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THE MAFIOSI’S FIELD DAY ON THE WEB
Stories of the bad guys were always a hit on the big screen. Now online audiences are intrigued by the dark side too
Villains or negative characters have played an equally important role in movies and shows from time immemorial. They add the much-needed spark to a linear plot. But what happens when a villain is the protagonist? Double the drama and mayhem. Now, thanks to the digital medium, makers can present a detailed account of the lives of these tainted characters. Case in point: the success of shows such as Narcos and Sacred Games, and recently released series namely; Mirzapur, Smoke and N Mi
INTRIGUE FACTOR
Crime lord stories have time and again made for fascinating plots. “It’s an intriguing genre worldwide. It’s about people who came from nothing, made it big and bent the rules. It makes for an interesting story arch to follow. Be it the Godfather series or Scarface (1983). Now, with web series, you can do a lot, so more of these shows being made. Some are true stories, so it only adds to the intrigue value,” says trade expert Amul Vikas Mohan. Talking about the draw for actors, Pankaj Tripathi, who plays a mafia don in Mirzapur, says, “As an actor, it’s thrilling. I feel immense power and you’ve to show forced leadership, no pity on screen—which is far from our real lives. Without glorifying the character to some extent, it won’t look impactful. It’s a fine line. Digital era makes it easy.”
CREATIVE FREEDOM
Gulshan Devaiah, who plays a criminal in Smoke, says, “Even in cinema and popular culture, gangsters have always been romanticised. The digital platform allows more time to explore details and more creative freedom [as there is no censorship]. Good stories, interesting characters and marketing strategies help to build the right kind of hype and a vision from the makers makes good quality products.”
EASY ACCESS
Talking about the medium’s easy accessibility, Tripathi adds, “Everyone is watching content on cell phones, it’s the advantage of flexibility. The characters on this [digital] medium will only become immortal.”