Bandwaale

Bandwaale
GenreComedy drama
Written bySwanand Kirkire
Ankur Tewari
Directed byAkshat Verma
Ankur Tewari
Starring
Music bySid Shirodkar
Country of originIndia
Original languageHindi
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Producers
  • Vikram Singh
  • Ankur Tewari
CinematographyHimman Dhamija
EditorGourav Gopal Jha
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30–37 minutes
Production companyOML Entertainment
Original release
NetworkPrime Video
Release13 February 2026 (2026-02-13)

Bandwaale is a 2026 Indian Hindi-language musical comedy drama television series directed by Akshat Verma and Ankur Tewari it features Swanand Kirkire, Zahan Kapoor and Shalini Pandey in lead roles, alongside a supporting ensemble cast.[1] The series premiered on 13 February 2026 on Prime Video.[2][3][4]

Synopsis

Set in Ratlam, the series follows Mariam, a young poet who struggles against the constraints of tradition and limited autonomy in her surroundings. Seeking self-expression and a sense of identity, she begins posting her poetry anonymously online. Her path gradually intersects with Robo, a brass band vocalist, and DJ Psycho, whose companionship and encouragement inspire her to pursue her artistic aspirations.

Cast

Release

The trailer was released on 11 February 2026 [5]

The series began streaming on Prime Video on 13 February 2026.[6][7]

Reception

Rahul Deasi of The Hollywood Reporter India writes that "The endless 8-episode seeries revolves around a small-town poetess who struggles to break free from societal shackles."[8] Abhishek Srivastava of Times of India gave 2.5 stars out of 5 and said that "‘Bandwaale’ comes across as a safe idea stretched into a full series without enough substance to sustain it. It is sincere, but sincerity alone does not create engagement. The themes of ambition, self-expression, and friendship are present, yet they are handled in a way that feels cautious."[9] Deepa Gahlot writing for scroll.in stated that "the series derails into absurd subplots that have no bearing on anything else going on in the family. If there’s a melodramatic misunderstanding over a pregnancy, there’s also a crazy rescue from a charlatan’s clinic."[10]

Vinamra Mathur of Firstpost rated it 2.5 stars out of 5 and said that "There are a lot of boxes that Bandwaale tries to tick. But most of them now feel tried and tested."[11] Divya Nair of Rediff.com gave 3.5 stars out of 4 and said that "Kudos to the makers for attempting to create a meaningful series, Bandwaale, that blends the beauty of music to inspire you to look within, and find your voice."[12] Pritinanda Behera of India Today rated it 2/5 stars and writes that "Bandwaale attempts to tell a heartfelt story about dreams, artistic freedom, and small-town pressures but falters due to scattered storytelling and predictable tropes."[13]

References

  1. ^ "Watch: In series 'Bandwaale', a poet, a singer and a DJ get together to make music". scroll.in. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Shalini Pandey's Musical Dramedy Bandwaale Trailer Out, To Premiere On THIS Date". News 18. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Swanand Kirkire, Shalini Pandey and Zahan Kapoor's series Bandwaale gets release date". Cinema Express. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Bandwaale' set to stream on OTT: When and where to watch the new musical drama". The Times of India. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Bandwaale trailer: Shalini Pandey and Zahan Kapoor lead a band of small-town misfits bridging the gap between brass and beats to make art against all odds". OTT Play. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Zahan Kapoor, Shalini Pandey lead Prime Video's Bandwaale. Release date announced". India Today. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Prime Video's musical dramedy Bandwaale, starring Shalini Pandey, Zahan Kapoor and Swanand Kirkire, to launch on February 13". Bollywood Hungama. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  8. ^ Desai, Rahul (21 February 2026). "'Bandwaale' Series Review: A Bland and Dusty Musical Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter India.
  9. ^ Srivastava, Abhishek (13 February 2026). "Bandwaale Season 1 Review : A musical drama without the pulse". The Times of India.
  10. ^ Gahlot, Deepa (13 February 2026). "Review: 'Bandwaale' strikes many sour notes". Scroll.in.
  11. ^ Mathur, Vinamra (13 February 2026). "'Bandwaale' Web-Series Review: Shalini Pandey and Zahan Kapoor are fine, but Swanand Kirkire steals this show about music and madness". Firstpost.
  12. ^ Nair, Divya (13 February 2026). "Bandwaale Review: Soulful". Rediff.com.
  13. ^ Bahera, Paritinanda (13 February 2026). "Bandwaale review: A tale of poetry and passion that loses its rhythm". India Today.
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