Fans looking for hard-hitting drama and action took note immediately, when Netflix India announced its list of original titles for the year with Glory. Created by Karan Anshuman and Kanishk Varma, this seven-episode series mixes sports, crime and family drama, with boxing at the heart of its narrative. The premise is promising but the execution just doesn’t quite live up to it.
Set in Haryana, a state known for its boxing culture, Glory tells the story of Coach Raghubir Singh and his family. His sons, Devinder “Dev” Singh and Ravinder “Ravi” Singh, who are former boxers, come home to find their sister, Gudiya, brutally attacked.
The brothers are determined to find out who is responsible and start a dangerous search for answers. Their investigation soon leads them into a world of crime, corruption and powerful people pulling the strings from the shadows of the city. The series starts slow, but after the first two episodes it really starts to pick up. Sadly, as the story goes on, it becomes messier and messier, culminating in a predictable twist that doesn’t land as hard as it wants to.
One problem with Glory is that there are too many characters. The show has a few interesting characters, but many are not developed enough to leave a lasting impression. Divyendu Sharma is good as Dev and Suvinder Vicky plays Raghubir Singh with a lot of intensity and emotional depth. But not all performances stick the landing with equal effectiveness.
Jannat Zubair, who plays Gudiya, has very little material to work with, which leaves her character underdeveloped. Similarly, talented performers like Ashutosh Rana, Yashpal Sharma and Sikandar Kher feel under-utilised even though they have a strong screen presence.
The series is also problematic in terms of pacing. The revenge-driven story can be a grind, with a few scenes not adding much to the overall story. Maybe a tighter edit and fewer episodes would have led to a more focused and engaging experience.
There are crime elements, but Glory also tries to look into the difficulties of being a boxer in India and the honour of playing for the country at the international level. Raghubir Singh’s dream of bringing India its first Olympic boxing gold medal gives the story emotional weight and the series a larger purpose.
But the show is never fully committed to being a sports drama or a crime thriller. Instead it bounces back and forth between the two, which makes for an uneven viewing experience. The action scenes are well choreographed and visually impressive, but their large-scale presentation can sometimes feel excessive.
As the season winds down, the question of who is the real culprit becomes more and more complicated, leaving us with more questions than answers. The finale ends on a cliffhanger, setting up for another season, obviously, but whether that will happen is yet to be seen.
Glory Season 1, despite its flaws, is still a decent one-time watch with enough action, drama and strong performances to keep viewers entertained. Its soundtrack also helps to immerse viewers in the gritty world of crime, family rivalry and competitive boxing.
