Amazon Prime Video’s International spy web series Citadel: Messing with minds

Imagine you are a spy. Imagine you have done things to people that they cannot imagine, and some of those people have done the same to you. Now imagine that an organisation can erase your memory and give you a new identity. So, in other words, your memory is at the mercy of a professional outfit that messes with your mind. Now imagine Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as the top spies of Citadel, in Amazon Prime Video’s web series, who love and hate each other and who are grappling with their past present and future, thanks to somebody pressing the delete button.

A press meet was organised at the St. Regis Hotel, Lower Parel, Mumbai, yesterday, where the compère, RJ Rohini conducted the proceedings, and on stage were the two stars of Citadel, Madden and Chopra. Scotsman (like Sean Connery) Richard Madden was seen in films like Bastille Day, Ibiza, Rocketman, Lieutenant Joseph Blake, Eternals and TV shows like Oasis, Electric Dreams, Bodyguard. Bareilly-girl Priyanka Chopra Jonas starred as Alex Parrish in the ABC thriller series Quantico, becoming the first South Asian to headline an American network drama series, during 2015-2018. She also acted in the international projects Baywatch (2017) and The Matrix Resurrections (2021), not to mention countless Hindi films. After an exhaustive interview each, Rohini read out names of journalists who had been short-listed earlier as the chosen few who would get to ask questions. We were told that some international media was also present, but they kept their peace. Needless to say, I was not part of this ‘questioner’ elite club. Had I been given a chance to put a question, what would it have been? Read on.

Judging by the James Bond franchise, the ‘spy’ (as typified by the action thriller) is probably the longest lasting genre franchise in cinema history. With nations at war or at the brink of war, that should not come as a surprise. But making a case for Citadel, Madden said that the action: emotion ratio in most spy films is 80:20 or 20:80. “In Citadel, you will find it 100:100.” Adding to the claim, Chopra pointed out that there were fights in the film which had a lot of emotion built into them. “That is more challenging. That is more fun. Otherwise, it could get dull.” Recounting how they shot a scene where Madden is attacking her with a knife, she revealed “It was kind of funny. The actual action was to be done with CGI. And there he was, pretending to hold a knife and attack me.”

On the other hand, the fight in the washroom of a running train was very tough to execute, for Madden. “How do I use the tap? What do I do with the basin? And there was such little space.” Luckily for the duo, there was great chemistry between them. Madden would overthink and overkill, while Chopra would think of one option and then try another one. Citadel was shot over one and-a-half-year, and was a taxing experience for both the players. Incidentally, this was the Asia Pacific unveiling of the show, which will also have segments based in Italy and India. And guess who will direct the Indian segment? No prizes: Raj and D.K., who have made A Family Man, Farzi and more hit shows for Amazon Prime. And who will star in the Indian segment? One name has been revealed: Varun Dhawan.

Confessing his desire to explore Mumbai, Madden said, “I wanted to go to the National Park, and run there, but…” “But he has no time at all,”, interrupted Chopra. “I could suggest many places that he should visit, but it’s just not possible. I have not been able to even get him to drink some coconut water.”

Both were asked about their favourite moment on set. Chopra surprised everyone by saying, “It was the last day of shooting and it was a wrap. The series was really exhausting, and I was happy that it was all over. And guess what Richard did? He shaved himself bald the same night, so that he might not be called for any more work, continuity posing a problem.” Richard is called Mason Kane in the film and Priyanka, Nadia Sinh. Also in the cast are Stanley Tucci as Bernard Orlick, Lesley Manville as Dahlia Archer, Osy Ikhile as Carter Spence, Ashleigh Cummings as Abby Conroy, Roland Møller as Anders Silje and Davik Silje, Caoilinn Springall as Hendrix Conroy.

There was a bound to be a question about whether Madden would consider acting in an Indian film (I have yet to hear anyone say “No”), Madden was quite keen to work in the biggest film industry in the world. When asked to choose the kind of film he would be interested in, he replied “Comedy. I have done so much of the serious stuff that doing a comedic role would be a welcome change.” Priyanka came clean about one thing, “I cannot work with persons I do not like. So, I keep making mental notes before I agree to worked in projects.

A constant refrain in the trailer was, “Can I trust you?” And in one scene, a character says, I am eminently trustworthy. I am a spy!” Who says there cannot be a dash of humour in a cerebral spy saga. The series is created by Created by Josh Appelbaum and Bryan Oh. Executive Producers include the Russo brothers, Anthony Russo, Joseph Russo.

What would have been my question: Can the ‘erasers’ delete selective portions of the memory? Or do they erase the entire memory? Also, can they supplant selected memory in place of erased memory? I doubt if the Amazon Prime Video representative would have would have let the cat out of the bag.

Hindi Trailer: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqcIO2ggyr5/?hl=en

English Trailer: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqawyNzIGHf/?hl=en