtime colleague and alternates between compulsion and sympathy. As the hero’s best friend, Bhuvan Arora enhances scenes. With her stylish hairstyle and eye-catching clothing, Kay Kay Menon is obviously having a great time. As a stylish baddie, Kubbra Sait doesn’t have enough to do; maybe, this will alter in the following round.