Guns & Gulaabs has infused fresh interest into the world of the Indian OTT viewer with its fantastic exploration of the black comedy and crime thriller genres. The name cleverly reminds one of the famous American band Guns N’ Roses. With umpteen references from the 1990s, ranging from groovy songs to nostalgic games, this series gives an expectation of heavy doses of violence but turns out as an enjoyable watch. Raj & DK’s series possesses various attributes of Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur to a certain extent. Rajkummar Rao and Dulquer Salmaan have delivered one of their most scintillating performances while providing a punch of humour and romance. Each episode brings in new twists and turns making it an engaging, riveting watch. (I liked/didn’t like Guns and Gulaabs because... August 19)

Aayman Anwar Ali

Guns & Gulaabs is a quirky drama that not only pays homage to the ’90s era but also weaves in an action-packed and entertaining plot. This web series encompasses a multitude of elements, resulting in an experience that evokes wonder, smiles and a sense of fulfilment. The melodies of R.D. Burman, the distinctive hairstyle sported by Gulshan Devaiah’s character (the hairstyle that Sanjay Dutt sported in the ’90s), and even the half-sleeved sweater worn by Rajkummar Rao’s Tipu (a nod to Amitabh Bachchan’s wardrobe in Don) are tributes to the bygone era by the directorial duo of Raj & DK. The core plot of Guns & Gulaabs is fascinating as there is an attempt to wrap the template of drug trading in a new format of storytelling.

Guns & Gulaabs’ ensemble rides on the presence of Dulquer Salmaan, Rajkummar Rao, Adarsh Gourav, TJ Bhanu, Gulshan Devaiah, Satish Kaushik, Vipin Sharma and Shreya Dhanwanthary, among others. Full credit to Raj & DK for extracting credible performances and making some of the most outlandish scenes look believable on screen.

One of the funniest and best aspects of this series is that many of the characters are very quirky. These characters are seamlessly integrated into the plot and local backdrop. Satish Kaushik as Sr Ganchi graces the initial two episodes, making you realise the irreplaceable void he has left behind. Gulshan Devaiah makes a sporadic appearance as contract killer Atmaram, who is genuinely menacing. Rajkummar Rao has breathed life into the character of Tipu. Tipu’s interactions with his henchman friend Bunty and assistant mechanic Kamarkat are among the best in the series. As for Dulquer Salmaan, he plays well with what he has and shares an easy chemistry with Pooja Gor and Rajkummar. Adarsh ​​Gourav has yet again left an indelible mark.

Roshni Ojha

Imbued with a retro feel, Raj & DK’s Guns & Gulaabs is a nostalgic journey retracing its steps to the 1990s. It is set in the fictional farming town of Gulaabgunj where opium is grown aplenty. Illegal trading in opium leads Ganchi (Satish Kaushik), the undisputed king of the trade, to strike a deal with a Calcutta-based don. After Ganchi meets with a freak accident and slips into a coma, his only heir Jugnu (Adarsh Gourav), fails to transact the deal owing to his incompetence and the reins of the deal pass on to the hands of their rival gang in Sherpur. A righteous narcotics officer Arjun (Dulquer Salmaan) and a feisty two-wheeler mechanic, Paana Tipu (Rajkummar Rao) who impulsively kills two assailants with a spanner, get entangled in the imbroglio. What ensues is all-round entertainment and a measured dose of every possible emotion.

Each and every character plays their part perfectly to make this wacky series a must-watch. The finale is replete with surprises and adequately disentangles the numerous knots interspersed throughout the narrative. Adarsh Gourav renders us speechless with his superlative act in the final episode. Dulquer Salmaan with his poise and Rajummar Rao with his ability to fill the shoes of any kind of character he plays, are outstanding. An unconventional treatment of a tale of love, gore and deception, with a niggling reminiscence of days of yore as a hat tip to all the trends in vogue in the ’90s, makes the series entertaining.

Suparna Ghosh

Guns & Gulaabs is a totally entertaining, exceptional web series created by Raj & DK, which has action, tense drama, emotion, love and violence, but all woven in humorous form with delightful, witty dialogues. The series bowled me over from its very first scene. The performances of stalwarts Rajkummar Rao, Gulshan Devaiah, Dulquer Salmaan and Satish Kaushik effortlessly brought to life their respective roles. Gulshan Devaiah as Atmaram was literally spine-chilling. Adarsh Gourav as Chhota Ganchi/ Jugnu did full justice to his role. A special thanks to the directors for bringing the’90s nostalgia back with cassette players, landline phones, book cricket, hair and dressing styles, the mopeds and R.D. Burman and Kumar Sanu providing background scores. The meticulously crafted plot and the brilliantly woven narrative captivate the audience along with its impactful dialogues and performances. The series has left a lasting impression on me and I’m waiting eagerly for the second season to arrive soon.

Kakali Mukherjee

I loved the series. Raj & DK created a quirky series filled with dark comedy, thrill and romance. Brilliant casting. Each character was played well and made memorable. Rajkummar Rao and Dulquer Salmaan were really good, Adarsh Gourav was effortless and Gulshan Devaiah made his character Chaar Cut Atmaram iconic. The story was unpredictable till the last moment. Vipin Sharma, TJ Bhanu were good in their small roles as well and really enjoyed watching Rajatava Dutta and his Bengali dialogues in the series. I also enjoyed the way they showed the end credits. It was fun and creative. I hope another season comes soon. I really want to know what Babu Tiger told Gangaram before he died to tell his son, Tipu. I was really waiting for that.

Rishika Dutta

From its opening to closing credits, Guns & Gulaabs is totally immersed in the nostalgia of the ’90s, especially for those who belong to the age of young Nannu, Gangu and Jo. Directors Raj & DK revisit the time with huge references like cassette players, landline phone booths, hairstyles, mopeds, Yezdi bikes, half-sweaters and a Kumar Sanu guest track. The story revolves around a fictional town Gulaabgunj and a complex opium deal. Every character of this seven-episode black comedy is somehow connected with the deal and that is the beauty of the story.

This series is enriched with excellent performances by every single actor. I mostly liked the performance of Adarsh Gourav as Jugnu. The young adventure-loving school boys add a different essence to the story. The series is a combination of opposite characteristics like love and revenge, emotion and violence, beauty and vice, just like its name.

Sarbani Banerjee

The Netflix show Guns & Gulaabs entertained me immensely. Its story was based on a very refreshing and intriguing plot. The story of this gangster comedy abounds in 1990s nostalgia. The storytelling technique was so captivating that it had me hooked throughout its seven episodes. I also loved the outstanding performances of Dulquer Salmaan, Gulshan Devaiah, Adarsh Gourav and Rajkummar Rao. It was also nice to see the late Satish Kaushik as Sr. Ganchi in the series. He just mesmerised me with his brilliant acting. The legendary Bollywood actor delivered some memorable scenes in the show. I also enjoyed TJ Bhanu’s effortless acting as the English teacher Chandralekha. Overall, this new show by Raj & DK was a fantastic one and I enjoyed it a lot.

Sourish Misra