India’s freedom struggle has been told so many times that finding a new way into it is not easy. But Prime Video’s latest series, The Revolutionaries, tries to do exactly that by focusing on the young men and women who chose violence and underground resistance over peaceful protest. It is a story about people who were willing to risk their lives for an idea of freedom, even when they knew they might not live to see it. Directed by Nikkhil Advani, the series brings together Rohit Saraf, Bhuvan Bam, Pratibha Ranta, and Gurfateh Pirzada. Read our review of The Revolutionaries to know if this historical drama is worth your time and emotions.

The Revolutionaries review: What’s the plot?

Set in the early 1900s, The Revolutionaries follows four young revolutionaries, Rash Behari Bose (Bhuvan Bam), Sachindra Nath Sanyal (Rohit Saraf), Bagha Jatin (Gurfateh Pirzada) and Pratibha Lahiri (Pratibha Ranta), as they work to fight British rule through underground networks and armed resistance.

Rather than focusing on the better-known faces of the freedom struggle, the series looks at people who believed that waiting for the British to leave was not an option. Their plans involve secret meetings, political networks, violence, and attempts to bring together a much larger rebellion. But the show is not only interested in the politics of revolution. It also looks at the people behind it. These are young people dealing with fear, relationships, disagreements, and the constant possibility of being caught. That human side of the story is where The Revolutionaries excels.

A good story stretched too far

The Revolutionaries is a good series that loses its impact in eight episodes of roughly an hour each. The first few episodes take their time setting up the characters and their world, but the pace can feel slow and not in an intentional way. Some scenes repeat ideas we already understand, and the story occasionally takes a long route to reach moments that would have felt far more significant if they came sooner.

This is especially frustrating because the actual story is interesting. These are people planning revolts under British surveillance, making dangerous alliances and knowing that getting caught could mean prison or death. There is enough drama in that without having to stretch every development. The show is also at its strongest when it keeps things personal. The fear, disagreements, and sacrifices of these young revolutionaries are more interesting than some of the larger, more dramatic sequences designed to make the story feel epic.

Bhuvan Bam is one of the biggest surprises

Bhuvan Bam is surprisingly good as Rash Behari Bose. Known mainly for his comedy and Taaza Khabar, he takes on a much more serious role here and does not feel out of place for a second. He brings a quiet intensity to Bose and makes him feel like a person rather than a larger-than-life historical figure. It is one of the performances that makes you want to see what Bam does next.

Rohit Saraf is also convincing as Sachindra Nath Sanyal, moving away from the romantic roles audiences usually associate him with. Pratibha Ranta brings a steady presence to Pratibha Lahiri, while Gurfateh Pirzada fits naturally into the role of Bagha Jatin.

Overall, The Revolutionaries has a story worth telling and, importantly, brings some lesser-known figures of the freedom struggle into the spotlight. But the show would have benefited from a sharper edit and less drama. 

Can you watch The Revolutionaries with family? Yes, it can make for a good family watch as it is informative and engaging.

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