Shuvro at 14:07, 13 April 2026

2026-04-13T14:07:19Z

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{{Short description|2026 Indian television series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Bandwaale.jpg
| caption = Promotional release poster
| genre = [[Comedy drama]]
| writer = [[Swanand Kirkire]]<br>Ankur Tewari
| director = Akshat Verma<br>Ankur Tewari
| starring = {{plainlist|
* Swanand Kirkire
* [[Zahan Kapoor]]
* [[Shalini Pandey]]
}}
| music = Sid Shirodkar
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 8
| producer = {{plainlist|
* Vikram Singh
* Ankur Tewari
}}
| cinematography = Himman Dhamija
| editor = Gourav Gopal Jha
| camera = [[Multi-camera]]
| runtime = 30–37 minutes
| company = OML Entertainment
| network = [[Prime Video]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=yes|2026|02|13}}
| last_aired = 
| related =
}}
'''''Bandwaale''''' is a 2026 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[Musical film|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Watch: In series ‘Bandwaale’, a poet, a singer and a DJ get together to make music|url=https://scroll.in/reel/1090658/watch-in-series-bandwaale-a-poet-a-singer-and-a-dj-get-together-to-make-music|website=scroll.in |date=11 February 2026 |access-date=28 February 2026}}</ref> The series premiered on 13 February 2026 on [[Prime Video]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Shalini Pandey’s Musical Dramedy Bandwaale Trailer Out, To Premiere On THIS Date|url=https://www.news18.com/movies/web-series/shalini-pandeys-musical-dramedy-bandwaale-trailer-out-to-premiere-on-this-date-ws-l-9896187.html|website=News 18 |date= 11 February 2026 |access-date=28 February 2026 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Swanand Kirkire, Shalini Pandey and Zahan Kapoor’s series Bandwaale gets release date|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/news/2026/Feb/09/swanand-kirkire-shalini-pandey-and-zahan-kapoors-series-bandwaale-gets-release-date|website=Cinema Express |date= 9 February 2026 |access-date=28 February 2026 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bandwaale' set to stream on OTT: When and where to watch the new musical drama|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/bandwaale-set-to-stream-on-ott-when-and-where-to-watch-the-new-musical-drama/articleshow/128128583.cms|website=The Times of India |date= 10 February 2026 |access-date=28 February 2026 }}</ref>

==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 ==
* [[Swanand Kirkire]] as Robo Kumar
* [[Zahan Kapoor]] as DJ Psycho
* [[Shalini Pandey]] as Mariam
* [[Ashish Vidyarthi]] as David
* Sanjana Dipu as Cynthia
* [[Anupama Kumar]] as Valsala
* [[Vikram Kochhar]] as Rafi
* Robin Das as Ismail
* Naushad Mohammed Kunju as Sebastian
* Addis Akkara as Roysten

== Release ==
The trailer was released on 11 February 2026 <ref>{{cite web |title=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|url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/bandwaale-trailer-shalini-pandey-zahan-kapoor-swanand-kirkire-prime-video/c7da40f474248|website=OTT Play |date=11 February 2026 |access-date=28 February 2026}}</ref>

The series began streaming on [[Prime Video]] on 13 February 2026.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zahan Kapoor, Shalini Pandey lead Prime Video's Bandwaale. Release date announced|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/prime-video-bandwaale-hindi-series-premiere-february-13-2865484-2026-02-09|date= 9 February 2026|access-date=26 February 2026|website=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=
Prime Video’s musical dramedy Bandwaale, starring Shalini Pandey, Zahan Kapoor and Swanand Kirkire, to launch on February 13|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/prime-videos-musical-dramedy-bandwaale-starring-shalini-pandey-zahan-kapoor-swanand-kirkire-launch-february-13/|website=Bollywood Hungama |date= 9 February 2026 |access-date=28 February 2026 }}</ref>

== 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."<ref>{{cite web|first=Rahul|last=Desai|title=‘Bandwaale’ Series Review: A Bland and Dusty Musical Comedy|url=https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/reviews/streaming/bandwaale-series-review-a-bland-and-dusty-musical-comedy|website=The Hollywood Reporter India|date=21 February 2026}}</ref>
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."<ref>{{cite web|first=Abhishek|last=Srivastava|title=Bandwaale Season 1 Review : A musical drama without the pulse|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/bandwaale/season-1/seasonreview/128252629.cms|website=The Times of India|date=13 February 2026}}</ref>
[[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."<ref>{{cite web|first=Deepa|last=Gahlot|title=Review: ‘Bandwaale’ strikes many sour notes|url=https://scroll.in/reel/1090701/review-bandwaale-strikes-many-sour-notes|website=Scroll.in|date=13 February 2026}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{cite web|first=Vinamra|last=Mathur|title='Bandwaale' Web-Series Review: Shalini Pandey and Zahan Kapoor are fine, but Swanand Kirkire steals this show about music and madness|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/prime-videos-bandwaale-web-series-review-shalini-pandey-and-zahaan-kapoor-are-fine-but-swanand-kirkire-steals-this-show-about-music-and-madness-13979279.html|website=Firstpost|date=13 February 2026}}</ref>
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."<ref>{{cite web|first=Divya|last=Nair|title=Bandwaale Review: Soulful|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/bandwaale-review-zahan-kapoor-shalini-panday/20260213.htm|website=Rediff.com|date=13 February 2026}}</ref>
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."<ref>{{cite web|first=Paritinanda|last=Bahera|title=Bandwaale review: A tale of poetry and passion that loses its rhythm|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/bandwaale-review-shalini-pandey-zahaan-kapoor-swanand-kirkire-tale-of-poetry-passion-lost-rhythm-2867506-2026-02-13|website=India Today|date=13 February 2026}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=28106758}}
*[https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Bandwaale/0T6TA8FJEM7BM0ISMOUB5316TR ''Bandwaale''] on [[Prime Video]]

{{Portal bar|India|Television}}

[[Category:2020s drama television series]]
[[Category:Hindi-language television shows]]
[[Category:Indian comedy-drama television series]]
[[Category:Amazon Prime Video original programming]]

Bandwaale - Revision history

Shuvro at 14:07, 13 April 2026