Shantaram

Apple's Shantaram barely scratches the surface in the 12 episodes of its densely plotted, occasionally overripe first season. ... Effortlessly charismatic Charlie Hunnam. ... Guide/sidekick Prabhu (charming Shubham Saraf), whose generous grin could melt anyone's heart. He's worthy of his own series. [24 Oct - 6 Nov 2022, p.6]

At twelve hour-long episodes (for its first season alone), it’s a lot to get through, and more than a little bloated as a result. But in adapting Gregory David Roberts’ acclaimed 2003 novel to the screen, showrunner Steve Lightfoot (“Hannibal,” “The Punisher”) has crafted a show that captures the spirit of its source material, albeit in a slightly stretched-out package. ... It’s easy to get lost in the sprawl of Bombay and its vibrant international cast of characters, and wonder just what roads his salvation may take him down in future seasons.

Even when one is wishing that “Shantaram” would turn up the narrative heat a bit, it’s an engaging drama. There’s not a single weak performance and several very good ones (Hunnam, Siddig, and Desplat being stand-outs).

There’s nothing stiff or stuffy about “Shantaram,” but the quality is high enough to qualify as prestige television, a term that gets harder to define by the day. This is a universe to get lost in, much as Lin must lose himself in his adopted home.

Hunnam is a strong choice of a lead, and the supporting cast is similarly strong. ... It’s hard to discern an organizing principle. And even when you’re swept along in the narrative, that underlying question mark remains, and somewhat diminishes the strong acting and the wonderful cinematography (Bombay, in all its messy grandeur, is a star here).