Review of ‘Mirzapur Season 3’: The gritty crime saga reaches new heights

When ‘Mirzapur’ premiered in 2017, it lacked the intensity required for crime dramas. While it introduced intriguing characters, the storytelling fell short of creating a memorable narrative. The first season’s flat storytelling, prolonged scenes, and an overreliance on graphic violence for shock value hindered its impact. Additionally, it often confused profanity for dark humor. The second season in 2020 showed glimpses of improvement but still struggled with scattered character development and simplistic worldbuilding. The third season, however, consciously addresses these shortcomings by focusing on fundamental storytelling elements. The result is a narrative that emphasizes stillness, creativity, and a captivating rhythm, moving beyond mere violence and screams. The show now prioritizes emotional impact over sensationalism, delving deeper into the complexities of its characters with empathy and vulnerability. Guddu Pandit and Golu Gupta’s evolving dynamics take center stage as they navigate power struggles and personal dilemmas in Mirzapur. Amidst the chaos, other players like Sharad Shukla also emerge, adding layers to the intense battle for supremacy.

As the storyline progresses, it delves deep into various conflicts, taking its time to develop each one. A significant part unfolds within the walls of a jail, where Ramakant Pandit finds himself fighting the case of a cop’s murder. Throughout this ordeal, he undergoes a profound transformation, questioning his pragmatic beliefs and reflecting on whether his tough stance contributed to his son’s descent into criminality. In the latter part of the narrative, an emotional exchange occurs between Ramakant and his wife, Vasudha, offering a poignant exploration of morality, self-perception, and the intricate connections we hold with the world around us. Mirzapur unravels as a story of fractured families grappling with lasting scars inflicted by the pervasive violence of a select few. At its core, the tale portrays ordinary individuals pushed to their limits by cruel twists of fate. It’s the deep-seated trauma, akin to the transformation in ‘Vaastav’ starring Sanjay Dutt, that shapes Guddu into a formidable force capable of dismantling everything he once cherished. Kaleen Bhaiya astutely likens him to the mythical demon Bhasmasur, destined to script his own downfall. This season shines with its astute writing. Amidst the frequent references to ‘Bahubal’, ‘Varchasva’, and symbolic comparisons to lions and dogs, there are standout dialogues that resonate. One memorable scene involves Guddu narrating a humorous anecdote to a drug lord during a card game, where a rat advises a bear, cheetah, and lion against drinking liquor, encouraging them instead to savor the ‘beautiful scenery’ of the forest. The ensuing punchline delivers a delightful moment of levity.

Despite all the twists and turns in the storyline, there’s this feeling that you wish you could connect more deeply with the characters, but it’s like they don’t stick around long enough for you to really bond with them.

Still, Mirzapur 3 is seriously addictive. The show’s theme music, with all those clanking sounds and drum beats, has been waiting for some solid backing to really bring out its intensity, and this season finally does justice to it. It doesn’t lose steam after a strong beginning; instead, it builds up some real excitement this time around.

Show: Mirzapur 3

Directors: Gurmmeet Singh and Anand Iyer

Cast: Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi, Pankaj Tripathi, Anjumm Shharma, Vijay Varma, Rasika Dugal, Isha Talwar, Priyanshu Painyuli

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars