Shantaram

Critical reception for Shantaram was polarized, characterized by praise for its visual fidelity and production design offset by frustration with its pacing and narrative depth. Critics frequently complimented the show's authentic recreation of 1980s Bombay and the strong lead performance by Charlie Hunnam. However, many reviewers felt the twelve-episode stretch was bloated, resulting in a series that often felt monotonous or slow.

Negative sentiment centered on the show's tendency to prioritize aesthetic world-building over plot progression, with some critics describing it as a shallow or messy adaptation of the source material. While some found merit in the gritty, tense thriller elements, others argued it leaned into tropes or failed to provide a nuanced portrayal of its setting, ultimately feeling like a project that might have fared better as a feature film.