If you are a huge fan of true crime and finance-related web series and television shows, chances are that you are aware of the Scam franchise. The first installment, Scam 1992, which was released in 2020 left the audience intrigued from the get-go.
With how amazing the first part was, it wasn’t even a question that the audience was awaiting the same level of screenwriting with the second installment, which is Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story.
Now, the question is, “Has the second installment lived up to the expectations of the audience?” This article will explore all that you need to know about Scam 2003, the plot, inspiration, and everything in between.
Contents
Overview of Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story
- Cast – Gagan Dev Riar, Sana Amin Shaikh, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Talat Aziz, Shashank Ketkar, Bharat Jadhav, Vivek Mishra, etc.
- Creator – Hansal Mehta
- Director – Tushar Hiranandani
- Streaming on – Sony LIV
- Language – Hindi (with subtitles)
- Runtime – 5 episodes, each 60 minutes long
- Genre – Drama, biography, crime
- Writer – Karan Vyas, Kiran Yadnyopavit
- Producer – Kartik R. Iyer, Tanvi Chheda, Sameer Nair, Deepak Segal
- Production companies – Studio NEXT, Applause Entertainment
What is the Storyline of Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story?
To give you a clear understanding and clarification, Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story is a standalone web series and has no connection with the first installment, which was Scam 1992.
Both of these stories are different, which means that Scam 2003 is not an extrapolation of the plot of Scam 1992. That said, let us walk you through the plot of Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story.
According to rumors and reports, Scam 2003 will be released in two volumes. The first volume was released on September 01, 2023, on Sony LIV and speculations suggest that the second volume will be released in November 2023. We will keep you posted once official confirmations are available.
The plot of Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story follows the life of Abdul Karim Telgi (played by Gagan Dev Riar). Telgi is a fruit seller, who originally hails from Khanput but later relocates to Mumbai for a lucrative job opportunity.
But what started as a simple and innocent move would later turn out to be a web of one of the biggest financial scams in the history of India.
After crossing paths with Kaushal Jhaveri in prison, he and Telgi join forces to launch their gum wash operation with hopes of scaling the business and making good profits. However, the two of them soon realize that things won’t work out in their favor.
Fuelled with greed, Telgi decides to counterfeit stamp papers to make money illegally. What starts with small scams and fraudulent practices soon takes a turn for the worse and Telgi ends up being part of one of the biggest counterfeit projects.
After collecting a decent number of stamp papers, Telgi finds himself in a crisis, not realizing how he would end up selling them. During that period, Telgi tries to gain his permit from Old Customs House but in the process ends up losing his license. All of this happens despite the constant warnings that Jhaveri alerts Telgi with.
Following that, we find that Telgi and Jhaveri part ways, never to meet again in the future. But, that doesn’t stop Telgi’s journey in the mission he is currently in.
Eventually, Telgi crosses paths with a mechanic hailing from Nashik. He is the one who introduces Telgi to the Nashik Security Press, the source for all the varying types of stamp papers. With gaining insights about the source itself, Telgi gets to work.
Telgi’s main objective is to find ways to portray himself as a reliable and trustworthy figure to gain access to the machines, dyes, and even the papers that are used to create the stamp papers. That’s when he started printing out counterfeit stamp papers in bulk.
But, the more Telgi grows and earns money, the more his greed ignites within him. Once he reaches a significant growth in his forgery, Telgi realizes that to reach the top, he will need to take down his biggest competitor in the market.
That’s where the ploy of manipulation and power play steps in as Telgi tries to take down Old Customs House to be able to monopolize the market, developing counterfeit stamp papers. Throughout his rise to fame and success, Telgi acquaints himself with some of the biggest figures in India, in and out of the political scene.
Breaking Down the Performance and Direction in Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story
Now that you have a good understanding of the plot, wondering how the stars have done on the show seems like a logical thought. How is the performance of the actors? How are the direction and music in Volume 1 of Scam 2003?
We will be discussing them in detail in the following section:
Actor performance
For those who have yet to watch Scam 2003, be assured that Gagan Dev Riar plays the protagonist in the show. Although the audience has been significantly disappointed with the show’s writing and the plot in general, one thing that we have to appreciate is the acting.
The majority of the viewers who have finished watching the first volume of Scam 2003 have said that at times it is difficult to distinguish if Gagan is acting or way too immersed in his character.
The first three episodes are dialogue-heavy, which means you will witness Gagan talking a lot through those first three episodes. But, despite that, it isn’t off-putting. The true character development happens from episode 4.
Besides Gagan, some of the other actors that have stood out in Scam 2003 are Talat Aziz and Sana. Furthermore, Bharat Jadhav and Shashank Ketkar also stand out in the series.
Music and direction
Moving ahead from the actors and their performance, let us shift our focus on the direction. The show has been directed by Tushar Hiranandani. With how successful Scam 1992 was, it isn’t even a question that Tushar had a lot on his shoulders in terms of expectations.
Overall, the direction has been sequenced and well executed but with the storyline, even the direction somehow falls flat, as the audience has expressed.
One of the major complaints that the audience expressed was the conflicts in the show. Instead of breaking down the events, logistics, and the events leading up to the conflict, what put off the audience was how quickly everything was resolved. It wasn’t a brain-scratching series, unlike Scam 1992.
As for the music, Ishaan Chhabra has done a great job with the background score and the songs fit well with the plot of the show, which is a bonus.
How Many Episodes are Available in Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story?
Scamm 2003 – The Telgi Story is reportedly being released in two volumes. The first volume was released on September 01, 2003, and consists of five episodes, each 60 minutes long.
Here’s a breakdown of the episodes:
| Episodes | Name | Watch on Sonyliv |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Vol I - Paisa Kamaya Nahin Banaya Jata Hain | Watch Now |
| Episode 2 | Vol I - Choomantar | Watch Now |
| Episode 3 | Vol I - Khota Sikka | Watch Now |
| Episode 4 | Vol I - Mubarak Ho Aapko Stamp Paper Hua Hain | Watch Now |
| Episode 5 | Vol I - I Love You | Watch Now |
| Episode 6 | Vol II - Abracadabra | Watch Now |
| Episode 7 | Vol II - Logic Ka Magic | Watch Now |
| Episode 8 | Vol II - Mumbai Ka King | Watch Now |
| Episode 9 | Vol II - Bina Daant Ka Sher | Watch Now |
| Episode 10 | Vol II - Truth Serum | Watch Now |
With rumors suggesting that Volume II is going to be released in November 2023, it is all a waiting game at this point. However, with how the first volume ended, as an audience, we are looking forward to what the second volume has in store for us.
Where can I watch Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story?
Scam 2003 – The Telgi Store is currently available for streaming on Sony LIV. You need to have a subscription to be able to watch the show, so keep that into consideration.
Like Scam 1992, even all the episodes of Scam 2003 are available for streaming in HD resolution for the subscribers of Sony LIV.
We’d recommend that you avoid untrusted streaming platforms or download links to download the episodes because they might be infected with malware. Additionally, illegal distribution of copyrighted content is never okay.
Is Scam 2003 a Worthy Watch?
If you have watched the first installment of Scam 1992, which was initially released on Sony LIV, the second installment doesn’t compare at all.
The storyline and authenticity of the story are quite well put but the viewers have reported that they feel a disconnect with the story’s progress. Everything feels rushed in the sense that one scene jumps to the other without proper cohesion.
That said, if you want to familiarize yourself with the Telgi story and want to get a brief idea of what the scam was all about, it is a good watch.
Is there an Official Trailer of Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story?
Trailers are always a fun way to incite your excitement about a new show or movie. If you are considering watching Scam 2003 and want to be sure if it’s worth the time, watching the trailer could give you a better understanding.
Since Scam 2003 is available for streaming on Sony LIV and for the ones with the subscription, watching the trailer first seems like a logical way to decide if splurging the subscription money is worth it.
You can watch the trailer of Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story here on YouTube.
Furthermore, with Part I released, we are currently awaiting more insights about the release of Part II. More updates will follow soon, so save this webpage.
Conclusion
Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story created a lot of buzz before its release. With the first part already out, we’d recommend that you watch the episodes yourself to be a judge of the show’s integrity. The director and the creators have managed to put forth the financial scandal in a riveting manner, so we’d recommend you give this a watch.
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