Nikkhil Advani's eight-episode period drama The Revolutionaries premiered on Prime Video on September 11, 2026. The series, based on Sanjeev Sanyal's book Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom, has drawn mixed reviews from critics, with several comparing its action spectacle to SS Rajamouli's RRR while noting its narrative shortcomings.
Set in British India just before World War I, the series follows Rash Behari Bose (Bhuvan Bam), Sachindranath Sanyal (Rohit Saraf), Bagha Jatin (Gurfateh Pirzada), and Pratibha Lahiri (Pratibha Ranta). The story begins with an assassination attempt on Viceroy Lord Hardinge in 1912 and traces the revolutionaries' efforts to organize an armed mutiny against British rule.
The ensemble includes Jason Shah as General Reginald Dyer, Paoli Dam, Tota Roy Chowdhury, and Ed Robinson. Advani created and directed the series, produced by Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani under Emmay Entertainment. The series streams in Hindi with dubs in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bengali.
Critical Reception
Reviews have been divided. The Hindustan Times gave the series 2.5 stars, noting that while it is mounted like a massive action spectacle, 'despite its attempts and aspirations to be a grand action film with entertaining history, The Revolutionaries never fulfils those ambitions.' The review added that the series 'never allows the viewer to connect with them as humans.'
The Hindu stated that the series 'fades away into reverential spectacle' and 'doesn't build a picture of this dichotomy, remaining committed more to action than to ideas that shape it.'
NDTV also gave 2.5 stars, writing: 'There is a lot of adventure, blood, and kickass action, but just as many of the freedom fighters eventually die waiting for azaadi to arrive, we too are left waiting for that kraanti in the narrative.'
Outlook India noted that 'the greatest achievement of The Revolutionaries is the history it chooses to foreground' but added that 'the problem is that the execution rarely matches the ambition.'
What Works
Several critics praised the performances. Mid-Day wrote that Bhuvan Bam 'is perhaps the biggest surprise here' and that 'there is a restraint to his performance that works.' India Today called the series a 'goosebump-inducing ode to forgotten heroes' and praised Bam's ability to 'disappear into a character.'
The production design, cinematography, and action sequences also received positive mentions. The Tribune wrote that 'the technical departments get full marks' and that 'each episode climaxes on a cliffhanger, whetting your curiosity to know more.'
What Doesn't
Pacing has been a common criticism. The Federal described the series as 'too long and predictable,' suffering from 'lack of narrative tautness.' Mid-Day noted that 'certain emotional threads are revisited so frequently that they begin to lose their impact.'
The romantic subplot between Sachin and Pratibha was singled out by multiple reviewers as a weak point. NDTV wrote that 'Rohit Saraf and Pratibha Ranta's story adds little to the grand scheme.'
RRR Comparisons
The RRR parallels have been widely noted. Filme Shilmy wrote that the series carries 'subtle echoes of Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey and even the revolutionary fervour of RRR,' describing it as 'brooding, deliberate and fiery while remaining commercially accessible.' The Hindustan Times noted that while the series is 'mounted like a massive action spectacle, further deepening the RRR parallels... sadly, that is where the similarities end.'
Director's Comments
Advani said the project gave him an opportunity to focus on 'the lesser-known heroes of pre-independence India.' In an interview with NDTV, he said, 'With a lot of immodesty, I consider myself very well read... I was shocked that I had not read it and that I didn't know about these people. I should make some kind of correction.'
He also explained the tonal shift from his previous historical drama, Freedom at Midnight. 'It's no mistake. You can say it's not like more Freedom At Midnight and less Revolutionaries,' he said. 'It's the story of youth, madness, jazbaa... It's not a mistake, it's what was intended... That it will be this fast-paced kind of period drama.'
Social Media Reaction
Audiences on X shared mixed reactions. One user wrote: 'Still processing the fact that the guy we grew up watching on YouTube is this good in The Revolutionaries.' Another posted: 'Just watched first episode of The revolutionaries by @Bhuvan_Bam on @PrimeVideoIN just amazing exp what a theme...you nailed it my brother.'
A third viewer noted: 'What stands out is that the revolutionaries aren't portrayed as invincible superheroes. They fear, fail, lose and still rise again.'
The Revolutionaries is currently streaming on Prime Video in Hindi, with dubs in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bengali.