Guns & Gulaabs – this series is an ode to India’s 1980s and 1990s masala movie world. So, its creators have undertaken a nostalgia trip with it, which includes masala ingredients of almost all kinds.
Masala (a hindi word) means Spices.
Herein they reminisce about the era that has gone by. And when we said, the movie world, it also included the hit Music of not only that 1990s period. Besides all those chart-bursting songs from the earlier period of the 1980s are there too. Furthermore, there are famous proverbs and dialogues from that era. Not surprisingly, this film includes all the popular cliches of the said Hindi movie eras.
Synopsis (official summary) of Guns & Gulaabs (2023) Series
This story is set in the sleepy town of Gulaabgunj in the 1990s, which is dominated by the local drug cartel. In that era, a bunch of commoners in the town, a mechanic Tipu (Rajkummar Rao) struggles to emerge from his dead gangster father’s shadow in a mission to win over the love of his life Chandralekha (T.J. Bhanu), the English teacher.
Meanwhile, an honest officer Arjun (Dulquer Salmaan) ends up being a chaos agent; whilst a reluctant cartel heir Chotu Ganchi ~ Jugnu (Adarsh Gourav) has an identity crisis. All these characters get involved in chaotic events, as one of the biggest opium deals was supposed to take place in that town.
Spoilers Free review of the Guns & Gulaabs (2023) Series
The bygone eras of Indian masala movies
Once upon a time, the typical masala films dominated the screens in the 1980s and 1990s in India. Such Indian movies boast of all the must-have ingredients in the three-hour-long movies – Comedy, Crime, Romance, Thriller, Drama, etc. Many people of the older generation were regular consumers of such a genre of Hindi cinema. In fact, in the said bygone eras, everyone loved watching this kind of masala flick. Even the folks from the younger generation grew on the staple diet of such masala.
So, all those typical Indian masala movies were quite popular. As their viewers were asked not to look for the logic in the scriptwriting. Instead, simply enjoy the mad-cap ride into their immersive world of fiction. It was a kind of escape for the average Indian. The people who were working hard to earn a living under difficult circumstances. No doubt, Popular Indian cinemas acted as a distraction and provided an escape route for all.
The Guns & Gulaabs series is an ode and a homage to that era. However, these days, such a popular masala movie world is vanishing, slowly but surely, even in India. The tastes and preferences of movie-goers have undergone a change. So, while reviewing this series, we had to overlook the gross illogical moments and absurdities in its storyline. And as a viewer, you will also have to do the same, to enjoy the content of this series.
Boast a good quality of actors
Once you are willing to take its story with a pinch of salt. Then you will find that this show offers a lot of entertainment. Its romantic leads are Rajkummar Rao (we saw his work recently in Bheed film too) and T.J. Bhanu (we have seen her recently in the Modern Love Chennai series too). Besides, it has a very good collection of professional actors – Dulquer Salmaan, Pooja Gor, Adarsh Gourav, Gulshan Devaiah, Satish Kaushik, Vipin Sharma, etc. They have done a commendable job of making us nostalgic about the era that has gone by. However, some people might feel that such a good bunch of actors could have been used in a much better way. And probably, they could have used a much tighter and smarter script.
Actor Adarsh Gourav shines brightly
A shout-out to the hugely talented actor Adarsh Gourav (who plays Chotu ‘Jugnu’ Ganchi), as he has done an amazing job bringing alive his complex character, who is searching for his identity in this cruel world of crime besides trying to prove himself to be a worthy heir to the drug-cartel family. Incidentally, Adarsh Gourav Bhagavatula was born in our state of Jharkhand in the industrial town of Jamshedpur. And not to forget the fact not so long ago, he was nominated for a BAFTA in the acting category in another series.
This show was shot in the Himalayan region
Its cinematography has managed to capture the beauty of small towns in the hilly Himalayan regions of India. The location of its shooting was in the scenic Uttarakhand state in the Himalayas, especially Dehradun, Mussoorie and its twin city nearby Landour. They have also used popular songs from the said eras to name the title of a bunch of the episodes in the series.
Another show from the Krishna D.K. & Raj Nidimoru (Raj & DK) & the conclusion
Also, one has to admire the creator duo of Krishna D.K. & Raj Nidimoru (Raj & DK), who gave us two superhits Farzi and The Family Man series, not so long ago. They are really churning out one good series after another. To be honest, although this Guns & Gulaabs show has failed to live up to the high standards set by Raj & DK. Maybe because of its predictable storyline, which is based on popular masala movies from India.
Still, it is an enjoyable show that forces you to take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about your journey in life. Also, check out how the mobile telecom revolution and other technological advancements in the last couple of decades have changed our lives in India. All in all, it is a good time-pass show, that makes you wonder about the changing landscape, tastes and preferences in today’s entertainment world.
You will certainly enjoy it if you like the 1980s and 1990s films.
Ratings of this G & G – a 2023 Hindi series by Raj & DK
| FM’s rating | 3.75/5 |
| IMDb rating as of the date | 8.00/10 |
Spoilers Alert – let us peek into its seven (7) episodes
1st Episode – Har Insaan Mein Hai Shaitaan
Har Insaan Mein Hai Shaitaan
The title is a popular proverb in the Hindi language and it means there is a devil in every man.
After his father’s death, lovelorn mechanic Tipu (Rajkummar Rao) takes a drastic step. The arrival of cop Arjun Varma (Dulquer Salmaan) causes a stir in Gulabganj town.
Meanwhile, a high-stakes drug deal is afoot, wherein a big order for illegal drugs has been placed with the gang leader Ganchi (Satish Kaushik) by a powerful party from Kolkotta.
2nd Episode – Everything I Do … I Do It For You
Everything I Do … I Do It For You
The title is a popular 1991 song by Bryan Adams.
When his family is threatened, Arjun is faced with a messy personal problem. How can he save himself and his loving family from the possible case of a public embarrassment?
Ganchi’s (Satish Kaushik) gang suffers a sudden blow while the hired assassin Atmaram (Gulshan Devaiah) takes a shot at Tipu, however, Tipu manages to stay alive but loses his close friend.
3rd Episode – Kasam Paida Karnewale Ki
Kasam Paida Karnewale Ki
It means taking an oath in the name of the creator and/or one’s birth parents.
The title of the episode – Kasam Paida Karnewale Ki is a popular 1984 Hindi movie name. In addition, it is also the title song from the same film.
A devastated Tipu vows to avenge the emotional loss of his close friend and to kill Atmaram. Seeking to grab power, a rival cartel tries to control of drug business and fulfil the drug orders placed by the Kolkotta party; even as Jugnu (Adarsh Gourav) steps into his father’s shoes, as his father Ganchi gets severely injured in a freak accident and hospitalized.
4th Episode – Deal Ya No Deal
Deal Ya No Deal
The title is the name of the popular game show on TV.
As the two gangs compete with each other for control of the lucrative drug business, Arjun targets opium farms in both the towns – Gulaabganj and Sherpur.
At the same time, Nannu ~ Lalkrishna Panwar (Krish Rao) and Jo ~ Jyotsana (Suhani Sethi) grow closer at the school; while Tipu and Bunty (Manuj Sharma) search for Atmaram, as Tipu seeks revenge.
5th Episode – Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain
Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain
The title is a popular 1997 Hindi movie song from India, it means two hearts are meeting and coming together.
A desperate Jugnu throws caution to the wind, while Lekha’s (T.J. Bhanu) family struggles to cope with the desperation in the Ganchi gang. An attack on the hospital exposes Tipu to Atmaram’s wrath.
6th Episode – Pyaar Chutiyapa Hai
Pyaar Chutiyapa Hai
The title is a popular street lingo in Hindi, it means love is silly and idiotic.
Arjun attempts to find his allies. Nannu’s friendship with Jo drives a wedge between him and Gangu ~ Gangaram (Tanishq Chaudhary) at the school. Tipu plots a daring deed to help Lekha.
7th Episode – Raat Baaki Baat Baaki
Raat Baaki Baat Baaki
The title is a popular 1982 Hindi movie song, it means the night is still on, and the talk is still on.
In the final episode, as cops and cartels collide, one truckload of drugs stands between chaos and control. But when Lekha and the school kids are pulled into danger, Arjun and Tipu take action.
Poster of this G & G – a 2023 Hindi series by Raj & DK
key details of this G & G – a 2023 Hindi series by Raj & DK
| Genre | Comedy, Crime, Romance, Thriller |
| Age-restrictions | UA (16+) |
| Original language | Hindi (गन्स एंड गुलाबस losely translated to Guns & Roses – a popular band) Gulaabs (गुलाबस) means Roses. |
| Released in | August 2023 |
| Season & Episodes | Season (1) One – Episodes (7) Seven |
| Creators | Krishna D.K. & Raj Nidimoru |
| Writers | Suman Kumar, Raj & DK (Hindi Dialogues by Sumit Arora) |
| Cast | Rajkummar Rao, T.J. Bhanu, Dulquer Salmaan, Pooja Gor, Adarsh Gourav, Gulshan Devaiah, Satish Kaushik, Vipin Sharma |
| Network | Netflix |
Trailer of this G & G – a 2023 Hindi series by Raj & DK
Featured & Other Images: Guns & Gulaabs | Netflix