"Sacred Games" stands as an iconic Indian neo-noir crime thriller streaming television series, breaking new ground as India's first Netflix original. The show, based on Vikram Chandra's 2006 novel, was brought to life by the creative minds of Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap under their production banner Phantom Films. Adapted by Varun Grover, Smita Singh, and Vasant Nath, the series follows the intricate narrative of the novel, exploring the dark underbelly of Mumbai's underworld.
The protagonist, Sartaj Singh, portrayed by Saif Ali Khan, is a complex and troubled police officer whose life takes an unexpected turn when he receives a mysterious call from the notorious gangster Ganesh Gaitonde, played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Gaitonde challenges Sartaj to save the city within 25 days, setting off a chain of events that unravel the secrets of Mumbai's criminal landscape.
The ensemble cast, featuring talented actors like Radhika Apte, Girish Kulkarni, Neeraj Kabi, Jeetendra Joshi, Rajshri Deshpande, and many others, contributes to the richness and authenticity of the series. The inclusion of Kalki Koechlin, Ranvir Shorey, and Amruta Subhash in the second season adds new dimensions to the narrative.
"Sacred Games" boasts a unique storytelling approach, with Motwane directing the scenes involving Sartaj Singh and Kashyap handling Gaitonde's sequences. The first season, released on July 5, 2018, in 191 countries, received widespread acclaim for its performances and writing. The second season, premiered on August 15, 2019, continued the gripping tale but faced a mixed response from viewers.
The series delves into the complex dynamics of the city's underworld, political intrigue, and the personal struggles of its characters. Themes of corruption, crime, and the quest for redemption are masterfully interwoven, creating a compelling narrative that transcends cultural boundaries.
With its distinctive characters, intense performances, and a narrative that blurs the lines between morality and corruption, "Sacred Games" has earned its place as a groundbreaking Indian series, making it the only Indian show to feature on The New York Times' "The 30 Best International TV Shows of the Decade" list. Despite its open-ended climax, the show remains a landmark achievement in Indian television, leaving an indelible mark on the global streaming landscape.
Main Cast:
- Saif Ali Khan - Inspector Sartaj Singh
- Nawazuddin Siddiqui - Ganesh Gaitonde
- Radhika Apte - Anjali Mathur
- Pankaj Tripathi - Khanna Guruji (Recurring in Season 1, Main in Season 2)
- Kalki Koechlin - Batya Abelman (Main in Season 2)
- Ranvir Shorey - Shahid Khan (Main in Season 2)
Recurring Cast:
- Neeraj Kabi - DCP Dilip Parulkar
- Jatin Sarna - Deepak "Bunty" Shinde
- Kubra Sait - Kukoo
- Jitendra Joshi - Constable Ashok Katekar
- Rajshri Deshpande - Subhadra
- Elnaaz Norouzi - Zoya Mirza/Jamila
- Luke Kenny - Malcolm Mourad
- Aamir Bashir - Inspector Majid Ali Khan
- Geetanjali Thapa - Nayanika Sehgal
- Surveen Chawla - Jojo Mascarenas
- Shalini Vatsa - Kanta Bai
- Amruta Subhash - Kusum Devi Yadav
- Girish Kulkarni - Bipin Bhosale
- Anupriya Goenka - Megha Singh
- Affan Khan - Young Sartaj Singh
- Sunny Pawar - Young Ganesh Gaitonde
- Danish Pandor - Bada Badariya
- Anil Mange - Chota Badariya
- Vikram Kochar - Mathu
- Samir Kochhar - ACIO Markand
- Chittaranjan Tripathy - Trivedi
- Rajendra Shisatka - ASI Dhobale
- Sukhmani Sadana - Mikki
- Muni Jha - Paritosh Shah
- Karan Wahi - Karan Malhotra
- Rajveer Singh Rajput - Raw Agent
- Nawab Shah - Salim Kaka
- Saanand Verma - Purushottam Baria
- Jaipreet Singh - Constable Dilbagh Singh
- Saurabh Sachdeva - Suleiman Isa
- Neha Shitole - Shalini Katekar
- Smita Tambe - ATS Analyst Rama
- Harshita Gaur - Mary Mascarenas
- Priyanka Setia - Harsha Baria
- Sandesh Kulkarni - Gaitonde's Father
- Vibhavari Deshpande - Gaitonde's Mother
- Joy Sengupta - Mathur
- Amey Wagh - Kushal
- Jaimin Panchal - Gaitonde's Brother
- Sharik Khan - Vikash