Also, this post has massive spoilers so you might want to come back only after you do.

So, for those of you who have seen this 8-episode brilliance and are left craving for more, here are a few possible theories about the show that may or may not come to play in the upcoming seasons.

1. Gaitonde is a pawn in a bigger game.

This may go into tinfoil territory but there may be a larger religious conspiracy at play. One theory suggests that although Gaitonde is a prominent figure in the story itself, he may be a mere pawn in the larger scheme of things.

The three big players — Trivedi, Minister Bhonsle, and Guruji could have been plotting the roadmap to communal discord that could escalate into full-blown nuclear war. For this, they needed a pawn and a face of the movement they can pin it all on.

Given his position in the community and his recently discovered ‘Hindu pride’, Gaitonde seemed to be the perfect face of the extremist Hindu movement.

In the first few minutes of episode 1, a visibly flustered Gaitonde questions his supposed ally, Jojo asking her about how many others have betrayed him. He may have diligently given Sartaj Singh a heads up about what is to come due to his recent discovery of how he was used to start a religious nuclear war.

2. Dilbagh Singh has played a larger role.

Sartaj’s mother seems like an avid follower of Guruji as she tunes in to his sermon and watches it as though this is a daily activity for her. This may be because Dilbagh Singh and his wife were avid followers of Guruji and it was Guruji who orchestrated Dilbagh’s ‘unofficial posting’ in order to save Gaitonde.

Per the above theory, Gaitonde would’ve been an important part of Guruji and his allies’ larger ‘sacred game’. Guruji recognised Dilbagh’s soft side and placed him there so as to ensure Gaitonde’s survival. He would’ve played a vital part in his plan and thus he needed to survive for it to reach fruition.

3. The opening credits reveal the impending threat.

For a fraction of a second, the title sequence shows the footage of a nuclear explosion. This could be an allusion to the ‘threat’ of Mumbai being wiped out and possibly, how it may happen.

4. The episode titles and their possible significance.

Each episode title has religious significance and is an allusion to an aspect of Hindu mythology. While there are themes pertaining to the title throughout each episode, here are possible central ideas that the title may have been hinting at according to this Reddit user.

Episode 1 – Aswatthama

After the war in Kurukshetra, Aswatthama was cursed with immortality.

Although Gaitonde commits suicide, his story continues and we discover aspects about him throughout.

Episode 2 –  Halahala

Halahala is the lethal poison from the Samudra Manthan in the Mahabharata. Lord Shiva is said to have consumed it to protect the universe.

Sartaj Singh begins his investigation after Gaitonde’s warning and unravels what is soon revealed to be an international espionage.

Episode 3 – Aatapi Vatapi

Aatapi and Vatapi were two demons who would trick travellers with their hospitality and kill them.

The central theme hints at how religions welcome people with open arms but in turn, it hinges on their souls.

Episode 4 – Brahmahatya

Brahmahatya means killing of any life. It is said to be a hideous crime in Hinduism.

Gaitonde sees past his own Brahmin self and agrees to poach Muslim votes for Hindu politician Bhonsale.

Episode 5 – Sarama

Sarama means dog. It symbolises that, in the long run, everyone is a dog with a leash and we live in a dog eat dog world.

Sartaj Singh lies in his confession for Bengali Bura case signifying that he has given in to his master and become a pawn in this dog eat dog world himself.

Episode 6 – Pretakalpa

Pretakalpa is the rites to perform the cremation of a deceased Hindu.

When Katekar dies, Singh kills the murderer. Katekar is then cremated and in turn, it is as though Singh has cremated his old self.

Episode 7 – Rudra

Rudra is the personification of terror in Hinduism.

Subhadra gets killed giving birth to an uglier side of Gaitonde which ultimately goes in a rampant Muslim killing spree.

Episode 8 – Yayati

Yayati was cursed with premature old age. And he asked his son Puru to swap places.

Guruji managed to convince Gaitonde to join his cause.

Have any theories you’d like to add to the list? Tell us in the comments.

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