The Telgi Story is a brilliant contribution to Hansal Mehta’s scam-verse, an exciting subgenre that few directors were able to explore. The new series has a different premise and a different director, but it still has that same distinctive flavor, just like its predecessor Scam 1992, which received praise within days of its release. It has all the ingredients necessary to meticulously tackle the convoluted and winding real-life story of a street-smart con artist. Scam 2003 provides the purest guide for directors on how to create a captivating biopic if anything.
Story: Abdul Karim Telgi is an intelligent and ambitious guy who wants to succeed in life, but his circumstances prevent him from doing so until the day he has the chance to go to Mumbai. He notices a difference in his life after moving to the Maximum City and subsequently decides to go to the Gulf in an effort to increase his income. A few years later, fate sends him back to the nation, but this time he intends to create money rather than just to earn it. He begins his career in counterfeiting in this manner, first producing phony passports before moving on to the main event: mass-producing false stamp sheets. What follows is for you to watch.
Performances: Gagan Dev Riar’s portrayal of Abdul Karim Telgi in Scam 2003: The Telgi Story is outstanding, and he is sure to receive a lot of praise for it. It is clear from his performance that he was truly enjoying himself while portraying the part. Bhavana Balsavar, Bharat Jadhav, Shashank Ketkar, and Sameer Dharmadhikari are some more members of the supporting cast who have all performed admirably.
Technicalities: The subito-styled writing of Scam 2003, which moves at a breakneck pace, is what really draws you in and sells the idea of the film. One hardly has time to become distracted because of how quickly the series moves. Instead, you’ll develop a strong connection with every character, especially Abdul. Despite the length of the episodes
There are several subplots that are developing at once, maintaining the suspense and keeping you on the edge of your seat. The conversations and interactions among all the characters establish an important conduit between us and their intentions right away. The creators of the program deserve credit for making it simple to grasp the intricate, market-heavy terminologies and procedures. This was accomplished by extensive study and Tushar Hiranandani and Hansal Mehta also merit praise for giving the narrative and the characters a special touch of reality. The only reason the five-episode series can live up to the legacy of Scam 1992 is because real and make-believe coexist together. The virtually flawless and balanced balance that the creators maintain greatly contributes to its brilliance. The cherry on top is the clear and delicious cinematography by Stanley Mudda, editing by Kunal Walve, music by Ishaan Chhabra, and actor casting by Mukesh Chhabra.
Analysis: Banaaya jaata hai, pasa kamaaya nahi. hoax 2003: The Telgi Story, which is based on The Stamp Paper hoax, is in a different league.
Gagan Dev Riar, who plays Abdul Karim Telgi in the lead, is not Pratik Gandhi from Scam 1992, but he does credit to the narrative. Gagan also comes the closest to portraying Telgi on the screen of any actor. They resemble one another so strikingly. He excels in his part at times when you can experience every emotion along with him. The most notable instance is when he embarks on a voyage by himself. Even if the situation has been slightly dramatized, it still has the desired effect.
Verdict: The criminal drama Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story is earnest in its effort and succeeds in bringing the Telgi world to life, but it doesn’t quite have the same appeal as its predecessor, Scam 1992. The audience was able to relate to Harshad Mehta’s journey, including his faults, because of Hansal Mehta’s humanization of the character. In Abdul Karim Telgi’s narrative, I didn’t see such treatment.
Rating: 2.5/5