Nana Patekar’s Ma’at Saab, around whom Sankalp thematically revolves, is one of the most interesting protagonists of recent times. Having begun as a student leader, the respected educator has gradually built an army of his own over 30 years. At present, Ma’at Saab commands such reverence and devotion from his disciples that it’s just expected for each of them to follow his word to a fault. And above all, there is a mythical quality to Ma’at Saab’s character and his secret empire, and this world around him is established in an equally eerie manner. When one of those students unwittingly defies the code, in effect breaking the mystique around his worship, all hell breaks loose.
It’s a brilliant beginning for a show, but Sankalpdirected by Prakash Jha, doesn’t know what to do with its powerful premise. The trajectory of the first two episodes is so impactful, that every follow-up only ends up disappointing you.
Directed by: Prakash Jha
Cast: Nana Patekar, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Kubbra Sait, Bhagwan Tiwari, Neeraj Kabi, Sanjay Kapoor, Meghna Malik
Streaming on: Amazon MX Player
Created by Reshu Nath, the show goes in too many directions with each new episode, as we are introduced to the many pawns of this massive game of chess that’s being played in Delhi and Bihar — CM Prashant Singh (Sanjay Kapoor) and his advisor Waqar (Neeraj Kabi) being the unaware rivals on the other side. However, the way these stories unfold alongside each other makes the show more complicated than complex. You are disoriented by the lack of direction. The more interesting figures like Ma’at Saab, Prashant and Waqar frequently drift away from the proceedings, while other subplots about counterfeit currency and the kidnapping of a young kid take precedence. There is no focal emotional point to the universe here, and Sankalp struggles to rise above this inherent flaw. Of course, a big-scale narrative like this would have many players; but after a point, it becomes too convoluted for its own sake, busy being indulgent while the viewer gets distant. There is also a good backstory twist around episode 4, which strangely doesn’t add too much to the existing conflict between the two rivals.
Comments are closed.