We have seen Mumbai in movies a thousand times—the beach, the trains, the high rises. Sacred Games showed us the Gap.
Director Vikramaditya Motwane (and co-director Anurag Kashyap) shot the city like a fever dream. It is claustrophobic, humid, and smells of chai and blood.
The story begins with a cynical police officer receiving a cryptic tip from a notorious crime lord. The officer is thrust into a race against time to save the city of Mumbai from an impending catastrophic attack. The narrative weaves together two timelines: the present-day investigation and the decades-long rise of the criminal underworld.
Even Sacred Games Season 1 could not escape controversy. The show faced legal notices from the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for allegedly portraying former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in a negative light (via a satirical puppet sequence). Netflix removed the scene in India to comply with court orders.
Furthermore, the series was criticized by some politicians for "defaming Mumbai" and showing excessive nudity and violence. However, creator Vikram Chandra defended the show, stating, "This is fiction. But the darkness it shows is real."
Sacred Games Season 1 Review
Sacred Games is an Indian crime thriller web series based on the novel of the same name by Vikram Chandra. The show premiered on Netflix in 2018 and consists of 8 episodes in its first season. Here's a comprehensive review of Season 1:
Storyline
The series revolves around the lives of two main characters: Ganesh Acharya (played by Saif Ali Khan), a Bollywood actor and a self-proclaimed "secular" Hindu nationalist, and Sartaj Singh (played by Manoj Bajpayee), a honest and upright cop from the Maharashtra Police. The story begins with Ganesh, who is forced to go into hiding after a video of him making a threatening comment goes viral. He takes refuge in Sartaj's Mumbai apartment, and the two form an unlikely alliance.
As the series progresses, the narrative explores the dark underbelly of Mumbai, delving into themes of crime, corruption, and terrorism. The plot thickens with the introduction of a mysterious and charismatic figure, Jaideep Ahlawat (played by Paresh Rawal), who has ties to the underworld and extremist groups.
Performances
The cast delivers impressive performances across the board. Saif Ali Khan shines as the conflicted and self-absorbed Ganesh, bringing depth to a character that could have easily been one-dimensional. Manoj Bajpayee, as the beleaguered cop Sartaj, brings a sense of gravitas and authenticity to the role. The chemistry between the two leads is undeniable, and their characters' complex relationship is a highlight of the show.
Paresh Rawal is excellent as the enigmatic and menacing Jaideep Ahlawat, bringing a level of sophistication and nuance to the character. The supporting cast, including Shweta Tripathi, Rachel Shelley, and Ashish Vidyarthi, also deliver notable performances.
Direction and Writing
The show is directed by Karan Johar and Apoorva Lakhia, with a screenplay written by Aadivasi, Vikram Chandra, and others. The pacing is well-balanced, with a good mix of action, drama, and suspense. The writing is sharp, with witty one-liners and clever plot twists. Sacred Games Season 1
The show's exploration of complex themes like terrorism, corruption, and the blurring of lines between good and evil is commendable. However, some plot threads feel slightly underdeveloped or convenient, which might leave viewers wanting more closure.
Technical Aspects
The show's production values are high, with crisp cinematography and a pulsating background score. The editing is sharp, and the show's Mumbai setting is well-utilized to create a gritty and immersive atmosphere.
Verdict
Sacred Games Season 1 is a gripping and thought-provoking crime thriller that explores the darker side of India. With strong performances, engaging writing, and slick production values, it's a must-watch for fans of the genre. While some plot threads feel slightly underdeveloped, the show sets up an intriguing narrative that will keep you hooked.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommendation: If you enjoy crime thrillers, Indian dramas, or are a fan of Saif Ali Khan or Manoj Bajpayee, Sacred Games Season 1 is a great watch. However, viewer discretion is advised due to some mature themes, violence, and strong language. We have seen Mumbai in movies a thousand
Sacred Games was widely praised for raising the bar for Indian streaming drama, earning critical acclaim and strong viewer engagement. It sparked conversations about censorship, politics, and how streaming platforms enable bolder storytelling. The series helped popularize long-form, auteur-driven television in India and gained international attention.
Director Anurag Kashyap (who helmed the Gaitonde tracks) and Vikramaditya Motwane (who directed the Sartaj tracks) created a visual language never before seen in Indian media. Sacred Games Season 1 treats Mumbai not as a glamorous backdrop, but as a character—decaying, sweaty, and violent.
This visual dichotomy reinforces the theme: the past (Gaitonde’s lawlessness) is vivid and alive, while the present (Sartaj’s lawful order) is dying.
Never has a villain been so horrifying yet so hypnotic. Gaitonde is a nihilistic philosopher who solves problems with a gun. Siddiqui’s performance is volcanic. He chews through Marathi, Hindi, and English dialogue with a raw energy that feels improvisational yet precise. He is not simply a gangster; he is a metaphor for the greed, corruption, and masculine rage of a changing India. The scene where he lectures a rival don about the "three most important things" (father, mother, and... the gun) is now acting folklore.
The narrative architecture of Sacred Games Season 1 is best described as a "fractured mirror." It tells two parallel stories that eventually collide in a devastating finale.
The Present (2018): We meet Sartaj Singh (Saif Ali Khan), a weary, morally upright Sikh police officer in Mumbai. Sartaj is a relic; he listens to old songs, drives a dying Fiat, and is mocked by corrupt colleagues. His life is a quiet spiral of divorce papers and professional isolation. That changes when he receives an anonymous tip: Stay away. The city will end in 25 days.
Following the tip, Sartaj raids a dingy chawl in Ganesh Guli, only to find himself face-to-face with Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), Mumbai’s most wanted, presumed-dead gangster. Gaitonde isn't hiding. He’s waiting. With a revolver in one hand and a remote detonator in the other, he declares he will not be taken alive. Over the next 25 days, he will tell Sartaj his story. Sacred Games was widely praised for raising the
The Past (1992–2006): Ganesh Gaitonde’s origin story is the heart of the series. We watch a small-time, sexually confused "Bhai" from the streets of Pune ascend to become the king of Mumbai’s underworld. His rise coincides with the cataclysmic events of the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition and the subsequent 1993 Bombay riots. Gaitonde learns that in Mumbai, power doesn't come from muscle; it comes from the nexus of police, politicians, and Bollywood.
As Gaitonde’s empire grows, his paranoia deepens. He encounters a mysterious, god-like guru named Guruji (Pankaj Tripathi), who speaks of an impending "destruction." The countdown in the present aligns with Gaitonde’s apocalyptic predictions, forcing Sartaj to decipher a madman’s riddles to save a city that doesn't believe him.