The new season of the Scam series, called "Scam 2003: The Telgi Story," is here. The main focus is on the story of Abdul Karim Telgi, the main face behind the fake stamp paper scam 2003. You might recognize the famous title track from the earlier season. This new season has big expectations because the last one was a big hit.
This time around, the series is helmed by Tushar Hiranandani and features a total of five episodes in its first part. The show is all about Abdul Karim Telgi's incredible journey, played by Gagan Dev Riar. He does a fantastic job as Telgi, making the character feel real and engaging.
Unlike the flashy flamboyance of Harshad Mehta, the central figure of "Scam 1992," Telgi chooses to remain in the shadows, fully aware of the dangers of drawing attention to his illicit activities. We are first introduced to Telgi on a train, where he cleverly sells fruits wrapped in photocopies of his B.Com degree certificate. A lucky meeting brings him to Mumbai, where he plays a big role in helping a local guest house grow. The show does a good job of showing his life, like falling in love, getting married, and spending time in Saudi Arabia.
However, it's upon his return to India that Telgi's true story unfolds.
The show does a great job of showing how Telgi gets really obsessed with making fake stamp papers.
They explain in a lot of detail how they make stamp papers and how they get sent out to different places. They especially focus on Telgi's daring plan to swap real ones with fake ones in just six minutes while on a moving train.
As he dreams bigger, Telgi tries to work with big companies and get a proper license, which makes everything even riskier.
However, "Scam 2003" falls short in certain aspects. In many stories where the little guy triumphs, we usually see big dreams, the desire for more money, and how society treats those with less. However, in this show, sometimes, it doesn't quite get these ideas across as well as it could. In contrast to "Scam 1992," which masterfully depicted Harshad Mehta's pursuit of power, "Scam 2003" sometimes only briefly touches upon such ideas. The screenplay takes too long to establish how Telgi operates, and certain sequences lack the depth and attention they require.
Gagan Dev Riar's performance as Abdul Karim Telgi is undoubtedly a highlight of the show. His portrayal infuses the character with restless energy, wit, and confidence. However, the overall narrative fails to match the caliber of his acting.
One of the key decisions made by the makers is to split the series into two parts. The first five episodes, which primarily focus on Telgi's rise, are currently available on SonyLiv. This decision raises questions about how effectively the conclusion, marked with a "To be continued," will complement a story that thrives on the juxtaposition of rise and fall.
In the end, only time will tell whether "Scam 2003: The Telgi Story" lives up to its potential or leaves viewers wanting more depth and focus in its storytelling.