Indian movies and shows to watch if you like 'Mirzapur'
What's the story
Mirzapur aired on Amazon Prime this November and received acclaim for the nuanced portrayal of gang violence in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. Guddu and Bablu were unforgettable in their quest for power, while Pankaj Tripathi's Kaleen Bhaiya was formidable. Munna stole the show with violent sociopathy. If you enjoyed the action, politics and betrayals in Mirzapur, here are 5 movies and shows to watch.
'Sacred Games'
Sacred Games' Ganesh Gaitonde masterfully rivals Kaleen's god complex
One of the iconic aspects of Mirzapur was the pervading presence of Kaleen, feared and revered as a god. Netflix's Sacred Games rivals Kaleen's god complex through Ganesh Gaitonde, played expertly by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The tale of Mumbai's feared crimelord is masterfully handled by Anurag Kashyap, exploring the underworld's links with law enforcement and politicians. This is a must watch for Mirzapur fans.
'Gurgaon'
Jealousy within family makes 'Gurgaon' a must watch
Gurgaon is a neo-noir thriller on Netflix. It follows the story of Kehri Singh, a wealthy real estate tycoon played by Pankaj Tripathi. The family drama revolves around his son Nikki feeling jealous of Preet, his daughter. This culminates in tragic consequences for the Singhs. Mirzapur fans are bound to enjoy Tripathi's stellar performance and appreciate the son's jealousy, which like Munna's, causes tragedy.
'Breathe'
Criminal behavior can start with good intentions
Breathe, on Amazon Prime, is a gritty psychological thriller starring Amit Sadh as a cop with questionable methods, and R. Madhavan's character, a desperate father trying to find a lung donor for his child. The show asserts the extremes we can go to, to protect our kin. Mirzapur fans will relate to this, since that's what turned Guddu and Bablu to the crime world.
'Lust Stories'
Lust Stories link: Independent women unafraid to explore feminine desires
Mirzapur, apart from providing a nuanced take on gangster stories, brilliantly portrayed strong female characters who were unafraid to assert themselves, sexually and socially. One should remember Kaleen's wife satiating herself with the house cook and Golu standing up to Munna in college elections. People who liked these characters should watch Netflix's film anthology Lust Stories, showing independent women unafraid to explore feminine desires.
'Inside Edge'
It all boils down to power play
Mirzapur is ultimately about the power play. Kaleen tries to keep power from rival Rati Shukla, or from politicians while trying to stay ahead of an overzealous police chief. Munna tries to rise to power in his father's eyes while taking power away from Guddu and Bablu. People who loved these dynamics should watch Amazon's Inside Edge, exploring power, politics and betrayal in cricket.