Review: Vikramaditya Motwane's series is an outstanding homage to the craft of filmmaking

Vikramaditya Motwane's Jubilee is a fitting tribute to a bygone era of cinema, one that was free from the constraints and expectations of modern times. With its 10-part series on Amazon Prime, the show takes you on a nostalgic journey back to a time of simplicity and elegance, where the beauty of movies was unencumbered by the pressures and tricks of today's world.

Set against the backdrop of the Partition era, Jubilee is a celebration of the love for movies, as its name suggests. The first episode introduces us to Srikant Roy, a studio owner who is on a quest to find a fresh face for his films. When he comes across Jamshed Khan, he knows he has found his leading man, Madan Kumar, but the road to success is far from smooth, with many twists, turns, thorns and obstacles along the way.

One of Srikant's employees, Binod Das, secretly harbours a desire to become an actor himself, and when he is tasked with bringing Jamshed to Mumbai, he does everything in his power to prevent it from happening. But when he meets Jay Khanna, he realizes he must take control of his own destiny, even if it means going against his boss's wishes.

The women in Jubilee are also integral to the story, with Sumitra Devi, who is determined to follow her heart and have an affair with a struggling actor, and Nilofer, a dancer with ambitious dreams beyond anyone's imagination.

Vikramaditya Motwane is a master of patient, virtuous storytelling, as evidenced by his previous works such as the underrated Udaan and the now-cult classic, Lootera. In Jubilee, the joy lies not only in the destination, but also in the journey. The first three episodes require your full attention to truly understand the many characters and their intricate natures. Technically, Jubilee is one of the most impressive shows in recent memory, with its art direction, set design, costumes, and dialogues all perfectly blending together to transport you to a different era.

One fascinating aspect is how the characters, if you are a student of cinema, may remind you of real-life actors such as Devika Rani and Dilip Kumar. The performances are nuanced and multi-layered, with Motwane pushing each and every actor to their limits. Aparshakti Khurana, who has often been typecast in light-hearted comic roles, shines as the cunning yet charming Binod Das, while Wamiq Gabbi portrays a seductress and ambitious woman with equal passion. Sidhant Gupta and Nandish Singh Sandhu both deliver powerful performances with equal intensity. Prosenjit proves why he's a master of the craft, and Aditi Rao Hydari fully immerses herself in the experience of playing a period character.

Jubilee is not a fast-food experience, but rather a slow-cooked dish that simmers with all the right flavors to create a divine taste. Watch it for Motwane's brilliant direction, and for a journey into the long-lost world of the birth of movies and the politics of acting. Jubilee is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime.