The BBC’s adaptation of the novel The Night Manager by John le Carré starring Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie is a smash hit taking worldwide viewers by storm. An adaptation of the crime thriller novel for Indian viewers by Disney+ Hotstar starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Anil Kapoor in the lead roles has been released.
Unlike most adapted shows, The Night Manager doesn’t fall into the category of being developed as the carbon copy of the original series. There is a clear difference that is noticeable from the initial frames. Most of the plotlines that form the crucial narrative for the show have entirely changed for the Indian adaptation. Some of the changes have worked better than the original while others fall flat.
The writing is far better compared to most of the show’s counterparts. Although some of the changes made make sense, they drastically reduced the pace of the screenplay at some of the crucial junctures. That’s one of the nitpicking I have had while watching the show. The background score has been excellent which is one of my favorite things about the show.
Aditya Roy Kapur’s Shaan was one of the great things about the show. He never really tried to copy Tom Hiddleston’s performance and has brought his charisma. Anil Kapoor as the worst man in the world was a steady presence throughout the season. Sobhitha Dulipala doesn’t have much to do in this particular. Hopefully, she will shine with her part during season 2. Yeah, you have read that correctly. The show is split into two parts with the second season bowing sometime this June.
Most of the supporting characters are well-cast. You can enjoy the chemistry between the two leads and others. The production quality is excellent. The involvement of the original producers from Think Ink probably has benefitted a lot for this production. After Aarya, Disney+ Hotstar’s Hotstar Specials have a real winner on their hands.
The Night Manager is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar in India.
