The Revolutionaries review: Nikkhil Advani's goosebump-inducing ode to forgotten heroes

Nikkhil Advani had already impressed us with Freedom at Midnight, so The Revolutionaries came with expectations. Thankfully, the filmmaker once again dives into history with the kind of scale and conviction that makes you want to open a history book immediately after watching an episode.Streaming on Prime Video, The Revolutionaries tells the story of the young men and women who chose rebellion over submission, only to become footnotes in our history books. And as a Bengali, watching the stories of revolutionaries from Bengal unfold on screen is an absolute delight.The stories of these revolutionaries have travelled far beyond textbooks because cinema and television have made them part of popular memory. Ajay Devgn playing Bhagat Singh or Vicky Kaushal playing Udham Singh gives an emotional face to history. This show attempts to do the same for those who fought alongside, before and after the more celebrated names.And it is impossible not to feel a lump in your throat while watching them. There is something deeply inspiring about the sheer audacity of these young revolutionaries. There was no internet, social media or technology to instantly connect one corner of India to another. Yet they found each other, built networks and put their lives on the line to free the nation. They endured hunger, exhaustion and constant danger to a point where even the comfort of a bed felt like a luxury. Watching these young people sacrifice everything makes you question how easily we have taken that freedom for granted. The show introduces us to the Sanyal family, who become almost the shadows behind the revolutionaries, quietly supporting and helping them fight the British Raj. Rohit Saraf plays Sachindra Nath Sanyal, a young man whose ambition is bigger than simply backing in the movement.Enters his inspiration Rash Behari Bose (a brilliant Bhuvan Bam), in a dramatic scene while attempting to attack the Viceroy along with his aide Basant Kumar. We have seen Bhuvan play multiple characters before, but The Revolutionaries allows him to disappear into a character in a way that is surprisingly effective. His fiery revolutionary also lives as a professor in Dehradun and is mocked for being “more British than the Britishers”. But beneath that exterior is a man consumed by the desire to see India free.The actor is particularly good in the silent moments, where his pain and restrained anger often say more than the dialogue. And when he mouths Bengali abuses like “pagol” and “shuerer bachcha”, they are little flashes of earthy authenticity that make you smile.Pratibha Ranta’s Pratibha Lahiri begins as a woman about to marry Sachin but gradually finds an identity and agency of her own. Paoli Dam, as Nani Bala Devi, is terrific, and so are Tota Roy Choudhury and Avijit Dutt as the Sanyals.The Ghadar movement, often reduced to a passing reference in history books, gets a much larger canvas here. So do people like Bose and Bagha Jatin. Played by Gurfateh Pirzada, Bagha is portrayed as a fierce, almost lone-wolf figure, while Bose has the aura of a born leader. Their bond is also one of the show’s most beautiful relationships. Lala Har Dayal (Neil Bhoopalam) and the contributions of Indians living abroad also get their due.The action sequences, particularly the ammunition heist and the scene at the port with the NRI Punjabis, are among the show’s biggest highs. The losses are heartbreaking because by then, the show has made you care about these young men.One of the show’s most interesting choices is its treatment of General Dyer, played by Jason Shah. We have seen Dyer portrayed as the villain in several projects, but here we are given glimpses of his childhood, his stammer and the inferiority complex that shaped him into a power-hungry officer. It doesn’t excuse his brutality. Instead, it raises a more uncomfortable question: what do you choose to do with your trauma?The show is equally frustrating when it shows Indians who helped the British rule over their own people. Dyer's officer Maan Singh and Kirpal Singh, one of the spies for the British, are painful reminders of that reality.Visually, the show is impressive. The world feels lived-in rather than like a collection of constructed sets. Banaras, Dehradun and Bengal add texture to the narrative, and the production design is one of its strongest elements. But The Revolutionaries isn’t without its flaws. Across eight episodes, the show can seem a little exhausting. It is never exactly boring, but it does feel like a lot to consume. The romantic track between Rohit and Pratibha is another misfire. The chemistry fails, the banter is too cocky, and the romantic song is simply unnecessary.Rohit is impressive as Sachin and successfully moves beyond his chocolate-boy image, but the filmmakers seem to have been tempted to add a conventional love story. Even the perfect abs and pouted, glossy lips of Rohit and Gurfateh occasionally feel at odds with the rawness of the story. Gurfateh, however, brings authority to his character and commands attention whenever he appears.The music, unfortunately, doesn’t leave much of an impact. A story like this needs an anthem, one song that stays with you after the credits. Even the slow-mo shots and the Durga Puja festivities seem a little over do. There are also creative liberties, particularly around Bose's designation and PN Tagore, which may leave viewers familiar with the history questioning the makers.However, there are enough goosebump-inducing moments to keep you hooked. And, as hinted, a new chapter of The Revolutionaries may be knocking on your screens soon. So gear up.- EndsPublished By: shweta keshriPublished On: Sep 11, 2026 10:01 IST