• Light/Dark
  • Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
  • We have made minor adjustments to how the search bar works on ResetEra. You can read about the changes here.

Netflix - Sacred Games (Mumbai crime drama)

Conciliator

Conciliator

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,132
Have you guys checked out this new show on netflix yet? It's kind of a tense gritty cop show but it takes place in Mumbai/Bombay. The main character is a Serpico-esque only-honest-man-on-the-force stressed out by his inability to affect positive change and treated with disrespect by his co-workers for not towing the line. He gets a very personalized tip from a underworld crime lord guy and the plot sets off. It has themes of Hindu/Sikh religion, fatherhood, poverty, Indian history and more and is full of beautiful wide and intimate shots of Mumbai and Mumbai culture. All Indian actors(so far).

The plot may end up being unremarkable but the authentic Indian flavor really gives it a unique feel. I've only watched the first two episodes so far but it seems really solid. The acting is good and the cinematography is beautiful. Warning to dog-lovers though, the opening shot shows some violence against a dog(to kind of establish the brutal tone of the show)

 
Last edited:
BarcaTheGreat

BarcaTheGreat

The Fallen
Oct 27, 2017
4,042
Saw this as I was browsing Netflix .. Initially thought they split a movie into a series like they did with Gangs of Wassaipur but looks like an actual tv series starting a well known Bollywood star. Is it Netflix original?
 
TheIlliterati

TheIlliterati

Banned
Oct 28, 2017
4,782
This is definitely on my list to watch since Indian based cinema is a huge blind spot for me. Most of Bollywood doesn't appeal to me but this looks like it could be good. I hope to hear more impressions.
 
OP
OP
Conciliator

Conciliator

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,132
BarcaTheGreat said:
Saw this as I was browsing Netflix .. Initially thought they split a movie into a series like they did with Gangs of Wassaipur but looks like an actual tv series starting a well known Bollywood star. Is it Netflix original?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Yep Netflix Original. Apparently it's based on a book which I learned in between making this thread and now
 
VeePs

VeePs

Prophet of Truth
Member
Oct 25, 2017
17,371
Interesting, any shows/movies you can compare it to OP in plot/tone?
 

Thisman

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
2,841
first 2 episodes were really good. this is probably saif ali khans best performance in YEARS.
 
Hey Please

Hey Please

Avenger
Oct 31, 2017
22,824
Not America
I was/am apprehensive to watch this (I can't remember the last time I saw an indian drama) because Indian shows (from past experience) are generally rife with cheesy melodrama. I saw the trailer and I was surprised that it was in English; furthermore, the plot looks interesting. Will definitely give it a watch in the near future.
 
AusGeno

AusGeno

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
1,076
You know how Netflix autoplays the trailer when you hover over a show for a few seconds, I watched the entire trailer for this before moving on which is really rare for me, the show looks great and I'm definitely gonna give it a shot.
 
CassCade

CassCade

Banned
Nov 2, 2017
2,037
I just watched the first 3 episodes and I have to say it's pretty good, I love how they are telling the story, Salif Ali Khan's performance as the cop Sartaj and Nawazuddin Siddiqui performance as Gaitonde are one of the best parts of the show. I'll finish the season tomorrow.
 
OP
OP
Conciliator

Conciliator

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,132
i-Lo said:
I was/am apprehensive to watch this (I can't remember the last time I saw an indian drama) because Indian shows (from past experience) are generally rife with cheesy melodrama. I saw the trailer and I was surprised that it was in English; furthermore, the plot looks interesting. Will definitely give it a watch in the near future.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

It's definitely not ham-fisted and melodramatic. I am fuckin picky about that stuff and this is not that. It is a raw, brutal, morally grey story.

Also it's mostly not in English but some of the younger characters switch back and forth.
 
Hey Please

Hey Please

Avenger
Oct 31, 2017
22,824
Not America
Conciliator said:
It's definitely not ham-fisted and melodramatic. I am fuckin picky about that stuff and this is not that. It is a raw, brutal, morally grey story.

Also it's mostly not in English but some of the younger characters switch back and forth.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Well, you definitely are saying the things that soothe my fears. I will give it a watch sooner, rather than later. Thanks mate.
 
Last edited:
m23

m23

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,422
Just watched an episode last night...this show has me hooked!

I haven't watched any Indian movie in many years, but I remember Saif Ali Khan from a couple movies which I loved. Gave it a watch and it really is great, very gritty and brutal, love this stuff. This is not what you think of when someone says Bollywood lol.
 
whatsinaname

whatsinaname

Member
Oct 25, 2017
15,068
Watched the first episode, it was pretty good! They've done such a great job depicting Bombay.

I wonder how close they plan to stick to the Dawood/Chota Rajan story line.

Also, I would recommend watching it subbed. The different accents add a lot to the show.
 
m23

m23

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,422
whatsinaname said:
Watched the first episode, it was pretty good! They've done such a great job depicting Bombay.

I wonder how close they plan to stick to the Dawood/Chota Rajan story line.

Also, I would recommend watching it subbed. The different accents add a lot to the show.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I understand Hindi, but not enough to watch something like this. I tried watching the English dub and was immediately disgusted. Turned that crap off, put on Hindi audio with subs. Much better.
 
m23

m23

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,422
Finished the season last night. Enjoyed it very much and really hope there is a season 2.
 
thetrin

thetrin

Member
Oct 26, 2017
7,656
Atlanta, GA
Finished the first season a couple nights ago. Absoilutely brilliant. I asked my dad how much of the book the first season covers. His answer was "About 20%. They could easily get 5 seasons out of this."

I thought it was interesting that starting out, I cared more about the current day plot more than the flashbacks, but as the show continued, I ended up caring more about Gaitonde's story than the current day plot.

As a man of Indian descent, the show really spoke to me in a number of ways. The hindu/muslim animosity is real.

Great to see a kickass Indian show on Netflix.

i-Lo said:
I was/am apprehensive to watch this (I can't remember the last time I saw an indian drama) because Indian shows (from past experience) are generally rife with cheesy melodrama. I saw the trailer and I was surprised that it was in English; furthermore, the plot looks interesting. Will definitely give it a watch in the near future.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
It's very atypical in the Indian drama space.

For crying out loud, there are BOOBS in the show. People in India have burned down theaters over less.
 
whatsinaname

whatsinaname

Member
Oct 25, 2017
15,068
thetrin said:
Finished the first season a couple nights ago. Absoilutely brilliant. I asked my dad how much of the book the first season covers. His answer was "About 20%. They could easily get 5 seasons out of this."

I thought it was interesting that starting out, I cared more about the current day plot more than the flashbacks, but as the show continued, I ended up caring more about Gaitonde's story than the current day plot.

As a man of Indian descent, the show really spoke to me in a number of ways. The hindu/muslim animosity is real.

Great to see a kickass Indian show on Netflix.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Rumours are that the plan is for four seasons. Though if it is successful, I see them stretching it to 5.
 
Avis

Avis

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
3,227
On ep 4 right now, things are starting to speed up which is good because ep 2 and 3 were a bit of a slog for the modern days bits.

Gotta say I really, really like the main character.

Also the title cards are gorgeous
 
Hey Please

Hey Please

Avenger
Oct 31, 2017
22,824
Not America
So, I just finished the first episode and I realized something I completely missed in the trailer: The protagonist being played by Saif Ali Khan. Wow, he has barely aged from the last time I saw him back in 06.

In addition, I originally thought that show was in English. Well, I found out that it indeed is dubbed. So I changed the language to Hindi and lo and fucking behold... I needed to turn on the "Subtitles" because my hindi speaking skills have been, unbeknownst to me, eroding to the point where I failed to understand many conversations. I'm legitimately shaken up about my loss of language skill and hope to re-learn some of it from this tv show. Goes to show the deleterious effect of not being exposed to or speaking a language that I grew up with (alongside two others) on a regular basis for, nearly a decade.

Finally, this show felt quite intense with a touch of bollywood drama that I still remember. Will definitely keep on watching.
 
Sabretooth

Sabretooth

Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,069
India
We should probably have a Netflix India OT some day. They also dropped a trailer for the next Netflix Original from India, Ghoul:

 
Qvoth

Qvoth

Member
Oct 26, 2017
11,902
just finished all 8 episodes
episode 1 was quite slow, but afterwards it's good
halfway through the finale we realized that it's probably gonna end in a cliffhanger and it did, at least we'll get season 2 i suppose?

edit: apparently season 1 is just the 1st quarter of the 1000 page novel? shieeeeeeeeeeeeet
 

Deleted member 8257

Oct 26, 2017
24,586
Finished the show. Good stuff. Saif and Nawaz are really good. Everyone does a tremendous job really.

The final episode tho:
how did the police know Malcolm's hideout so quick? and is Trivedi really dead in Gaitonde's basement?
 
Qvoth

Qvoth

Member
Oct 26, 2017
11,902
RustyNails said:
Finished the show. Good stuff. Saif and Nawaz are really good. Everyone does a tremendous job really.

The final episode tho:
how did the police know Malcolm's hideout so quick? and is Trivedi really dead in Gaitonde's basement?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
parulkar told majid to track sartaj's phone
are we even sure that was trivedi in the basement?
but my brother's theory is that's trivedi, and he's already dead, and that doesn't contradict ganesh' prophecy of "everyone will die, except trivedi" because he was already dead prior to all of this
 

Deleted member 8257

Oct 26, 2017
24,586
Qvoth said:
parulkar told majid to track sartaj's phone
are we even sure that was trivedi in the basement?
but my brother's theory is that's trivedi, and he's already dead, and that doesn't contradict ganesh' prophecy of "everyone will die, except trivedi" because he was already dead prior to all of this
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Just seems really convenient for cavalry to arrive at the right time. Small speck in an otherwise brilliant show.

It has to be Trivedi. Maybe he is sedated? But that means 11 days have passed since his sedation. Doubt anyone can survive that long. He's probably dead and your bro's theory is possibly true.
 
Qvoth

Qvoth

Member
Oct 26, 2017
11,902
I thought the 1st season was like a third of the book? This can't be the final season
 
NTGYK

NTGYK

Attempted to circumvent ban with an alt-account
Banned
Oct 29, 2017
3,470
Me and my wife just started season 1. This shit is gooooood.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.