‘Shantaram’ Recap: ‘Apo Vai Pranah’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Shantaram’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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For the most part, season one of the Apple TV+ series, Shantaram, has been devoid of genuinely formational moments for its main character, Lin Ford. Which isn’t a bad thing by means, because his lack of direction and understanding of his own self and the world around him… has allowed for this story to truly explore what it means to be lost in this world when one is afraid and unwilling to embrace the power of change. Which has led to some fine commentary on the matter and of course, helped us to just learn about Bombay in the 1980s and what a unique city it was ages ago. But while it has been enjoyable to just kick back and immerse oneself in a story about a messy life in a chaotic place, we as an audience need more.

We need the character to work toward something bigger, to have stakes that motivate an end game and well… it turns out that this series was simply waiting for the right time to make that happen, the next episode to be specific. For ‘Apo Vai Pranah’ is a story that finally saw Lin make a move that will change everything and force him on a path to face that which he hides from. But it sure didn’t totally seem as though that was going to be the case, here. Since so much of this story focused on other affairs. For this is a story that saw Lisa take charge in her situation and do as she wanted for a change, whether we agree with her style of agency, however, matters not. Because it is her life to do with as she pleases and it matters more, that she made choices here and held power. Plus, we also saw the intricate cat and mouse game between Khan and Zhou play out further as the former worked to gain power over his rivals. 

But in between all of that… was disaster in Sagar Wada. The kind that put lives at risk. For once Parvati returned with Prabhu, Lin was able to determine that she had come down with a case of cholera and she wasn’t alone. For it was sweeping through the settlement and that pushed Lin to his physical and mental limits. Because the edict here was to use whatever was on hand to save lives and for everyone to do their best to mitigate the spread through community cleaning and isolation. But that didn’t work, and in reality, the camp needed the right supplies both medical and normal. Since the drinking water in this place was badly contaminated and good medical supplies would save all kinds of lives and that pushed Lin to do something quite drastic.

In that, he reached out to Khan and asked for help. Which Khan was happy to provide, and that did indeed give Sagar Wada everything they could need to ride out the outbreak with minimal loss of life. Which at first glance, doesn’t appear to be a reckoning of sorts or a push to make Lin deal with himself and his problems. But making this move, pissed off Qasim and undermined him. A move that will indeed have repercussions for certain. But more importantly, Lin has made a Faustian deal with the city’s greatest devil. For while Khan spoke to this being an act of kindness and free from any debt or worry, we the audience know that isn’t the case. He will want payment and collateral of some kind from Lin, down the line and that… is what sets the stage for foundational growth.

Because Lin will have to face the consequences of his actions at last and he will come to learn that good deeds aren’t just handled on a whim. Sometimes they require care and thought, and while one cannot fault him for his actions here, that particular problem extends well beyond the big call here. For his entire life is peppered with whimsical good deeds and wild actions and the price he will pay for all of that… will indeed force him to look within and ponder upon some real change and finally grow. Or… hopefully grow since some folks don’t embrace change. But either way, this was a critical tale for Lin’s growth and set the stage for some big moments down the line, and it will be interesting to see how Lin handles the surprises that are about to come his way. Until next time.

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