I liked “Mirzapur Season 3” for the exact same reason that it is getting the majority of the flak from the audience, fans, and critics. The first two seasons of the series set certain expectations in terms of action, violence, comedy, and meme material for the audiences. It also rendered the characters in a certain way, and the audience was hoping to get more of what they had enjoyed in the first two seasons. They were looking to be entertained and thrilled in a certain way that had become synonymous with the series.
A New Direction in Storytelling:
Interestingly enough, the series took a whole new direction regarding its storytelling, treatment, and how it delivered entertainment and what it perceived entertainment to be. This was a series that paid rich rewards to those who were willing to wait and surrender to its moody storytelling that relied more on buildup and subtlety and less on mass humour and grotesque violence. This was something that the makers didn’t know would backfire, and it breaks my heart to see the vituperative criticism that the series is garnering, even though it is one of the most thought-out and well-executed series in recent memory.
Ascension to the Throne of Mirzapur:
The story of Season 3 concentrates completely on the ascension to the throne of Mirzapur of two of its strongest contenders, Sharad (Anjum Sharma) and Guddu (Ali Fazal), after the events of the second season wherein Munna was slaughtered and Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi) was mortally wounded. Whoever controls the throne of Mirzapur also controls the north, raising the stakes for the two contenders even higher. Sharad is out to get the throne for his departed father and for what he believes is his ultimate goal. He is willing to use Kaleen Bhaiya, who he somehow saved in the previous season as his bargaining chip and enabler. Guddu feels that he has already killed Kaleen Bhaiya and Munna and hence has a right to the throne. What follows is an intricate game of power, shifting loyalties, and precise and sometimes not-so-precise moves all leading to one common objective: Who will sit on the throne of Mirzapur?
Character Development:
“Mirzapur Season 3” doesn’t have a single dialogue that has the potential of becoming meme material in the future. This season doesn’t have a single character that has the quirk or uproariously fun nature that made Divyendu and Pankaj Tripathi household names. Tripathi is a much more reserved and almost absent figure this time around and you realise why that was the case at the end of the season. Ali Fazal, who delivered some of the most memorable lines in the previous two seasons, is left to emote through his eyes and subtle grunts and speaks very little. This results in this season feeling very different in terms of the tone and how the various characters behaved and took the story forward in the first two seasons of the series.
The pacing of the story here is also somewhat different from the first two seasons. While the quirky writing and almost constant violence made the first two seasons feel racy, the rather long runtime of this season comprising 10 episodes, with each episode almost an hour long, makes its runtime felt. There were definitely portions that could have been cut short but were not. However, I felt that the slow pacing was beneficial in understanding the complex clockwork of how the world of the mafia of Purvanchal works. The story takes its time to build, and it builds through different elements that keep revealing themselves through the course of the narrative and majorly through discussions and dialogues between characters.
Some portions may feel inconsequential but make their importance felt as the story progresses. Even some of the smaller segments assume importance in the larger scheme of things. I was absolutely floored by the detailed and realistic power dynamics between the various characters and how one thing in their business led to another, resulting in a shifting of the balance of power in the entire scheme. The intervention of outsiders and the presence of a puppet master known as Hakim Saab was also registered, which I believe will be revealed further in the coming seasons.
Violence and Action:
When I said that this season has comparatively less violence and action, I only meant that the amount of it was lesser. If you ask me, this was a far more violent and grotesque season than the previous two in terms of the nature of the imagery that was on display. You see a kid’s throat chopped off in plain view. You see the complete nude back of a man. You see a man put his thumbs in someone’s eye sockets and pummel him to death in full view. While many of these violent sequences may trace their origin to other, better-made Hollywood fare, they are shown with such little care for sensitive audiences and with such physicality and confidence that I absolutely loved them. There is an action sequence involving Ali Fazal in jail that will remind you of the Punisher fight sequence from the Netflix Daredevil series. this fight however ends very differently. Still, this was easily my favourite action sequence of the series. The final episode of the series delivers a surprise that I didn’t see coming, and it is punctuated by a quick spate of violence that is just as impressive as the rest of the series.
Performance Highlights:
The performances in the series were as great as ever. One has to agree that the writing and the subtlety introduced in the characters never let anyone in the series become as pronounced and uproarious as the character of Munna Bhaiya. This is something that most of the audience and critics are pointing out when it comes to performances and memorable characters. For those looking for quick and in-your-face entertainment, the performances and how the characters of the series unfold will definitely leave a lot to be desired. However, when I considered the world that they were inhabiting and the things that they were shown doing, every action of the characters made perfect sense, and the performances felt strongly in place.
Ali Fazal and Shweta Tripathi once again prove to be the most noticeable of the lot. Shweta is particularly brilliant in her scenes with Vijay Varma and also in moments when she has to show a different facet to her expressions when something entirely different is brewing inside her. Ali Fazal uses his physicality and the fact that his character is a junkie now to introduce a maniacal side of Guddu that we have not seen before. The unpredictability of the character and the insane things that he is shown doing were absolutely brilliant.
Pankaj Tripathi makes his presence felt in the final episode of the season, and what a comeback it was. This minuscule portion of the series was more heroic and mind-numbing than anything you have seen in the entire season. Anjum Sharma as Sharad Shukla gets a lot of screen time, but owing to how subtly his character is written and how it is dealt with in the end ensures that he will be getting the majority of the criticism when it comes to weak and uncharismatic characters of the season. Vijay Varma is terrific once again, and his character is transforming into something extremely sinister and horrifying as the seasons progress. I want to see what he does to his family after this.
Final Words:
“Mirzapur Season 3” is a bold and risky departure from its previous seasons. It trades the relentless action and overt humour for a more nuanced and character-driven narrative. While this shift may not sit well with all viewers, it showcases the series’ ambition to evolve beyond its established formula. The performances, especially by Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi, and Pankaj Tripathi, are commendable and add depth to the intricate power dynamics at play. Despite the criticism for its pacing and less memorable characters, this season’s storytelling, unpredictability, and raw portrayal of violence make it a compelling watch. For those willing to embrace its slower pace and subtlety, “Mirzapur Season 3” offers a richly rewarding experience that sets the stage for an exciting future.
Rating: 3.5/5 (3.5 out of 5 Stars)
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