Watch Guns & Gulaabs

Guns & Gulaabs is a 10-episode Indian crime drama series that premiered on Netflix in 2023. Set in Rajasthan in the 1960s, the show follows the story of two very different women who team up to investigate a murder. The first lead character is Rajkumari Devi, a young princess who has recently returned from studying in London. She is the daughter of the patriarchal king of a princely state in Rajasthan. Despite being educated abroad, Rajkumari is frustrated by the lack of opportunity for women in her conservative homeland. However, when a palace guard is murdered, Rajkumari sees a chance to exercise her skills as an amateur detective.

The second lead is Shobhaa Sen, an iron-willed brothel madam who controls the nearby town's criminal underworld. Shobhaa and Rajkumari originally clash over the murder investigation but eventually agree to work together to find the killer. Although they come from completely different backgrounds, the two women make an unlikely and contrasting detective duo as they navigate the era's rigid gender roles and class divides.

As Rajkumari and Shobhaa investigate the murder, they encounter various suspects, red herrings, and dead ends. The plot takes several surprising twists and turns as it explores the seedy underbelly of palace intrigue and local organized crime. Guns are drawn and fists fly as the women face off against various thugs, henchmen, and traffickers.

At its core, Guns & Gulaabs is about Rajkumari and Shobhaa's struggle for agency and identity as women in a changing but still very patriarchal India. Although they come from opposite ends of the social spectrum, they find common ground and an unexpected friendship as they take fate into their own hands.

The show takes inspiration from classic Bollywood movies and graphic novels to create an entertaining blend of drama, comedy, action and music. The 1960s Indian setting is brought to life through vibrant costumes, sets, and camerawork. In addition to murder mystery plot, Guns & Gulaabs delves into themes of female empowerment, social justice,LGBTQ+ representation, and cultural change during a pivotal decade for India.

The talented ensemble cast is led by Rajkumari Kritika Kamra and Shobhaa Karishma Tanna, with memorable supporting roles portrayed by Ahlawat, Virendra Saxena, Barkha Singh, and more. Creative direction and production design transport viewers back to a stylistic 1960s India embroiled in post-Independence growing pains.

Guns & Gulaabs has garnered positive reviews for its bold female leads, cultural aesthetics, and blend of humor and thrills. While paying homage to classic Bollywood and pulp fiction, the series puts an inventive modern spin on the crime drama genre. Fans have praised the show's wit, style, and surprisingly progressive perspectives.

With its refreshing approach to the detective procedural, Guns & Gulaabs provides an entertaining story of two trailblazing women fighting crime in 1960s India while defiantly confronting patriarchal limitations. Their journey of self-discovery and justice makes for an exhilarating binge-watch.

Guns & Gulaabs is a series that ran for 1 seasons (7 episodes) between August 18, 2023 and on Netflix