The highly awaited second season of Paatal Lok has finally dropped on Amazon Prime Video after a wait of five years. Directed by Avinash Arun, the 8-episode web series, with each lasting 40-45 minutes, is a neo-noir thriller that raised the bar of content making during the pandemic for its gritty and compelling storytelling. But does the new season live up to its predecessor? Read our review to find out.
Story: Paatal Lok season 2 starts with a gruesome murder of Jonathan Thom (Kaguirong Gonmei), an influential businessman and leader from Nagaland in Delhi amid a crucial business summit beneficial for the development of the northeastern state. He is also a key element in the proposed summit. Meanwhile, Hathiram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat) is still working at the outer Jamna Paar police station, investigating the disappearance of a lowlife who worked as a drug courier delivery man.
On the other hand, Imran Ansari (Ishwak Singh) has been elevated as ACP of Delhi and is entrusted with the investigation of the high-profile murder of Thom. Soon, the ex-colleagues discover that their cases are interlinked, and they next land in Kohima, where they meet the local SP (Tillotama Shome) and navigate the complexities of the sensitive region, its politics, the narcotics nexus, and revelations of some shocking truths from the past.
Performances: Jaideep Ahlawat’s performance in Paatal Lok S2 is a masterclass in itself. He fully embodies the character of Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary, who does not rest until he finds the offender. You are completely invested in watching Ahlawat, who conveys emotions with expressive eyes.
Ishwak Singh, as IPS officer, is composed in temperament. He delivers another standout performance in Paatal Lok season 2.
Tillotama Shome is delightful as SP Meghna Barua, delivering dialogues excellently in the local language, but her character is somewhat underwritten.
Notable performances come from cast members from the Northeast, including Prashant Tamang and Jahnu Barua, who stand out in the series.
The female actors also deliver mesmerizing performances, including Rose Lizo (Merenla Insong), caught in the spiral of exploitation and drug abuse; Asenla Thom (Rozelle Mero), Grace Reddy (Theyie Keditsu), and Esther Shipong (Mengu Suokhrie), each bringing freshness to the story.
Kapil Reddy (Nagesh Kukunoor), as a greedy top bureaucrat, is a sunrise. Gul Panag, in her limited screen time, also made a splash with her earnest performance.
Technical Aspects: While the narrative manages to surprise you on several occasions with its jaw-dropping moments, the writing of the series maintains its originality and intricacies of sociopolitical dynamics of Nagaland. The show keeps the narrative alive by maintaining the darkness, but it is not as gory as the first season. There is a subtler approach to storytelling, and it explores more human relationships.
Talking about the other technical aspects of the series—dialogues, camera work, and colours, especially when capturing Nagaland’s landscape—the team of Paatal Lok season 2 has done a fantastic job.
The diversity and authenticity are seemingly achieved by incorporating multiple languages – Assamese, Nagamese, Hindi and English.
Analysis: Unlike other content that showcases the beauty of the state, this series depicts the disturbing part of it, with the universal drama of arrogance and revenge, which resonates well with everyone.
Although crafted beautifully with finesse, the second season of Paatal Lok lacks the potency that made its predecessor perfect. Almost perfect, we see some characters remain underdeveloped, while the impact of a powerful antagonist like Hathoda Tyagi, played by Abhisehk Banerjee, seems lacking. However, the series has some brilliant moments—the cordial friendship between colleagues Chaudhary and Ansari almost wins the heart. The scene where Gul Panag and Ahlawat surprise their son on his birthday but are upset to see his coldness is particularly notable. Thom’s funeral scene, the background music that plays local songs, and the ending are done nicely.
However, it fails to deliver the ruthlessness, rawness, and grit of the first season, which blew our minds. Season one’s story became too close to our hearts. The second season mainly loses in creating an unforgettable villain like Hathoda Tyagi.
Verdict: Paatal Lok season 2 has no connection with the first season. Although when we compare the two seasons, the second season lacks the elements that make Paatal Lok season 1 a classic, the second season is definitely worth watching due to its settings, nuanced exploration of Nagaland in a sociopolitical setup, and brilliant performances, specifically by Jaideep Ahlawat.
Bottom Line: Definitely deserves a watch.
Rating : 3.5/5
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