Made in India A Titan Story review: A tribute to vision, people and nation's pride
In an era of flashy gadgets and instant gratification, Naseeruddin Shah and Jim Sarbh's Made in India: A Titan Story takes you back to a time when a simple wristwatch carried dreams of pride, precision, and possibility. Does the show do justice to the legacy of the most successful consumer brand? Here is our review.
Remember those Titan watch ads from your childhood? The ones that featured a sweeping orchestra in the background while a voice promised elegance with Indian pride? That warm, aspirational feeling is exactly what Made in India: A Titan Story captures — not just the birth of a brand, but the heartbeat behind it.
The series opens with energy, mirroring Xerxes Desai’s flamboyant yet deeply people-centric style. It chronicles the founding and early journey of Titan Watches under the Tata Group — from JRD Tata’s bold vision to Xerxes’ spirited leadership — as they set out to build a world-class Indian watch brand capable of taking on dominant European giants. The foreign watchmakers’ casual underestimation of Indian capability only strengthens Tata’s larger dream: “India shouldn’t just become an economic superpower, it should be a happy country.”
Xerxes and his team's determination to turn humiliation into history by building India's first world-class watch brand forms the rest of the premise.
What makes the show stand out is its soul. It never slips into corporate propaganda. The film celebrates the Titan legacy with honesty and warmth, keeping the focus on people rather than just milestones. The idea of Uniform Consumer Price — same price for a Titan watch whether you buy it in Delhi or a small town in Assam — beautifully symbolises equitable ambition.
Jim Sarbh delivers yet another powerhouse performance as Xerxes Desai — charismatic, sharp, and vulnerable when it matters. His Parsi charm adds delightful flavour. Veteran Naseeruddin Shah as JRD Tata is magisterial — restrained, dignified, and carrying the quiet weight of a nation’s aspirations in every glance. You don’t just see JRD; you feel his vision.
Vaibhav Tatwawadi as Akash Bansal brings solid, dependable energy as Desai’s close ally. Lakshvir Singh Saran (Gaurav Dhar) and Kaveri Seth (Megha Mhatre) add intense, layered performances. Megha’s journey especially resonates — she stands for women rising in the corporate world while constantly battling society’s pressure to marry and “settle down”.
Namita Dubey as Rajini Desai shines even with limited screen time. Her chemistry with Sarbh is natural and warm, and the drama beautifully shows their marriage as one of equals — where the wife is not just support but true inspiration and sounding board behind the Titan legacy.
One of the most refreshing moments comes when Xerxes urges his team to celebrate failure. He reminds them that when the fault is truly your own — with no external excuses to hide behind — there is a rare freedom in it. It clears the slate, allowing you to start afresh and do better next time. In a particularly touching scene, JRD Tata boosts Xerxes’ morale during a low moment with the simple yet powerful words: “Fail again, fail better.” These lines linger long after, reflecting the kind of mature, resilient leadership required to build a brand's legacy.
The series smartly uses golden-era Hindi film songs — Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh, Sar Jo Tera Chakraye, Monica O My Darling, Ek Din Bik Jayega Maati Ke Mol, Thandi Hawa Kaali Ghata, Mausam Beeta Jaaye, Hai Apna Dil To Awara — to stir different emotions and pull you into nostalgia without feeling forced.
Light moments of winning over international partners with idli-sambar and besan laddoos bring that grounded Indian hospitality alive. Powerful lines stay long after: Xerxes says, “More than the targets and deadlines, it’s the people who matter because they give their blood, sweat, tears and time.” And JRD’s reflection: “You and your team have not given the company an identity but created a community.”
The show reminds us that Titan was built by ordinary heroes like Megha, Gaurav, and Akash — not just one man. In today’s profit-and-algorithm-driven corporate world, this focus on community and purpose feels refreshing and necessary.
A few family drama beats feel slightly repetitive, but they don’t break the show’s steady grip. Overall, the series delivers compact, emotionally rich storytelling that feels like a thoughtful throwback to the earnest era of Doordarshan — minus the preachiness.
If you grew up seeing Titan ads and believing in “Made in India” before it became a slogan, this one will hit differently. Warm, human, and quietly inspiring.
Made In India: A Titan Story was released on June 3 on MX Player.