CAST: Priya Bapat, Atul Kulkarni, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Eijaz Khan and Divya Seth Shah, Rannvijay Singha, Sushant Singh, Flora Saini, Shishir Sharma
DIRECTOR: Nagesh Kukunoor
The highly anticipated third installment of the Hotstar special, “City of Dreams,” is finally here, and the excitement among fans knows no bounds. Directed by the renowned Nagesh Kukunoor, this season serves as a continuation of the previous one, where the father-daughter duo Poornima Gaikwad (played by Priya Bapat) and Amey Rao Gaikwad (played by Atul Kulkarni), reconcile their differences after a significant political clash in season 2.
In addition to the familiar faces, the latest season of “City of Dreams” introduces new characters portrayed by Rannvijay Singha, Sushant Singh, Flora Saini, Shishir Sharma, and others, promising an engaging ensemble cast.
Prepare for a memorable journey with “City of Dreams” season 3 as it immerses the audience in a captivating political drama set in the vibrant city of Mumbai. With an ensemble cast delivering stellar performances, this series will hook you from the beginning until the climactic finale. What sets this show apart is its well-crafted storyline, carefully balanced with just the right amount of twists and turns at the end of each episode. These unexpected moments are crucial in maintaining the series’ captivating allure.
In this season, we witness a stunning transformation in the character of Poornima from a state of sadness and misery to one of immense power. The portrayal by the talented Pilgaonkar as the antagonist is commendable. Kulkarni and Khan skillfully maintain the charm and essence of the political drama genre. Sushant Singh and Flora Saini deliver solid performances as supporting characters. While Ranvijay’s screen time may be limited, his appearances provide a refreshing touch. Eijaz Khan impresses in his role as Poornima’s loyal friend. Moreover, the series is a must-watch for drama enthusiasts, and the catchy background score and captivating opening credits theme enhance the overall enjoyment of the show.
The most intriguing aspect of the show lies in its depiction of the political tug-of-war, skillfully capturing the wheeling and dealing of legislators that mirrors real-life scenarios. However, if the director aims to capture the essence of the streaming classic “Succession,” they must put in more effort.
Kukunoor and co-writer Rohit Banawlikar occasionally dilute the tension by diverting into unnecessary sub-plots, such as the inclusion of an anti-drugs task force led by Poonima’s loyal cop, Wasim Khan (Eijaz Khan) – who returns to wearing a uniform after a stint in politics. Additionally, a somewhat sentimental romance storyline involves a drug mule (Tejas Raut) and an innocent receptionist (Manila Pradhan), which adds little value to the overall plot.
“City of Dreams” aims to depict the treacherous nature of politics, mirroring the world of crime. When the show stays true to this theme, it transcends the realm of mundane drug busts and murders.
Poornima, portrayed with a commanding presence and clad in crisp white saris, exudes sharpness and an unsentimental demeanor, except when it comes to memories of her deceased son. She skillfully thwarts all plots against her. The most captivating moments occur during the civilized yet cutting verbal duels between Poornima and Vibha, with Vibha easily winning the competition for the most stunning sari.
However, despite her ruthlessness, Poornima naively claims that her motivation for entering politics is to serve the state’s people. She adheres to Wasim’s dictum, “Achchai ka farz banta hai ki burai to khatam kare” (It’s the duty of the righteous to eliminate evil). Ironically, Poornima stops at nothing to eliminate obstacles but fails to recognize herself as part of the evil she seeks to eradicate.
City of Dreams has some weird sub-plots are well.
In one of the numerous scenes that unintentionally border on comedy, Poornima, overwhelmed by grief, unconventionally seeks solace. She finds herself at a BDSM establishment in Bangkok, where she undergoes a peculiar form of catharsis through flogging. Later, she ventures into a nightclub and engages in a provocative dance, unaware that her performance is captured on video and subsequently circulates online. This incident strikingly mirrors the real-life crisis Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin faced.
The production has a TV quality that makes you feel like you are watching a TV serial rather than a web series. The set, the frames and the sound design reminded one of the television serials of the 90’s
Kukunoor often creates characters that veer towards the excessively eccentric, as seen with the agoraphobic media mogul (played by Rannvijay Singha) who isolates himself within his high-tech home. Additionally, there’s an actor (played by Ali Asghar) whose unconventional attire consists of shorts and a leopard print satin robe as he indulges in the peculiar habit of rubbing cocaine on his teeth with a toothbrush. The exaggerated TV anchor Kasturinath (portrayed by Girish Sharma) draws inspiration from the flamboyant style of Sansani’s Shrivardhan Trivedi. The laconic Anna (played by Sushant Singh), known for his limited vocabulary consisting mostly of the word “milk” and a few others, returns from the previous season but is unfortunately given minimal significance in the storyline.
