Rangbaaz (web series)

Rangbaaz, is a ZEE5 original web series set against the rustic background of the Gorakhpur in the 1990s. It was released on December 22, 2018. In October 2019, ZEE5 renewed the show for a second season, "Rangbaaz Phirse", which premiered on December 20, 2019.
Synopsis.
Season 1
Rangbaaz is based on the true story of Shri Prakash Shukla (Shiv Prakash Shukla in the series), who was a notorious gangster and the most wanted criminal of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The series shows his journey from a DDU student to becoming the second most wanted criminal in India. Other characters related to Shree Prakash's life include Ram Shankar Tiwari, inspired by Hari Shankar Tiwari, and Chandra Bhan Singh, inspired by Suraj Bhan Singh (former MP from Mokama, Bihar).
Season 2
"Rangbaaz Phir Se" is inspired from the life of Anandpal Singh (name changed to Amarpal Singh) who was a gangster active in the state of Rajasthan. The series chronicles his rise to becoming the most wanted criminal in the history of Rajasthan. The story also covers his business of illicit liquor, his rivalry with Gopal Phogawat (name changed to Raja Phogat), and his dynamics with the political leadership of the state.
Sequel Spin-off.
After the successful run of first season, ZEE5 announced a spin-off sequel for the show, titled "Rangbaaz Phirse" 
Reception.
Rangbaaz.
The New Indian Express rated with 3/5 stars and critically reviewed the series by saying it had nothing out of the ordinary about the crime and criminals story. The lead actor performed well in his role as a gangster in making. The film relied so much on the film songs of the era to create a particular mood for the storyline which was a bit tiresome.
Rangbaaz Phirse.
Binged gave a rating of 6/10 stars to "Rangbaaz Phirse" and critically reviewed the actors performances. They also stated that the series fails to display a larger than life gangster profile. Moreover, the direction of the series makes it look quite authentic when capturing expressions and other important scenes. Throughout the nine episodes the rise and fall of its protagonist is portrayed dramatically in impressive detail.
Hindustan Times gave a review about the series saying that the webseries focuses on the rural heartlands plagued by the caste hierarchy. The storyline revolves around gruesome tit-for-tat that leads to numerous murders involving bystanders, politicians and cops, serving their own agendas. The cast in the film gave great performances and did justice to their roles.