# Bandish Bandits
**Bandish Bandits** is an Indian Hindi-language musical drama web series on Amazon Prime Video that follows the romance between Radhe, a young Hindustani classical singer from a Jodhpur gharana, and Tamanna, a pop singer, as their contrasting musical worlds collide and combine. It was created by Amritpal Singh Bindra and [Anand Tiwari](https://www.edgepedia.org/anand-tiwari), with Tiwari directing, and premiered on August 2, 2020.[1](https://thetvdb.com/series/bandish-bandits) • [2](https://www.theweek.in/magazine/theweek/leisure/2020/08/20/a-jugalbandi-of-minds.html) [The Week](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-week) described it as the first Indian web series to have music at its core.[2](https://www.theweek.in/magazine/theweek/leisure/2020/08/20/a-jugalbandi-of-minds.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platform and premiere | Prime Video; first aired August 2, 2020; Hindi-language drama, musical and romance, average runtime about 46 to 47 minutes[1](https://thetvdb.com/series/bandish-bandits) |
| Creators | Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari, who first met as assistant directors on *Barfi!* (2012); Bindra executive produced and Tiwari directed[2](https://www.theweek.in/magazine/theweek/leisure/2020/08/20/a-jugalbandi-of-minds.html) |
| Lead cast | Ritwik Bhowmik as Radhe Rathore, Shreya Chaudhry as Tamanna, Naseeruddin Shah as Pandit Radhemohan Rathod, with Atul Kulkarni, Sheeba Chaddha, Rajesh Tailang and Divya Dutta (Season 2)[1](https://thetvdb.com/series/bandish-bandits) |
| Seasons | Season 1, 10 episodes (August 2020); Season 2, 8 episodes (December 13, 2024), after a four-year gap[1](https://thetvdb.com/series/bandish-bandits) • [3](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/bandish-bandits-season-2-cast-interview) |
| Music | Season 1 scored by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy; Season 2 used multiple new composers coordinated by music supervisor Akashdeep Sengupta, producing 17 tracks in 18 months[4](https://rollingstoneindia.com/shankar-ehsaan-loy-make-their-web-series-debut/) • [5](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/bandish-bandits-supervisor-akashdeep-sengupta-on-show-music-23443124) |
| Audience rating | 8.5/10 on IMDb from about 21,000 user ratings[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9814458/) |
| Conclusion | Director Anand Tiwari intended Season 2 to be the final chapter of the story, according to cast member Aaliyah Qureishi in 2025[7](https://seriesreminder.com/series/bandish-bandits) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and production
The series is set in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and Mumbai, opening in the courtyard of a large haveli where Sangeet Samrat Rathod, played by [Naseeruddin Shah](https://www.edgepedia.org/naseeruddin-shah), teaches [Hindustani classical music](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindustani-classical-music) and demands absolute discipline as the custodian of his gharana, a hereditary school of musical tradition. His grandson Radhe Mohan (Ritwik Bhowmik) is one of his most able students. Tamanna (Shreya Chaudhry) is a creator and performer of studio pop music, and the story turns on the clash between music handed down from teacher to student as heritage and market-driven, synthesized sounds.[8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/bandish-bandits-review-naseeruddin-shah-web-series-6539009/)
Bindra and Tiwari had dreamt since meeting on the sets of *Barfi!* (2012) of collaborating on a story that captured young love and the conflicts young lovers face within their families; the two had earlier worked together on *Bang Baaja Baaraat* (2015), one of India's initial web shows. The writing team also included Adhir Bhat and Lara Chandni.[2](https://www.theweek.in/magazine/theweek/leisure/2020/08/20/a-jugalbandi-of-minds.html) The Indian Express noted that the series also sheds light on the politics of classical music in north India while introducing younger audiences to the nuances of Hindustani classical music.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/research/bandish-bandits-gharanas-hindustani-classical-music-mughal-decline-6581735/)
### Season 2
Season 2 returned on December 13, 2024, after a four-year gap, with Tiwari directing and co-writing credits shared with Atmika Didwania and Karan Singh Tyagi. Radhe relocates to Mumbai to carry his Jodhpur-based family's classical legacy forward, while Tamanna enrolls in a music school in the hills; their relationship turns knottier as rivalry displaces love. New cast members included [Divya Dutta](https://www.edgepedia.org/divya-dutta) as Nandini, a music school teacher with a different philosophy toward music who shapes Tamanna's development.[11](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bandish-bandits-season-2-review-the-series-is-never-off-key-2-5-stars-7236732) • [3](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/bandish-bandits-season-2-cast-interview) Bhowmik described Radhe's journey as transitioning from focusing on the gharana in Season 1 to exploring the concept of ghar (home) in Season 2.[3](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/bandish-bandits-season-2-cast-interview) Tiwari has said the two seasons were conceived as an 18-episode whole, with the newer composers coming in as the story moved in a different direction.[12](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/hindi/interviews/2024/Dec/11/bandish-bandits-team-interview-acting-has-a-sense-of-musicality)
## Music
The first season's soundtrack was composed by the trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, for whom it was a first digital series project. [Ehsaan Noorani](https://www.edgepedia.org/ehsaan-noorani) described the show as being about music itself, dealing with families and traditions of [Indian classical music](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-classical-music) and the stress faced by people wanting to break into modern styles.[4](https://rollingstoneindia.com/shankar-ehsaan-loy-make-their-web-series-debut/) NDTV's review called the score, which fuses Indian classical with electronic rhythms, worth its weight in gold.[10](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bandish-bandits-review-naseeruddin-shah-led-cast-soars-even-when-show-doesnt-3-stars-out-of-5-2273847)
**Season 2 changed composers.** Music supervisor Akashdeep Sengupta explained the switch as being solely in the interest of time: the first season took three years to create, while the second had only 18 months. He traveled across India to find new artistes who could deliver a diverse album influenced by Indian classical music and western sounds, including a ghazal and futuristic modern tracks.[5](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/bandish-bandits-supervisor-akashdeep-sengupta-on-show-music-23443124) The season produced 17 tracks and, according to the cast, incorporated operatic elements and a rock song alongside Hindustani classical and pop, with music described as the show's true protagonist in Season 2.[5](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/bandish-bandits-supervisor-akashdeep-sengupta-on-show-music-23443124) • [3](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/bandish-bandits-season-2-cast-interview) One pivotal Season 2 number was drawn from what Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy had composed for Season 1.[11](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bandish-bandits-season-2-review-the-series-is-never-off-key-2-5-stars-7236732)
## Reception
The first season drew generally positive reviews centered on its performances and music. NDTV gave it 3 stars out of 5, praising Naseeruddin Shah's rigor and the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy score while finding the overstuffed plot a burden for a 10-episode series.[10](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bandish-bandits-review-naseeruddin-shah-led-cast-soars-even-when-show-doesnt-3-stars-out-of-5-2273847) [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) review was titled around Shah towering over the series and kept its focus on the theme that there need not be a rift between classical and popular music.[8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/bandish-bandits-review-naseeruddin-shah-web-series-6539009/)
Season 2 reviews were mixed to positive. The Indian Express rated it 3 out of 5, finding the leads excellent and the music good; NDTV gave it 2.5 stars, calling the music undeniably brilliant but the plotting weak; The Times of India gave it 3.5, noting stretched subplots but musically rich compositions.[13](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/bandish-bandits-season-2-review-ritwik-bhowmik-shreya-chaudhry-9722501/lite/) • [11](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bandish-bandits-season-2-review-the-series-is-never-off-key-2-5-stars-7236732) • [14](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/bandish-bandits/seriesreview/77346893.cms) On IMDb the series holds a rating of 8.5/10 from about 21,000 users, with 4 wins and 48 nominations listed.[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9814458/) A 2025 statement by cast member [Aaliyah Qureishi](https://www.edgepedia.org/aaliyah-qureishi) indicated that Tiwari had always intended the second season to be the final chapter of the story.[7](https://seriesreminder.com/series/bandish-bandits)
## References
1. [Bandish Bandits, TheTVDB.com](https://thetvdb.com/series/bandish-bandits)
2. [A jugalbandi of minds, The Week (August 2020)](https://www.theweek.in/magazine/theweek/leisure/2020/08/20/a-jugalbandi-of-minds.html)
3. [What can you expect from Season 2 of 'Bandish Bandits'? About Amazon India](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/bandish-bandits-season-2-cast-interview)
4. [Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Make Their Web Series Debut, Rolling Stone India](https://rollingstoneindia.com/shankar-ehsaan-loy-make-their-web-series-debut/)
5. [Bandish Bandits supervisor Akashdeep Sengupta on creating 17 tracks in 18 months, Mid-Day](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/bandish-bandits-supervisor-akashdeep-sengupta-on-show-music-23443124)
6. [Bandish Bandits (TV Series 2020– ), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9814458/)
7. [Bandish Bandits Season 2 Schedule & Release Dates, Series Reminder](https://seriesreminder.com/series/bandish-bandits)
8. [Bandish Bandits review: Naseeruddin Shah towers over web series, The Indian Express (August 2020)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/bandish-bandits-review-naseeruddin-shah-web-series-6539009/)
9. [Gharanas, the anchor of Hindustani music spawned by Mughal decline, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/research/bandish-bandits-gharanas-hindustani-classical-music-mughal-decline-6581735/)
10. [Bandish Bandits Review: Naseeruddin Shah-Led Cast Soars Even When Show Doesn't, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bandish-bandits-review-naseeruddin-shah-led-cast-soars-even-when-show-doesnt-3-stars-out-of-5-2273847)
11. [Bandish Bandits Season 2 Review: The Series Is Never Off-Key, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/bandish-bandits-season-2-review-the-series-is-never-off-key-2-5-stars-7236732)
12. [Bandish Bandits Team Interview: 'Acting has a sense of musicality', Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/hindi/interviews/2024/Dec/11/bandish-bandits-team-interview-acting-has-a-sense-of-musicality)
13. [Bandish Bandits Season 2 review: No straggly spots, only the sound of music, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/bandish-bandits-season-2-review-ritwik-bhowmik-shreya-chaudhry-9722501/lite/)
14. [Bandish Bandits Web Series: Review, Trailer, Star Cast, Songs, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/bandish-bandits/seriesreview/77346893.cms)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › South and Southeast Asian serials › South Asian web serials*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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