TAJ – Indeed Wah Taj!!! PK Verdict: Silver Plus 3.5*s

#TAJ Divided by Blood – Indeed Wah Taj!!!

Taj left us spellbound from the trailer itself. After watching the series, we bet, you will go on google searching for the answers to the many questions the series raises after you are done binge watching the show. TAJ Inspired by true events, as claimed by the makers is indeed the mystery that leaves you astonished. It chronicles around King Akbar played by Naseeruddin Shah who aces being the Mughal Dynasty Emperor Akbar, we are blessed to see him perform with this panache. If director is the captain of the ship, this actor is the Compass. Navigating you through the story being the spine of it and making you witness the magic TAJ is, introducing you to his kingdom that includes an ensemble cast who performs picture perfect. The kingdom that you see failing despite a strong spine that of Emperor Akbar makes you ponder to the belief “nothing is permanent”. Indeed, nothing is. But TAJ is surely a great entertainer, if History intrigues you, TAJ is a web-series you shall not miss.

All the impressions we may have had for the emperor Akbar may fade when you see the vulnerability of the aging Emperor. People find their lives quite complicated with one life partner and here Akbar has many wives living together in a harem, kind of a dedicated palace where all his wives live. In this harem he has a secret room where you see the flower bloom. Aditi Rao Hydari as Anarkali is spectacular and brings in the picture-perfect elegance with her grace. If Akbar is the Spine of the series, Anarkali is the soul and Salim – The body. Played by Ashim Gulati he as Prince Salim delivers a performance that will speak volumes for his body of work. Charming, Confident and a confidant. Owning a well written role performed equally brilliant. You will resonate the turbulences he goes through right from his inner to his outer-The Akbar. Sharab & Shabab seems to be since the time immortal, so much since back then, that it has ruined the Kingdoms and blurred great visionaries to blindness clouded by their egos leading to pathos. 

Salim plays the eldest Son, Murad second and Daniyal the third. Murad played by Taha Shah and Baniyal played by Shubham Kumar. Baniyal steals the show, he has the character graph to look forward to; from what you see him in the first episode to the last, he is a game changer and a talent to look forward to. Playing the Prince with a certain charm he not only succeeds to bring the benevolence, he brings in the vengeance so subtle that you would love to hate him, but you still wouldn’t. The character so well-written. Murad played by Taha Shah too brings in his best, someone who never lets you read his mind. Reflecting the magic of writing right. Delivering his best Taha Shah being in the grey shades, grounds his win strong. The caption Divided by Blood is indeed the curse that was forecasted by Sheikh Salim Chisti played by Dharmendra in a guest role. 

The series also includes Sandhya Mridul as Queen Jodha Bai, Zareena Wahab as Queen Salima, Padma Damodaran as Queen Ruqaiya Begum, Rahul Bose as Mirza Hakim, Akshat Mishra as Durjan along with Subodh Bhave as Birbal. They too form the primary cast making the costume drama rich with their sheer performance and presence. Maan Singh essayed by Digambar Prasad too is a character to look upto, keeping Dharma first, leaving you to discern what is right or wrong, succeeds to deliver the pain across along with the helplessness. The casting director has full marks for bringing in such a perfect cast that none looks misfit in this 10-episode succession costume drama.

TAJ succeeds to create the right curiosity, once you are in it, you are with it. The series doesn’t let you leave the show, despite being the 10 episodes long, it leaves you wanting for more. With Aditi Hydari & Aayam Mehta who were seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavat, the costume drama Taj does remind you of him, giving Zee5 its Magnum Opus. Far from comparison yet commendable visual costume drama. One may wonder who the makers are behind this celluloid dynasty of Mughals. Ron Scalpello is the director coming from the west and TAJ is indeed Wah Taj coz of the magic he creates on silver screen with the production that never looks dull. Produced by Contiloe Digital and written by William Borthwick along with Simon Fantauzzo.

Considering there are many theories to the stories of Akbar Birbal, Salim Anarkali. We’re not sure how true the crux of the story stands as shown, nevertheless, the drama is engaging enough that holds a consistent pace and never loses the grip on building viewer interest.

‘Taj – Divided by Blood’ will be united by Viewers, leaving you at a cliffhanger stating more is yet to come.

PK Verdict: Silver Plus 3.5*s