Sacred Games begins in startling fashion with a dog, yelping in flight, dropped from a high-rise block and hitting the ground to screams from schoolchildren, as a voiceover says, ‘God doesn’t give a f**k’.
It’s even more striking as the opening to a series set in Mumbai, India – a melting pot of colliding religious beliefs where Muslim-Hindu tensions have a long-standing history. It sets the precedent for Sacred Games bold approach, which rips open the heart of the city in beautiful, dark and uncomfortable ways.
Based on the book by Vikram Chandra, Sacred Games follows struggling cop Sartaj Singh (Saif Ali Khan) who is mysteriously contacted by criminal kingpin Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). Drawn closer after name-checking his father, Sartaj is told everyone will die in 25 days apart from one man, leaving his ominous threat to cause panic inside Mumbai’s police force.
It soon becomes clear certain officers know more about Gaitonde’s motivations than they’re letting on, with Sartaj’s burning curiosity leading him to chase leads despite being warned not to pursue the case or face losing his badge.
What follows is a dual narrative which flicks between Gaitonde’s criminal ascent in the 1980s and a present day chase against the clock to figure out his masterplan. Both these strands, while occasionally jarring, are equally compelling – with Gaitonde’s rise opening up a sexier, seductive side of Mumbai which nicely balances the tense police hunt elsewhere.
A big draw is the excellent performance from Saif Ali Khan – a huge star in India who will likely shoot up Hollywood lists following his turn as Sartaj. He’s always an endearing presence as a small-time cop enraptured and determined to crack a huge case, a trait not shared by his comic relief cop partner who simply wants an uninterrupted intimate moment with his wife.
The music is also remarkable throughout, with rapper Divine offering two original tracks while historic songs like Main Na Bhoolunga ring through the bustling city. Mumbai is the beating heart of Sacred Games, delving into its tight living spaces, prickly humour and grit beneath the more elite, shiny Bollywood surface.
With criminal kingpins, authority conspiracies and likeable cop duos, it’s tempting to label Sacred Games as the Indian Narcos – but the first four episodes are more concise and stylishly executed than its Colombian rival. If you’re pining for a fresh, addictive thriller bursting with style, Sacred Games is the perfect excuse to shield from the summer heat.
Sacred Games releases on Netflix 6 July.
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