What a great way to begin 2025! First Black Warrant and now season 2 of Paatal Lok. While the tone of Black Warrant was deliberately more indie and hence more palatable only to a discerning audience, Pataal Lok emerges as a solid entertaining thriller painstakingly spun out of a complex web of scheming politicians, drug dealers, unstoppable police officers and much more. All this in a backdrop of the tense and sensitive sociopolitical environment of Nagaland, where violence and protests are just around the corner waiting to erupt.
Without giving away anything about the juicy narrative in which no character (however small) exists without a reason, all you need to know is this show is a must watch. Season 1 had already raised the bar mighty high, but season 2 is riveting in its own distinct way. The makers (the genius combo of writer-creator Sudeep Sharma and director Avinash Arun) have thankfully not tried to emulate the story or style of first season merely for the sake of legacy. The only repetition they could be accused of is that of harnessing their collective storytelling prowess to craft a binge-worthy show yet again riddled with shocking twists and turns that merit repeat viewing just to fully absorb the multiple facets of the dense plot.
Perhaps what Sudeep and team can pride themselves the most on are the indelible impressions left behind in the form of the colorful and utterly relatable characters and the actors that inhabit these roles. Hathiram Chaudhary, in my opinion, is one of the best fictional characters created for screen. Jaideep Ahlawat (easily the baap of all actors by a handsome margin) practically lives the character and, in a way, does become its permanent nivasi. I know it sounds creepy, but there’s a kind of sensory delight in watching him bash up the bad guys topped with the flamboyant use of gaalis that hit the ears like a soothing melody. Although Ishwak Singh and Tillotama Shome also deserve special mention it can’t be said enough that each and every character neatly and well deservedly fits into this jigsaw puzzle.
I’m going with 4/5 for season 2 of Paatal Lok. Notwithstanding the minor issues of pacing in some episodes, the show will be (and should be) regarded worldwide as one of the best thrillers produced by India. If you haven’t watched season 1, I hope this review compels you to set foot into the netherworld.
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