To watch Nana Patekar act in the 10 episodes of Sankalp is delightful – his enigmatic disposition perfectly matches the character created by Prakash Jha, the king of political dramas
Writes Kalyanam Rajeswari
Sankalp on Amazon MX Player directed by Prakash Jha launches Nana Patrkar on OTT. The socio-political features Nana Patekar as Kanhaiya Lal. Maat Saab for those who revere him – he runs an ashram for talented kids handpicked by him from impoverished families unable to fend for themselves. Once with him he provides everything for them, educates them and helps them crack UPSC. There comes a time when his students are in all major and minor positions across the bureaucracy. And evidently he is very powerful and definitely a shrewd Strategist who seems to have an ulterior motive beneath his calm and composed exterior. At the other end of his plans is Prashant Singh, Chief Minister of Delhi played by Sanjay Kapoor and his party President Waqar (Neeraj Kabi). They have a past which is revealed via back stories. And this past dictates the actions of Maat Saab who the director adept at political dramas, has modelled on the lines of Chanakya.
His Chandragupta is Aditya Verma (Md Zeeshan Ayyub). His favourite student.
To watch Nana Patekar act in the 10 episodes of Sankalp is delightful – his enigmatic disposition perfectly matches the character. And political dramas with their plots and sub plots with some good actors with their complex lives thrown in have mostly worked when made well.
The OTT series Sankalp is well produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Dishaa Jha under Jio Cinemas and PJP banners with a commendable cast which includes in addition to the actors mentioned above the likes of Kubbra Sai and Kranti Prakash Jha.
The cast is such that at times the narration steers away from the main plot taking its own course and then the back stories – while we wait for the plot to unfold. Sankalp Season 1 evidently leaves you on a cliffhanger with the Chankya at loggerheads with his Chandragupta even while you still remain scratching your head over whether to like Maat Saab or hate him- whether he is a good man.
Finally Prakash Jha does a good job at what he excels in – weaving engaging socio political drama. You won’t be bored. We can assure you of that.
