In episode 9, Guddu’s self-combustion paves the way for Sharad Shukla’s rise to the top.
Akhil Arora, a member of the Film Critics Guild and a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic, who has watched all 10 episodes of Mirzapur season 3. He has been reviewing TV series since 2015 and has written for NDTV and SlashFilm.
The ninth episode of Mirzapur season 3—directed by Gurmmeet Singh and Anand Iyer and written by Avinash Singh and Vijay Narayan Verma—features a reversal of fortunes. Those who were once free, like Guddu (Ali Fazal), are now trapped. Those who were once trapped, like Golu (Shweta Tripathi Sharma) and Beena Tripathi (Rasika Dugal), are now free. Though, in the latter case, the expert manipulator seems to have traded one captivity for another. Lastly, Sharad Shukla (Anjumm Shharma)—whose star has risen considerably—has gone from being an outcast to the closest companion of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Everything seems to be working out quite nicely for the king of Jaunpur.
Mirzapur season 3 episode 9—the penultimate entry—surprisingly doesn’t pick up from the horrific fallout of the previous instalment. It begins with Chhote/Fake Badde (Vijay Varma) who’s got a new problem to solve. As he’s packing a bag full of his not-wife Saloni’s clothes, his mother Geeta (Alka Amin) walks in wondering what’s up. Strangely, Chhote blurts that he’s not who she thinks he is. Geeta seems to take it well considering what he just said. She knows she lost a son, but she’ll let him decide which one. Shatrughan was loved by everyone, and the family is doing its best to move on. But Bharat was the responsible one and she doesn’t think the family can recover from that.
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Meanwhile, in the basement in episode 9, Golu catches Saloni (Neha Sargam) up on everything. But there’s new info for Golu, too. She learns that Chhote faked her death—to what end? Golu knows they are both dead, but Saloni feels Chhote will let her live. Golu thinks she’s lost it: “Do you realise where you are? And why you’re here?” Chhote claims to love Golu and she’s locked in a basement. The Tyagi homemaker comes to her senses and helps Golu free herself. Golu then lays out her plan: when Chhote returns, Saloni will help distract him, giving Golu the opportunity she needs.
At the Pandit household in Mirzapur season 3 episode 9, Robin’s body is taken away. The police ask Vasudha (Sheeba Chaddha) to name the killer—in the next scene, IG Vishudhanand Dubey (Manu Rishi Chadha) turns up at the Tripathi manor and arrests Guddu who gives in without a fight.
Shortly after in episode 9, Zarina (Anangsha Biswas) shows up and picks up Beena, her baby, and the house help Radhiya (Prashansa Sharma). Radhiya is worried about their dependence, but Beena knows she needs protection. She believes she has orchestrated events in a way to ensure that no Tripathi man will ever be able to take advantage of her. She’s referring to Bauji—Kaleen Bhaiya’s dad—of course. As they leave, episode 9 reveals that Beena wasn’t imagining the black cat—it’s landed in the trap, which is Mirzapur’s way of saying never to mess with Beena.
In Varanasi in Mirzapur season 3 episode 9, J.P. Yadav (Pramod Pathak) sees the music video that Zarina and CM Madhuri Yadav made. He wants to teach her a lesson, but Mridul (Vivek Doshi) reminds him that it’s not safe for him until Madhuri is out of power. Yadav agrees and then instructs Mridul to fetch her instead. Seems Zarina’s plan is working out what with Yadav taking the bait.
Over in Lucknow in episode 9, Beena is greeted by the CM’s assistant Anand (Rohit Tiwari) who tells her that Madhuri will see her directly at dinner. Downstairs, Sharad arrives to see Madhuri (Isha Talwar) who informs him that she has Guddu in custody. They hug—such beautiful news! A gangster and a corrupt politician smiling over the arrest of another gangster. Sharad wants Guddu for himself, but Madhuri tells him that the system will do its thing. Sharad feels Guddu should die by his hand so he can have a new beginning. Madhuri notes she lost Munna because he let his emotions get the better of him. She’s been thinking of a new beginning, too—for the two of them. Ooh. Sharad relents and chooses Madhuri over revenge.
Somewhere at a clothing store in Mirzapur season 3 episode 9, Mridul intercepts Zarina while she’s in the fitting room. He says he’s got an offer from a big party who desires “personal service”. He’s clearly implying that she’s supposed to sleep with the client. Mridul then rolls a bag of cash under the door. Zarina can’t be sure the client is J.P. Yadav but she seems to be pretty sure.
In a holding cell somewhere in Lucknow in episode 9, Madhuri pays a visit to Guddu. He’s alive only because she hasn’t decided what to do with him. Guddu says that Munna impressed him twice—once in college when he saw Munna’s life and the second occasion is today. Even after that lowlife is long gone, Madhuri is fighting for him, Guddu adds. Madhuri says Guddu wouldn’t be alive if she was only fighting for Munna. She’s fighting against the violence that Guddu stands for. Guddu tells her that everyone he ever killed and destroyed is with him. He sees them wherever he goes. Madhuri says she’s got the peace of mind she needs, and Sharad deserves that, too. She’s leaving his fate in Sharad’s hands.
Chhote returns to the basement in Mirzapur season 3 episode 9. Saloni does as instructed and grabs his attention, asking him to think about Ginni, her daughter. When Saloni calls him Chhote, he says he’s Bharat. There was an ounce of Chhote in him—which was making him weak—but he destroyed whatever was left. As Chhote motions for Saloni to leave the room, Golu uses the opportunity to turn Saloni into a human shield, slit her wrist, and sneak out. Chhote repeatedly fires at her, and Golu gets a bullet in her right shoulder as she escapes. Chhote then learns Saloni is bleeding out and decides to save Saloni over running after Golu.
Guddu is processed in prison where the police—no doubt on Sharad’s orders—promise better food to all the other inmates if they beat Guddu senseless. What follows in episode 9 is a rare fisticuffs scene in a show where violence is usually gun-led and short-lived. Guddu deals with most of them quite well albeit with quite a few injuries. Unfortunately for him, a big guy (Surender Thakur)—who had been sitting out the battle because the promised reward wasn’t enough yet—then shows up. He repeatedly smashes Guddu’s head into a wall, then grabs him and throws him down on a bed. Guddu’s spirit and body are broken.
Elsewhere in Mirzapur season 3 episode 9, Munnawar (Ayaz Khan) gets a call from Mr. Hakim and tells him they have been presented with a huge opportunity. One that can help them take control of all of Purvanchal.
Over at the Shukla manor in episode 9, Shakuntala (Meghna Malik) commends her son on the life he’s built. He’s clearly told her about CM Madhuri’s marriage proposal. She says he’s achieved everything that his father dreamed of. When she asks him about the future, Sharad says he wants to give Purvanchal a fresh start—one without hostility and vengeance. He also wants to draw up new rules once he’s on the Mirzapur throne. Shakuntala tells him not to forget the Sharad he left behind in the thirst for power. Sharad asks his mother to come along the next time he goes to Lucknow so she can meet Madhuri.
Mirzapur season 3 cast — the full list
The Pandits, the Tripathis, and all the other major clans return for the third season of Mirzapur. It’s time for a refresher.
Speaking of Lucknow, it’s back to the state capital in Mirzapur season 3 episode 9. Beena finally meets her daughter-in-law Madhuri at dinner who treats her with the utmost respect. If she knew Beena’s truth, I wonder how Madhuri would feel. Beena commends Madhuri on how strong she has been on her own. She then laments about her situation with Guddu, while hiding the fact that she made it happen. As Beena expresses her desire for some solace, Madhuri shows her the photo of a beaten-up Guddu. Beena feels conflicted on some level—she might have played her cards right, but she’s still stuck in a world where people determine their ways with violence. No matter who she’s with, she’ll never be truly free and at peace.
At the other jail in episode 9, Dimpy (Harshita Shekhar Gaur) goes to see her father. Ramakant (Rajesh Tailang) tries to console her and says that Robin’s death is not her fault. Dimpy is seething with anger—for how no one in the Pandit household ever takes responsibility for anything. She feels Guddu is the fault of him and everyone in the system. So, she’s going to give Guddu—and everyone else like him—what he deserves.
Dimpy wants the evidence Ramakant has. He’s ready to give her what she wants but he warns her not to make the same mistakes as him and place her trust in the system. As part of the files Dimpy receives, Ramakant reveals that Surya Pratap Yadav—Madhuri’s dad and the previous Chief Minister—didn’t die in an accident. He was murdered. Who was behind it? Sharad, who’s now about to wed the daughter of the man he killed.
Mirzapur season 3 episode 9 is out now on Prime Video.
Stray observations in Mirzapur season 3 episode 9
- First, it was poetry. Then came the Westernised clothes. The next step in Radhiya’s journey is trying out wine. Good for her! What’s next? Let’s just hope she’s above inflicting violence like everyone else in this world.
- Who is this Mr. Hakim? Is it just an honorific for Munnawar’s boss Abbas Ali Mir whose voice we first heard in episode 5? Or is it some other guy?
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