Scam 2003 The Telgi Story Review: Gagan Dev Riar's gripping performance rises above a patchy plot

follow-up to runaway hit Scam 1992, Gagan Dev Riar starrer Scam 2003: Telgi Story is spiritually tied to its prequel. anthology series traces lives of underdogs who climb ir way up rung, albeit with questionable choices. It pushes viewers to think about what's morally acceptable and what's not and rein lies its essence. new part consists of five episodes, with Vol 2 coming out sometime before end of year. With a legacy to live up to, does Scam 2003 deliver? Will strategy to release it in two parts work? Let's find out.

3 things you need to know

• Scam web series is inspired by real-life incidents and persons.
• re is a heavy dialogue play in Scam 2003, which gives it a Bollywood-like feel.
• show is based on Telgi: Ek Reporter Ki Diary by Sanjay Singh.

Hot Take

makers of Scam 2003 find an affable character to get into mind of -- Abdul Karim Telgi, who orchestrated Rs 30,000 crore stamp paper scam in 2000s. Gagan Dev Riar, who plays Telgi, has a huge task at hand. show presents a character that most of us will not be aware of. His rendition of Telgi will be what people come to accept latter as. That's tricky part of presenting a real-life story - balancing real with dramatic. Director Tushar Hiranandani has managed to bring to life a likeable version of an orwise morally dubious character. Much like Harsh Mehta's fraud in Scam 1992, new show paints corrupt system as villain, which Telgi is a small part of.

show appears to be patchy in first two build-up episodes but bounces back reafter. re is a method to mness that Telgi and those around him are planning, but it takes time to hit home. While it may appear early on that Scam 2003 may turn out to be underwhelming due to its sluggish pace, latter half takes a turn for good. It's poignant and powerful with message 'never give up' ringing loud.

Is Scam 2003 worth hype?

Set in 90s, Telgi Story begins in Khanapur, a small village in Karnataka. It traces his journey to becoming one of most powerful men in Mumbai, around whom lives of police and politicians come to revolve. How he remains stefast in his sole aim to earn more and more money is shown in 5-part Vol 1.

Gagan Dev Riar is impressive

Scam 2003 relies on Gagan as Telgi to step up, and he delivers. When Telgi is demur and vulnerable, it is reflected in actor's body language. Even though character is big on dialoguebaazi, in moments where it matters, Gagan remains restrained. This allows us to connect with Telgi, man. As story progresses and Telgi takes control of his business and life, it begins to reflect how Gagan stands and speaks, all with an air of confidence. Telgi's behaviour gets violent and his language becomes harsh in second half. changes are subtle and make impact much more powerful.

(Gagan Dev Riar in a still from Scam 2003: Telgi Story | Image: IMDB)

A bar scene sums this up in an effective manner. Telgi gets into a power battle with anor rich businessman and he ends up humiliating him. sequence plays out with a haunting background score, highlighting height of insanity that is driving Telgi's life. He shouts 'aukaat' and just like that, character has h a 180-degree turnaround.

Gagan is impressive in every scene and makes Telgi his own. He is as good as Pratik Gandhi in Scam 1992, if not more.

show finds its voice, albeit a little late

Scam 2003 follows in same vein as its predecessor. Washed-out images transport us back to 90s. Director Tushar Hiranandani wastes no time in parachuting viewers into middle of Telgi's turmoil-struck life. When we meet him, he is a fruit seller on a train, always fixing his broken slippers, and a hint of dirt on his clos and face, furr stressing his poverty and longing desire to be rich.

By end of Vol 1, he lavishes Rs 90 lakh in a matter of minutes just to massage his ego. turn is drastic but story builds up to it, beat by beat. Tushar manages to show us various facets of Telgi but two qualities remain consistent- his will to bounce back against all odds and his easy-going nature. This helps us root for Telgi even as he ventures deep into depths of greed. Like Harsh Mehta, Telgi becomes unlikely hero, to point that we overlook his criminal activities and want to see him succeed. first-person narrative aids this approach. tale unfolds from PoV of Telgi while everything around him blurs.

Lack of supporting characters

Was Telgi main hero of his story? Did he not have any reliable partners or did he keep everyone else at a distance? se questions may cross one's mind as y watch show. Those around Telgi come and go but his relationship with his business stays consistent. Thus, re are no standout supporting roles in show. Those who are present do a convincing job of it. Telgi, more than individuals, battles his circumstances and comes to terms with his own shortcomings. That's his story and re are no or strings attached.

Stream it or skip it?

Fans of Scam 1992 would not want to miss out on Scam 2003. It could be more than a worthy follow-up, but that verdict can be reserved for when whole series is out. new show gets most part of storytelling right, although heavy dialogue play may seem forced at emotionally heavy points in story. With cloud of loneliness looming over le character, his doubt and feelings of failure become ours. So does his success.

Bottomline

Like 'risk hai to ishq hai' in Scam 1992, 'daring toh karna pega na darling' is Scam 2003 catchphrase. meteoric ascent of Telgi may almost slip by unnoticed and that's where show succeeds. You will not expect when it all happened, only to look back in retrospect and piece it all toger.

Stars: 3.5/5