AppleTV+ immerses us in the world of 1980s Bombay with “Shantaram,” a new drama series based on the bestselling novel by Gregory David Roberts. Starring Charlie Hunnam as the charismatic Lin Ford, Shubham Saraf as Lin’s instant best friend Prabhu, and Antonia Desplat as Karla, the woman Lin’s willing to risk it all for.
We first meet Lin in Pentridge Prison, Australia. Through a voiceover, he tells us he’s learned hard lessons about life – and that he must escape the prison now, or die. Okay, I’m intrigued. The year is 1982, and Lin does not seem popular in the prison with threats being hissed at him in the halls. Dale appears to be his real name, and it seems his fellow inmates think he’s a snitch. Through an already arranged plan, Lin escapes and makes his way to his ex-professor for help.
Lin’s backstory becomes clearer as we learn his story through the first three episodes. Lin has a good heart, but his mistakes led to him being partially responsible for a man’s death – something he clearly has remorse for and carries that guilt with him. Lin expresses his sadness at being unable to go back to college, to be a paramedic like he planned. His ex-professor sees the good in him, and helps him escape to Bombay on a fake New Zealand passport for a fresh start. Lin has a good heart, I’m rooting for him to make something of himself here in Bombay.
The location of Bombay is a character in itself, and one I’m really enjoying watching on screen. One of the first people Lin meets is the delightful Prabhu (Shubham Saraf) a guide who teaches Lin the basics of Bombay. Later, he takes Lin to his village and introduces him to family as the two become the best of friends. Prabhu and Lin become business partners in the tourism business, and it’s so fun to watch them work together.
A chance encounter in the streets sees Karla drag Lin back from getting hit by traffic – and it’s love at first sight for him. Lin and Karla have an instant spark between them. Through Karla’s friends, Lin meets dealers, gamblers and gangsters which may be a problem for him in future, knowing he had previous problems with drugs. Lisa, an addict, is one of the friend group. Played by the alluring Elektra Kilbey, Lin seems to have an affinity with her too.
Lin puts his charismatic talents to use to help Karla and her friends, before realising he can put his paramedic knowledge to good use in a place where many people cannot afford doctors. Having found the fresh start and purpose he was searching for – I’d hate to see him lose his found family and second chance at life due to making the same mistakes and getting involved with bad people. An incident at the end of episode 2 causes Lin immense guilt similar to his incident in Australia, leading to flashbacks that really made me feel for him and want to see him succeed at his new life in Bombay.
I’m hooked and will be looking forward to a new installment in the life of Lin each week – I hope Lin, Prabhu, Karla & co all make it through alive, because I’m already attached to this messy little found family. Highly recommend.
