Prime Video’s ‘Farzi’ is the latest offering from Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K., the creators of the critically acclaimed Indian web series ‘The Family Man.’ However, unlike their previous work, ‘Farzi’ fails to leave a lasting impression.
The show follows the story of Sunny (Shahid Kapoor), a struggling artist who turns to counterfeiting after his grandfather’s newspaper folds. His venture proves to be surprisingly successful until he catches the attention of an anti-fraud specialist (Vijay Sethupathi), a forensics expert (Raashii Khanna), and the mastermind behind an even bigger and less scrupulous counterfeiting operation (Kay Kay Menon).
Raj & DK’s approach to storytelling is reminiscent of their previous works. They take a well-worn plot and add their own unique twist to it, as they did with their hit web series, ‘The Family Man.’ They excel at creating high-intensity action sequences and have a keen eye for detail when it comes to location scouting. Rahul Balmiki, the show’s location manager, does an excellent job of identifying underfilmed areas of Mumbai, providing the show with an authentic feel.
Despite the show’s strengths, ‘Farzi’ is bogged down by a sluggish plot. The show’s generic plot of get-rich-or-die-trying doesn’t lend itself well to being stretched over eight hour-long episodes. While ‘The Family Man’ had a constantly evolving plot, ‘Farzi’ often labors on details that could have been dealt with quickly. For instance, it takes two episodes to source the right paper for counterfeiting and three episodes to assemble a task force to track the counterfeiters down.
As a result, the show feels bloated, with many scenes dragging on for longer than necessary. This is a shame, as the extra time could have been used to flesh out the characters. Instead, they feel underdeveloped, lacking the spark and off-the-cuff asides that made the characters in ‘The Family Man’ so memorable.
Shahid Kapoor, who plays the lead, shoulders the series opener well, but as the series progresses, he seems to shrink. Kapoor, who is better known for his romantic roles, seems to struggle to inhabit the role of Sunny, a character who is morally ambiguous. While Kapoor is a charismatic actor, he is outshined by the likes of Vijay Sethupathi, who brings a natural intensity to his role as the anti-fraud specialist.
The show’s main weakness is its failure to build up tension effectively. The show lacks the ‘Breaking Bad’-style cliffhangers that keep the audience hooked. Instead, most episodes shuffle towards a shrug, leaving the audience feeling underwhelmed.
Despite its flaws, ‘Farzi’ is not without its moments. The show’s final few episodes feature some high-intensity action sequences that are expertly choreographed. These sequences are reminiscent of the kind of action scenes that made ‘The Family Man’ so successful. Unfortunately, by the time the show reaches this point, it’s too little too late.
In conclusion, ‘Farzi’ is a disappointing addition to Raj & DK’s otherwise impressive resume. While the show has its moments, it’s let down by a sluggish plot, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of tension. With so many high-quality Indian web series available, ‘Farzi‘ fails to stand out from the crowd.
In an industry that is constantly evolving, it’s essential that creators keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Raj & DK are capable of producing groundbreaking work, as evidenced by ‘The Family Man,’ but with ‘Farzi,’ they seem to have played.
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