Season 1 |
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Episode Guide
Episode 1—| “Genesis“
Episode 2—| “Paradise Lost”
Episode 3—| “Fall From Grace”
Episode 4—| “Prodigal Son”
Episode 5—| “Baptised by Fire”
Episode 6—| “Crown of Thorns”
Episode 7—| “Thy Kingdom Come”
Episode 8—| “Battle of Blood”
Episode 9—| “Hell Hath no Fury”
Episode 10—| “In the Name of the Father“
The city of Mumbai, India’s financial capital, has a long history with crime and the underworld. Crime has been a rampant part of the city ever since the 1970’s and one of the most well-known Mafia from the city is Dawood Ibrahim.
Hailing from humble beginnings, Dawood was born to a local police officer. His quest to lead a bigger, better life forced him to turn to crime.
The Prime Video original, Bambai Meri Jaan (translated as Mumbai Is My Life) narrates the life and the legacy of the Mumbai Mafia Dawood Ibrahim. The show narrates the story of Dara Kadri, a boy who is drawn to having his way right from a young age.
After being raised by a no-nonsense father, Dara strives to live his life on his terms. However, as he grows older, Dara realises that the life he wants to live is inspired by the life of a mafia boss – Haji Maqbool. The show starts with Dara’s childhood and we see the humble beginnings of the man who went on to rule over the city of Mumbai.
The show is an entertaining watch with complex characters and gripping performances. A few of the notable performances from Bambai Meri Jaan come from Avinash Tiwary who plays Dara, Kay Kay Menon who plays Dara’s father Ismail Kadri as well as Kratika Kamra who plays Habiba Kadri, Dara’s youngest sister.
While it is clear as day that the show is based on the real-life of the underworld don, the makers have consciously kept the characters ambiguous. Despite this, the show and its compelling story make it easy for viewers to draw parallels with the real-life people who inspired the characters.
Kay Kay Menon plays a righteous father who is stripped of his pride when his children resort to crime. The father-son conflict is one theme that is well-explored in the Indian Cinema. Bambai Meri Jaan is an addition to the list due to the complex relationship between Dara and Ismail.
Kay Kay Menon is an absolute delight to watch but this one sees Kritika Kamra as a rising star. She embodies the character of Habiba (inspired by the life of Dawood’s sister and female mafia, Haseena Parkar) and plays the character quite well in the final moments of the show.
Bambai Meri Jaan has an amazing OST with a total of 13 tracks. The song ‘Tod Mod’ perfectly encapsulates Dara’s culture while other singles like ‘Jaane Jaan’ and ‘Jaadu Tera Jalwa’ take you to the disco era of the 1980s.
While many would say that Bambai Meri Jaan glorifies Dara’s actions, it is Kay Kay Menon’s character as Ismail, Dara’s father, who keeps reminding viewers how his son’s actions were evil. Ismail becomes the moral compass for viewers throughout the show.
The show, Bambai Meri Jaan ends on a shocking note which shows Ismail losing his faith in the idea that he lived by – “the victory of good over evil”. Bambai Meri Jaan narrates the history of crime and the underworld in Mumbai as well as the journey of a young middle-class boy into becoming the underworld mafia that dominated the city.
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Verdict - 8/10
8/10